WORSHIP NOTES

Shall We Practice Unction?

Oliver K. Olson

 

James  5.14 Advises unction – the use of oil.

 

“Is any among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

 

   This passage is the basis for the Roman Catholic Sacrament called “extreme unction,” or “the last rites.”  More recently, the Roman Catholic church has shifted its emphasis, closer to the Bible.  No longer is unction considered “extreme,” a preparation for death, but (as in the Interim law) a treatment for the sick.

 

   But James 5.14 is not binding.  According to Evangelical-Lutheran doctrine, the church is obligated not to “apostolic usage.” It is obligated, however, to obey Christ’s commands.  A sacrament must have (1) a mandate of Christ, and (2) a physical means.

 

   Lacking a command by Christ, the oiling was abandoned at the Reformation.  After Emperor Charles V defeated the Lutherans in the Smalcald war there was an attempt to re-introduce it  According to his law of 1549 (the “Interim”):

 

Although in this country the unction has not been in use for many years… such unction… according to the apostle, may be hereafter practiced, and Christian prayer and words of consolation from the Holy Scriptures be spoken over the sick.

 

But the Lutherans’ objection still stands; these days “apostolic usage” is impossible.

 

“It is impossible to do it now according to apostolic usage; the dear apostles healed the sick with their shadows (Acts 5), with oil (Mark 6, James 5), with their handkerchiefs and aprons (Acts 19) and by other means,” (Matthias Flacius. Widder den Auszug des Leipziger Interims, 1549).

 

Oliver K. Olson taught, most recently, Reformation Studies at Marquette University.  He also reorganized the Lutheran Quarterly in 1977.  He is the author of the biography, “Matthias Flacius:  Survival of Luther’s Reform”