Health, Healing and the Church's Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities

by Willard M. Swartley

Does the Christian community have the resources to develop a coherent response to health care challenges today? Accounting for biblical, theological and church-historical streams, Willard Swartley divulges a long tradition of healing and health care inherited by Christians today. Beginning with in-depth studies of Old and New Testament understandings of healing, the book surveys three millennia of biblical and theological teaching and practice in congregational life and mission. Along the way Swartley uncovers how Christians have understood the role of the church and other institutions in providing health and healing. The book concludes with an attempt to synthesize these biblical, historical and moral perspectives to help all Christians, including those in health care professions, respond to our current health care challenges.

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2012

Reviews

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for a theological and practical understanding of health care

I loved this book. It researches the depth of the biblical understanding of healing, while discussing the theological implications. More importantly, Swartely brings together this biblical and theological framework into the present American health care system to discuss a practice of shalom which provides universal health.

[Matthew Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly useful book surveying healing in the Bible and throughout Church history, discussing what health is and how we ought to talk about it, and practical ways forward for making American healthcare better. I wish it had been more universal in scope and less focused on specifically Mennonite approaches; for these reasons it will not displace Dan Fountain's "Health, the Bible, and the Church" as my number-1 book to give to African students and colleagues but it's definitely a close second!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theology and Biblical exegesis is fantastic, the book ends less powerfully as it attempts to appt it specifically to the era it is writing for.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mennonite author who presents his denominations viewpoint forcefully. Adequate health care is a moral and ethical concern that the church should make a priority again, as it did historically but has fallen away from in recent decades. Health and salvation are linked throughout the Bible. Fine argument but this book was tedious and had I known it was going to have such a Mennonite and Anabaptist slant I would have bypassed it.