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

by Willard M. Swartley

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2012

Overview

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.

Key Features

• Surveys three millennia of biblical and theological teaching and practice in congregational life and mission
• Examines Old and New Testament understandings of healing
• Synthesizs biblical, historical, and moral perspectives to help all Christians respond to current health care challenges

Contents

Part 1: Healing

• Seven Theses: From Scripture to Today
• Healing in the Old Testament
• Healing in the New Testament and the Church’s Practice
• Biblical and Theological Analysis of Healing
• The Church as Healing Community

Part 2: Health Care: Biblical, Moral and Theological Perspectives

• Health and Health Care in Biblical-Theological Perspective
• Biblical and Theological (Anabaptist) Foundations of Health Care Through Mutual Aid
• Health Care in Christian History and Mission
• Disability, God’s Two Hands of Love: Internal Care, External Witness

Part 3: Toward New Paradigms

• Health Care Reform: Evaluation and Prospects
• From High-Tech and Triage to Shalom and Service
• Living Toward Sustainable Health Care
• Summary and Concluding Reflections
• Appendix 1. Mennonites, Brethren and Related Groups in Health Care
• Appendix 2. Center for Healing and Hope: Its Mission and Contribution

Praise for the Print Edition

Swartley’s holistic approach to the issue of health gives fresh perspectives on both healing in the Christian tradition and current issues of health care reform. Readers who are looking for ways to integrate contemporary questions about health care with a biblical and theological perspective that moves from text to tradition will find many valuable resources in Swartley’s work.

—Mary Veeneman, Ph.D., assistant professor of biblical and theological studies, North Park University

With an eloquent, rational approach, Willard Swartley critiques the current health care industry and persuasively offers a substantive alternative insight into health and healing by incorporating insights from Scripture, varied cultures, historic and religious practices, and contemporary trends. Swartley advances and amplifies the concept of shalom that embodies holistic health and reflects the biblical view of health. This vital and important volume will be valued by health care workers who aspire to experience how Christian faith can meaningfully transform their understanding and practice. I look forward to using this resource as a textbook for students in our biomedicine program.

—Roman J. Miller, Ph.D., Daniel B. Suter Endowed Professor of Biology and director of the M.A. in Biomedicine Graduate Program at Eastern Mennonite University

Willard Swartley has done the Christian community a huge service by writing a comprehensive, thoughtful and lucid discussion on our biblical and moral responsibility to promote healing and to advocate for a just health care system. His argument goes beyond the usual economic, political and medical arenas by focusing on Christian healing, community and mission.

—Mary J. McDonough, author of Can A Health Care Market Be Moral? A Catholic Vision

Product Details

• Title: Health, Healing and the Church’s Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities
• Author: Willard M. Swartley
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2012
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Pages: 268
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Health › Religious aspects--Christianity
• ISBNs: 9780830863303, 0830863303
• Resource ID: LLS:9780830863303
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T21:11:14Z

About Willard M. Swartley

Willard Swartley served at AMBS from 1978 to 2004. In addition to teaching, he served as dean from 1979 to 1981 and 1995 to 2000, as director of summer school, and as director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies. His long list of published works testifies to his strong scholarship as well as his interests — New Testament studies, particularly the gospel of Mark, and peace and nonviolence. Willard served as New Testament editor for the Believers Church Bible Commentary series and as co-editor of the Study of Peace and Scripture series. Following his retirement, Willard continued to write both scholarly books and materials to encourage use of Scripture in devotional life. His publications include the volume on John in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series and a companion book, Living Gift: John’s Jesus in Meditation and Poetry, Art and Song; and Health, Healing and the Church’s Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities. Willard continued to be a regular presence on the AMBS campus until his death of natural causes on Nov. 6, 2019. His last book was Jesus, Deliver Us: Evil, Exorcism and Exousiai (Cascade, 2019).