Health, Healing and the Church's Mission

Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities

Willard M. Swartley

• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780830839742
• eBook ISBN: 9780830863303
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Ethics in Medicine

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Part One
• 1 Seven Theses
• 2 Healing in the Old Testament
• 3 Healing in the New Testament and the Church’s Practice
• 4 Biblical and Theological Analysis of Healing
• 5 The Church as Healing Community
• Part Two
• 6 Health and Health Care in Biblical-Theological Perspective
• 7 Biblical and Theological (Anabaptist) Foundations of Health Care Through Mutual Aid
• 8 Healthcare in Christian History and Mission
• 9 Disability, God's Two Hands of Love
• Part Three
• 10 Health Care Reform
• 11 From High Tech and Triage to Shalom and Service
• 12 Living Toward Sustainable Health Care
• Summary and Concluding Reflections
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Bibliography
• Name Index
• Scripture Index
• Notes
• About the Author