All Creation Groans
Toward a Theology of Disease and Global Health
- Theology
- Science & Faith
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
In a suffering world reeling from global pandemics and health disparities, it is high time to think theologically about the devastating experience of disease, and to address our God-inspired responsibility to understand its origins and engage in its management. In a fragmented world, we need a unifying and integrated perspective on people in communities embedded in a fractured ecology. In an academic world blind to the spiritual world and imbalanced toward technical solutions, the global church must articulate a contemporary metanarrative that is moral, practical, and deeply transformational. All Creation Groans brings together multiple perspectives for a compelling global-health approach to the pathologies of the world as a part of the missio Dei. The authors paint a unifying perspective on God's healing intentions in creation, redemption, and consummation, and the opposing nature-corrupting effects of the rebellion of created moral agents. It is a fresh call for the global church to engage in aligning with God's healing action for eternally sustainable global health.
Endorsements (13)
“This timely volume integrates an impressive array of medical research, experience, and theological expertise. It lucidly focuses on global health and a renewed biblical discrimen for disease and suffering. The authors offer a needed call for a deeper Christian understanding and rearticulation of the fight against illness worldwide. Their compelling metanarrative provides a practical theology of medical care grounded in intelligent love and active mercy.”
“Jesus’ way of ministry highlighted in this book remains our example. He gave of himself rather than providing a service. He taught, modeled, and made disciples, then made his disciples his coworkers. He delegated tasks and responsibilities with authority. Then he handed over the ministry before departing, ensuring sustained and multiplied impact. This evidenced transformational strategy of missions is what God is blessing in our times. As recipients become owners, take over, and multiply the initial work: dignity is built, dependency is broken, and the whole person and environment are served.”
“This valuable publication underscores that theologians, pastors, and church leaders can also be effective ‘health workers’ in their own right by engaging in health matters to inform and empower their communities to espouse beliefs, values, and practices that promote health and wellness, and to deny those that militate against life. The pandemic has underscored that health belongs to all sectors.”
“This book is an important contribution, bringing the theological and medical perspectives into one place. This will lay a good foundation for ‘healing’ and ‘wholeness’ as a theological and missiological agenda.”
“This multidisciplinary volume will be a tremendous resource not only to missionaries, but to pastors, students, missions committees, and teams that want to do the work of the church in places impacted by disease. I can easily see this work becoming required reading for those working especially in a majority-world contexts where health systems are fragile and missionary involvement is complex.”
“This remarkable collection of essays addresses from a variety of biblically sound perspectives the troubling phenomenon of why evil, disease in particular, exists in a world created by a loving God who once declared it to be ‘good.’ The authors plead for getting actively involved in alleviating the havoc brought about by evil on all of creation, not just humans. A stimulating book that encourages God’s people to engage in this missio Dei whole heartedly.”
“The vast majority of people tend to think of disease, epidemics, famines, and disasters as an expression of great divine judgement. All suffering is not punitive . . . . Suffering aids in healing and building the kingdom of God, and in this area, we Christians have been given the privilege to work in partnership with him. Some of the best minds are at work in this book.”
“A needed resource to strengthen the competence of public health professionals in addressing the multiple determinants of health, including the spiritual. I appreciate the focus the authors have taken in placing the spiritual as foundational in understanding the physical and social determinants of health rather than neglecting these aspects of disease.”
“Ralph D. Winter never stopped trying to identify specific issues and problems that impede the flow of the gospel. . . . This book draws on like-minded scholars from a wide range of disciplines just as Winter would have. As you read this book, your perspective will be challenged in new ways. And perhaps we will see new approaches to solving the right problems.”
“There are few real-world issues that impact the lives of more people than disease. . . . We need to think theologically about how engaging with it—seeking to understand diseases, mitigating their effects, combatting or even eradicating them—is an expression of the kingdom of God and contributes to the church’s mission in the world.”
“In my missions experience, I am often saddened by the church’s relegation of health matters to healthcare professionals as opposed to seeing health as part of the gospel message and an integral part of missio Dei, and therefore to be included in the role of the church. . . . Addressing the topic of disease from a theological perspective is a welcome addition to nursing literature.”
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