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Divine Healing: The Children's Bread
Believing that every assembly of believers is seeking to be truly New Testament in doctrine and practice, Bailey presents and historical/theological view free of fanaticism or propaganda.
237 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 6, 2017
The book is, in effect, a survey of Evangelical thought affirming healing as a spiritual gift effective today.
Several arguments were significant to me:
"the children's bread" from the story of the SyroPhonecian woman in Matthew 15 represents healing (rather than the whole gospel).
"signs and wonders" healing is distinct from the healing of believers.
Consistent with the C&MA position, provision for Healing is included in the atonement.
The plurality of the term "gifts" of healing argues for occurences of healing, rather than an office of "healer"
Chapters 12 and 13 provide a fairly comprehensive survey of the history of the doctrine of healing.
Several arguments were significant to me:
"the children's bread" from the story of the SyroPhonecian woman in Matthew 15 represents healing (rather than the whole gospel).
"signs and wonders" healing is distinct from the healing of believers.
Consistent with the C&MA position, provision for Healing is included in the atonement.
The plurality of the term "gifts" of healing argues for occurences of healing, rather than an office of "healer"
Chapters 12 and 13 provide a fairly comprehensive survey of the history of the doctrine of healing.
May 29, 2020
This is a good survey of the history and rationale for understanding the ministry of physical health and healing to be a central rather than a secondary concern of the gospel. However, there's an either/or between miracles and providence, a hint of supersessionism, and a premise of individualist ableism that makes it difficult to read, even if all of that is relatively at home (and perhaps unwitting) in its context. That said, the instinct of the book is to see the church's sign-gifts and ministries of healing as a spur to extend care and support beyond the self to the neighbour, and so there is plenty here to build on and appreciate.
March 21, 2018
It’s a good read for those who (still) holds thenviews that spiritual healings belongs to the acts of the apostles. Contrary to this view, the author revealed an in-depth understanding that the doctrine of healing across the centuries of church history proves it to be a part of the historic Christian faith and not an innovation of the twentieth century
May 25, 2012
Doctrinal Statement of the C&MA with regard to Healing today
Keith Bailey has written a book here to effectively clarify and present in an organized fashion the position of healing espoused by the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
This was necessary for 2 reasons.
First, there was not really a systematic theology in this area present for the C&MA prior to this. George Pardington had some writing in this area but it was deemed not entirely sufficient.
Secondly, the C&MA has departed, if not in spirit from the earlier teachings and practices in this arena from the founder A.B. Simpson, then certainly from the emphasis of the earlier days. Therefore a statement was needed that more closely approximated the current practices. In the 30's there was an exodus of about 1/4 of the membership and Churches from the C&MA over to the Assemblies of God. That history generated a recoil from those practices and teachings within the C&MA that smacked of the Charismatic. The Alliance does not disavow these teachings from the earlier days, but in practice they effectively de-emphasize them and so a different work was needed to provide a platform more in keeping with what the C&MA has morphed into since the 1930's. With the establishment in the 1970's as a formal denomination a book was needed to explain the current practise. This was what come out.
An enlightening and helpful work. It is usually used by Districts of the C&MA in the ordination process. It is valuable as well to elders with C&MA churches and reads well and is of value to the general Christian community.
To see where the Alliance moved from, read and compare with "The Gospel of Healing" by the founder A.B. Simpson. You'll see a much stronger healing message there and have a better flavor for what the C&MA used to be.
Keith Bailey has written a book here to effectively clarify and present in an organized fashion the position of healing espoused by the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
This was necessary for 2 reasons.
First, there was not really a systematic theology in this area present for the C&MA prior to this. George Pardington had some writing in this area but it was deemed not entirely sufficient.
Secondly, the C&MA has departed, if not in spirit from the earlier teachings and practices in this arena from the founder A.B. Simpson, then certainly from the emphasis of the earlier days. Therefore a statement was needed that more closely approximated the current practices. In the 30's there was an exodus of about 1/4 of the membership and Churches from the C&MA over to the Assemblies of God. That history generated a recoil from those practices and teachings within the C&MA that smacked of the Charismatic. The Alliance does not disavow these teachings from the earlier days, but in practice they effectively de-emphasize them and so a different work was needed to provide a platform more in keeping with what the C&MA has morphed into since the 1930's. With the establishment in the 1970's as a formal denomination a book was needed to explain the current practise. This was what come out.
An enlightening and helpful work. It is usually used by Districts of the C&MA in the ordination process. It is valuable as well to elders with C&MA churches and reads well and is of value to the general Christian community.
To see where the Alliance moved from, read and compare with "The Gospel of Healing" by the founder A.B. Simpson. You'll see a much stronger healing message there and have a better flavor for what the C&MA used to be.
January 15, 2010
Bailey's "Divine Healing" both reviews divine healing throughout church history and offers a theology for divine healing. The author argues that healing is real, made available to us through Jesus' atonement "By his scourging we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5), and is gifted to believers until they accomplish their divine purposes in the world. The author is a Christian and Missionary Alliance minister, and for those who don't know much about the CMA, divine healing is one of their four cornerstones. It's an evangelical book and at times I feel is a little too conservative. Overall it's worth a read if you're interested in divine healing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews