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Salvation As Healing: John Wesley's Missional Theology

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Salvation As Healing: John Wesley's Missional Theology .. ....... .. I. ... ., ... : .. , . j;. ..... .. .... The Copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of phwtmwpies or wtha reproductiwns of mpyrighted material. Under cetZBin conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorid to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific mditions is that the phohmpy or reproduction is not to be “Used fir my purpose other than private study, schdanhip, or research.” If B user make3 a quest far, or later uses, a photompy or repductim for puqmses in ecess of ‘‘fair we9’’that user may be liable for mpyright infringement, This institution reserves the right to rehe to accept a copying order if, in its judgmenk fulfitlrnent of the order would involve violation ofcoMght Jaw- By the using this materid, you are couwnting t~ abide by this copyright policy, Any duplication, reprodndinn, nr modification of this material without express waitken consent from Asbuv Theological Seminary andhr the original publisher is prohibited. Q Asbury TheoIogi@alSeminary 2009 ABSTRACT Salvation as Healing: John Wesley’s Missional Theology R. Jeffrey Hiatt This dissertation examines John Wesley’s missional theology through the salvation-as-healing motif. Wesley’s own writings and pertinent secondary sources provide the resources for investigating and understanding Wesley’s missional interpretation of God’s interaction with the world. A re-examination of Wesley’s theological method, highlighting his awareness of the created order and of culture, further illuminates Wesley’s comprehensive approach to mission. To assess Wesley’s contemporary relevance, the holistic ministry of World Vision International is examined and compared with Wesley’s approach. The rubric of salvation as healing highlights and clarifies Wesley’s knowledge and understanding of God and the way God interacts with people and the whole created order. John Wesley’s emphasis on the therapeutic (in the biblical sense) nature of the gospel of Christ provides a missional basis for treating the spiritual and physical spheres of life comprehensively. Wesley’s conception of salvation incorporated physical, spiritual, social, and ultimately, cosmic healing, and thus informs the healing mission of the church. Since Wesley intentionally employed healing language to describe the work of God in the world, this dissertation traces Wesley’s comprehension and practice of healing, including the role healing concepts played in his theology, especially his soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. It illuminates the ways and degrees to which Wesley’s healing practice expressed his understanding of salvation as healing and notes the relevance of this for mission today. This study concludes that Wesley’s understanding and practice of mission anticipated features characteristic of contemporary holistic mission proponents. The research calls attention to the missiological nature and character of Wesley’s ministry. It concludes that Wesley was a pioneer in certain aspects of medicine and shows how this aspect was integrated into his entire missional theology. The research provides resources for contemporary understanding and implementation of comprehensive mission within the global context and suggests areas for further investigation. Dissertation Approval Sheet This dissertation, entitled Salvation as Healing: John Wesley’s Missional Theology written by R. Jeffrey Hiatt and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of M issiology has been read and approved by the undersigned members of the Faculty of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism Asbury Theological Seminary Date: May 2008 Salvation as Healing: John Wesley’s Missional Theology by Robert Jeffrey Hiatt A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Missiology Degree Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky May 2008 02008 Robert Jeffrey Hiatt ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ............................................... vi CHAPTER 1. Background: John Wesley. Mission. and Healing ............... 1 JohnWesley ............................................ 2 Mission ................................................. 3 Context of the Contemporary Mission Movement to the World ......7 Healing ................................................ 12 A Personal Rationale for This Study .......................... 15 The Healing Theme in Wesley .............................. 18 Loveas Healing ..................................... 19 Healing as Help for the Poor ............................ 22 Statement of the Problem .................................. 24 Research Questions ...................................... 25 Methodology ........................................... 26 Theoretical Framework ................................... 29 Definition of Key Terms ................................... 31 Significance of this Study ................................. 37 2 . John Wesley and the Eighteenth Century, 1688 to 1783 ..........40 Political and Economic Conditions in the Eighteenth Century ......40 Wesley’s View of Economics ............................... 48 Religious and Spiritual Context in the Eighteenth Century ........ 53 Healing and Medicine in the Eighteenth Century ................56 iii 3 . John Wesley’s Theological Method Re-examined from a Salvation-as-Healing Perspective ................... 60 Scripture .............................................. 63 Tradition., ............................................. 65 Reason ............................................... 68 Experience ............................................. 70 Creation ........................... .................... 75 Culture ................................................ 80 4 . Salvation as Healing: John Wesley’s Approach ................ 87 John Wesley’s Concept of Salvation as Healing (Mission Emphasis) ................................... 89 John Wesley’s Concept of Salvation as Healing (Spiritual Emphasis) ................................... 91 Wholeness in Wesley’s Ministry .......................... 91 “The Great Physician of Souls” .......................... 94 John Wesley’s Concept of Salvation as Healing (Physical Emphasis) ................................... 99 John Wesley. Medicine. Primitive Physic. and His Practice of Healing ....................................... 102 John Wesley and Physical Healing through Direct Divine Intervention ...................................... 113 Excursus on Electricity and Healing: John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin ................................. 116 5 . Exploring Mission in the Salvation-as-Healing Theme in Wesley .............................................. 121 Implications of Wesley’s Salvation-as-Healing Approach ........ 121 Salvation as Healing: Developing a Wesleyan Missiology ....... 132 iv 6 . Wesleyan and World Vision’s Missional Theologies in Dialogue ............................................. 139 World Vision’s Approach to Mission ........................ 141 John Wesley’s and World Vision’s Approaches to Mission Compared .............................................. 147 7 . Conclusion: John Wesley. Mission. and Healing ..............164 Research Findings ...................................... 165 Suggestions for Further Research .......................... 173 A Model of Wesley-informed Holistic Mission ..................177 Conclusion ............................................ 183 Appendices: .................................................. 185 A . Excerpts of Healing Accounts in John Wesley’s Writings ........... 185 B . World Vision’s Core Values ................................. 241 C . John Wesley’s Vocabulary in 2lst-Century American Common English ............................................ 246 D . Scriptural References to Healing ............................. 249 E. Examples of Contemporary Holistic Mission Texts ................263 References Cited and Select Bibliography ......................... 265 V Acknowledclements The late Dr. Everett Hunt encouraged me to attend Asbury Theological Seminary for the Master of Theology degree. His influence tipped the scale for me to come. Dr. Robert G. “Bob” Tuttle, Jr. needs special recognition for his tireless efforts of opening the way for my academic pursuits in the Doctor of Missiology program. His energy, excitement, and support made it possible and enjoyable. I honor him with highest regards for all that he poured into my life. He modeled persistence, patience, and spiritual vigor in “world Christian” perspective. Dr. Rick Gray welcomed me into his life for conversations to reflect on Wesley’s insights in multi-ethnic relationships in multicultural perspective from the depth of true friendship. Thanks for sharing this journey with me. Dr. D. William Faupel provided work opportunity at Asbury Theological Seminary in the B. L. Fisher Library. The job not only supplied the financial undergirding for my family during this phase of my academic pursuits, it also opened a deeper level of acquaintance with the materials necessary for serious scholarship. His broad international network of world Christians opened valuable personal connections to the global church for me. Dr. William C. Kostlevy deepened my appreciation and connection to the Wesleyan Theological Society by interpreting Wesley materials with accuracy and wit that remain essential to my own
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