J.D. King: Regeneration: A Complete History of Healing in the Christian Church (Vol 2)
The sections on Anglicanism and on Fundamentalist-Evangelical were the most interesting to me, because I was not aware of them, overall. I had some idea of figures within Fundamentalist-Evangelical circles who tolerated healing, but I was not aware of some of the champions of healing within those particular circles. My favorite section was on Anglicanism, though, and there is a rich vein of healing history there that needed to be “mined” and shared. King did that beautifully. The history and lessons of just two movements within the Anglican church that J.D. King shares is worth the whole book (And there is so much more!): the Society of Emmanuel and the Order of St. Luke. I am sure many others interested in, or at least open to, healing may not have been aware of the depth of healing in these movements. In these, and each of the movements, King makes the figures involved come alive to us today.
I would highly recommend this series of books to anyone who loves healing; whether the intended scholarly audience (and pastors and other five-fold ministers) or those “in the pew” who want to be inspired and encouraged in the fact that perhaps God could use them either in their own church or a larger context of promoting a ministry that is close to the heart of God, for which many have sacrificed, and which flows like a river through Church history (sometimes in surprising places!). I would also recommend this volume, specifically, to those with even the slightest interest, or curiosity, in healing who may not be a part of movements more commonly recognized as being as open to healing. While both Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism has been skeptical, the waters of healing have flowed there, too. These volumes bring healing home to us in both a historical and personal way. Healing is a part of our shared heritage and history, and it is okay to pursue Jesus as Healer and to take Him to our homes, churches, and communities—and beyond.
Reviewed by Ryan Miller
Category: Church History, Winter 2019