Even good books on healing tend to be unbalanced and incomplete. Theologians rarely understand the medical issues, while doctors usually tread lightly over the biblical material. Few authors engage adequately with the pastoral agonies, and there are very few books I would give to a Christian with an incurable illness.

I therefore picked up this offering from an American Bible teacher with reluctance, but quickly found I was breathing in fresh air. The first two sections present a devastating critique of the current healing movement, written with clarity, charity and accuracy. He hits the nail on the head.

I was pleased to see James Randi given the credit he is due and to find a whole chapter is written by illusionist André Kole. Steve Martin's film Leap of Faith is acknowledged as being an accurate expose of the techniques used by miracle healers today. Special attention is given to Benny Hinn to illustrate the thesis. An account of what is actually going on medically with those claiming to be healed fully accords with my own enquiries.

The third part of the book covers the biblical material. The key passages are tackled in a compelling and interesting way. He is not afraid to argue a fresh viewpoint - eg on James Chapter 5. He disagrees with other writers, including Dr Lloyd-Jones, for believing that Christians can be demonised - the idea, Mayhue asserts, is a contradiction in terms. He writes helpfully about the 'healing in the atonement' debate.

The final section faces the pastoral issues. One chapter records an interview with quadriplegic Joni Eareckson-Tada. Another looks at the place of prayer and medicine for sick Christians. There is lots of sound, Christian, common sense here.

Criticisms? Well, the book contains the best definition of a miracle I have seen but without an index you will be hard put to find it! If you want to know whether the work of Lourdes is tackled, or Verna Wright quoted, you will have to search without an index. This lack of an index adds a whole new dimension to debate about the 'unforgivable sin'! It is so unnecessary in a book which should be such a valuable reference work. Also, there are some Americanisms to endure. Every surgeon is 'world renowned' etc! We even have a few 'unto-s' to digest.

I can only hope this book is widely read, not least by those with incurable sicknesses. Certainly, it should be compulsory reading for anyone wanting to understand the nature of any distinctively Christian ministry of healing.

Reviewed by
Peter May
(GP, Southampton)