Balsem die de ziel geneest: Innerlijke genezing en theologie

God's healing presence is a central theme in the service of inner healing. This pastoral ministry of the Church offers help to people with inner wounds suffered in the past. People pray for healing, inner peace and a healthy identity that comes from a living relationship with God. This intrigues, evokes desire but also raises questions. What salvation can be experienced? How does God act? Reason for a theological investigation. This study examines to what extent three theological frameworks are helpful in interpreting experiences gained in and around the ministry of inner healing. Is it important to emphasize the wholesome personality of Jesus Christ (Andrew Purves) or should attention be paid to the experiential dimension of human existence in which salvation can enter (Wilhelm Gräb)? Or can the whole be understood from a description of God as the Triune who is essentially related to his creatures (Robert W. Jenson)? What is the role of the Spirit in this? Appropriate interpretation is important so that the heart is touched. To this end, it comes down to a “pastoral dogmatics” that provides insight into the reality of God, man and the world.