Definition and Clarification of Terms
a. Healing
In Christian tradition, Healing is a theological term that applies to restoring a person's body, soul, and spirit, including mental and emotional aspects. Healing and restoration became necessary only after the entrance of sin into the human experience. The Christian Gospel is a message of healing to sinful humanity, and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross destroyed the power of sin and death that brought Healing to humanity. On the other hand, the medical community focuses largely on repairing physical injury and curing physical disease. They prefer to use medical terms such as cure and recovery over Healing.
b. Wellness (and Health)
Health + Spirituality = Wellness. It is a healthy condition of a person's body, soul, and spirit, including the mind, emotion, and psychological aspects. In other words, Health is more focused on a person's physical side or state, whereas Wellness goes through the physical boundary down to the inner part of the person. Health and Wellness can be used interchangeably on some occasions.
c. Wholeness
It is experiencing the divine gift of Healing, Health, and Wellness in all these human entities - body, soul, and spirit. Only the grace of God in Jesus Christ can accomplish this in a person's life.
d. Evangelism
It is the incarnational presence of the Gospel at work in the community of the lost and the needy based on the love of God and neighbors to draw people to Christ. It goes beyond soul-winning and proclamation of the Gospel.
e. Overweight and Obesity
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) defines this terminology "An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese."
f. BMI
The American Heart Association defines BMI as "short for body mass index, a numerical value of weight relative to height. BMIs are good indicators of healthy or unhealthy weights for adults, regardless of body frame size. A BMI of less than 25 indicates a healthy weight. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher indicates obesity."
Updated March 2017
In Christian tradition, Healing is a theological term that applies to restoring a person's body, soul, and spirit, including mental and emotional aspects. Healing and restoration became necessary only after the entrance of sin into the human experience. The Christian Gospel is a message of healing to sinful humanity, and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross destroyed the power of sin and death that brought Healing to humanity. On the other hand, the medical community focuses largely on repairing physical injury and curing physical disease. They prefer to use medical terms such as cure and recovery over Healing.
b. Wellness (and Health)
Health + Spirituality = Wellness. It is a healthy condition of a person's body, soul, and spirit, including the mind, emotion, and psychological aspects. In other words, Health is more focused on a person's physical side or state, whereas Wellness goes through the physical boundary down to the inner part of the person. Health and Wellness can be used interchangeably on some occasions.
c. Wholeness
It is experiencing the divine gift of Healing, Health, and Wellness in all these human entities - body, soul, and spirit. Only the grace of God in Jesus Christ can accomplish this in a person's life.
d. Evangelism
It is the incarnational presence of the Gospel at work in the community of the lost and the needy based on the love of God and neighbors to draw people to Christ. It goes beyond soul-winning and proclamation of the Gospel.
e. Overweight and Obesity
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) defines this terminology "An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese."
f. BMI
The American Heart Association defines BMI as "short for body mass index, a numerical value of weight relative to height. BMIs are good indicators of healthy or unhealthy weights for adults, regardless of body frame size. A BMI of less than 25 indicates a healthy weight. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher indicates obesity."
Updated March 2017