Abstract:
This thesis is a study of nineteenth and twentieth century faith theology and praxis, seeking to
determine a balanced, healthy faith that is both sound in theology and effective in practice, Part
1 presents a history and sources of Faith Teaching and Practices. It first looks
historically at the roots of later faith teaching and practice by presenting a sampling of
teachings on faith from early church fathers, reformers, mystics, and Pietists. These form the
foundation for the movements of faith in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries-the classic
faith teaching, followed by the modern faith movement and leaders.
Part 2 deals with the foundational issues of faith teaching and practice: the relationship of faith
to the supernatural, the concept of the inheritance of the believer and the practice of claiming
the promises of God, the nature of faith, and the authority of the believer and its inferences for
faith praxis.
Part 3 investigates seven major theological issues of faith teaching and practice: faith as a law
and force, the object and source of faith, the relationship of faith and the will of God,
distinguishing between a logos and a rhema word of God, the concepts of revelation and
sense knowledge, the doctrine of healing in the atonement, the question of evidence of the baptism
in the Holy Spirit.
Part 4 examines major practical issues of faith teaching and practice about which controversy
swirls: positive mental attitude and positive confession; issues of discernment in acting upon
impressions, voices, revelations, and "words from the Lord;" questions of faith regarding sickness
and healing, death, doctors and medicine; the relationships between sickness, suffering, healing,
and sanctification; and prosperity.
Part 5 reflects upon these issues and comes to final conclusions regarding: the role of
hermeneutics in determining faith theology and praxis, how to handle unanswered prayers and
apparent failures of faith, the seeming paradox and tension between claiming one's inheritance and dying to self, a summary of practical conclusions for exercise of healthy faith, and final conclusions and recommendations on developing a sound theology and practice of faith for the twenty-first century.
