Perspective on Human Perspective on Human FlourishingFlourishing

Human FlourishingHuman Flourishing

Before the Fall--Before the Fall--human flourishing in human flourishing in the gardenthe garden

After the Fall--After the Fall--sin impacts human sin impacts human flourishingflourishing– Distortions of the meaning of flourishingDistortions of the meaning of flourishing– Distortions of the perception of Distortions of the perception of

flourishing (Psalm 73)flourishing (Psalm 73)– Loss of connection with our Source of Loss of connection with our Source of

flourishingflourishing

Human Flourishing (cont.)Human Flourishing (cont.)

The Redemption and human flourishingThe Redemption and human flourishing– We of all people must be agents of hope for We of all people must be agents of hope for

our world—we have reconnected with the our world—we have reconnected with the Source of human flourishingSource of human flourishing

– ““And he has committed to us the ministry of And he has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation…” 2 Corinthians 5:18reconciliation…” 2 Corinthians 5:18

– Flourishing now involves both creation and Flourishing now involves both creation and redemption, both healing [of our structures redemption, both healing [of our structures and disciplines] and offering hopeand disciplines] and offering hope

Who Flourishes?Who Flourishes?

All people are image bearers of GodAll people are image bearers of God The common grace of God leads The common grace of God leads

many to offer insight into flourishingmany to offer insight into flourishing Consider the example of Consider the example of

CsikszenthihalyiCsikszenthihalyi

Psychological ResearchPsychological Research

Literature review by Nakamura and Literature review by Nakamura and Csikszenthihalyi:Csikszenthihalyi:

““the fullness of a persons the fullness of a persons participation in the world has been participation in the world has been granted central importance in the granted central importance in the study of Flow.”study of Flow.”

Source: David MashburnSource: David Mashburn

Czikszentmihalyi summarizes his Czikszentmihalyi summarizes his work by saying: work by saying: ““Contrary to what we believe, the best Contrary to what we believe, the best moments of our lives are not the passive, moments of our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times- although such receptive, relaxing times- although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we experiences can also be enjoyable, if we work hard to attain them. The best work hard to attain them. The best moments usually occur when a person’s moments usually occur when a person’s mind is stretched to its limits in a mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” difficult and worthwhile.”

“ “Findings suggest that apathy of Findings suggest that apathy of many people around us is not due to many people around us is not due to their being physically or mentally their being physically or mentally exhausted. The problems seem to lie exhausted. The problems seem to lie more in modern workers relation to more in modern workers relation to his job, with the way he perceives his his job, with the way he perceives his goals in relation to it. Workers goals in relation to it. Workers flourish best when they have a sense flourish best when they have a sense of ‘calling.’” (C)of ‘calling.’” (C)

The Mandate for ChristiansThe Mandate for Christians

Offer hope to the worldOffer hope to the world Identify ways our work can bring hope to Identify ways our work can bring hope to

others, including ourselvesothers, including ourselves Concern: sometimes we model despair Concern: sometimes we model despair

that fails to demonstrate the Kingdom of that fails to demonstrate the Kingdom of God. This is a natural tendencyGod. This is a natural tendency““When confronted with a new situation, humans When confronted with a new situation, humans

tend to see loss before they see opportunity.”tend to see loss before they see opportunity.”Leadership on the LineLeadership on the LineLinsky and HeifitzLinsky and Heifitz

Engineering

The Arts

Business

““Shalom represents the world as it was Shalom represents the world as it was meant to be. It is the content of the meant to be. It is the content of the Kingdom of God. It provides the Kingdom of God. It provides the conditions necessary for all of conditions necessary for all of creation to flourish. When shalom is creation to flourish. When shalom is present, truth, beauty, justice, present, truth, beauty, justice, plenty, and the good flourish and plenty, and the good flourish and bring life.bring life.

““These dimensions of creation will only fully These dimensions of creation will only fully flourish at the end of time, at the full flourish at the end of time, at the full restoration of all things, at the coming of the restoration of all things, at the coming of the city of God to the New Earth. city of God to the New Earth. Our calling is Our calling is to live in the light of this alternative to live in the light of this alternative vision of the future rather than vision of the future rather than submitting to the dominant ideologies submitting to the dominant ideologies of the presentof the present.”.”Don FlowDon Flow““Engaging the World:Engaging the World:Vocation, Eschatology, and Shalom”Vocation, Eschatology, and Shalom”

Don Flow exampleDon Flow example

The ChallengeThe Challenge

How do we redefine human flourishing How do we redefine human flourishing from God’s perspective?from God’s perspective?

How do we apply this to our disciplines?How do we apply this to our disciplines? How do we use this to offer hope and How do we use this to offer hope and

model the Kingdom of God to our world?model the Kingdom of God to our world?– Internally in our work by creating a flourishing Internally in our work by creating a flourishing

environment for our employeesenvironment for our employees– External to the world by offering services that External to the world by offering services that

address real needs in the worldaddress real needs in the world