Reprinted from the Oikonomia Network.
Our vision paper “A Christian Vision for Flourishing Communities” lays out how we see the challenge of renewing theologically formed Christian wisdom for the common good and human flourishing in the advanced modern world.
En Español: “Una Visión Christiana para las Comunidades Florecientes“
Inside, you’ll find:
- Inspiring quotes and informative extracts from key leaders and works
- Why the church and the economy are linked in the mission of God
- Our “Twelve Elements of Economic Wisdom,” grouped in four themes:
- Stewardship & Flourishing
- Value Creation
- Productivity & Opportunity
- Responsible Action
- Five “Pastoral Pathways” for applying economic wisdom in the church
- Theology
- Pastoral Care
- Compassion
- The Common Good
- Youth & Family
- Endorsements from our community of theological scholars
While the Twelve Elements usually get most of the attention, we also want to hold up the five Pastoral Pathways, which provide vision both for why the church so urgently needs to think wisely about the economies our people live in, and how they can do so well.
Here’s an example. For more, check out “A Christian Vision for Flourishing Communities” today!
Pastoral Pathway 3: Compassion
He promises that he will cause rivers to flow even in desert conditions. We’re called to bring an oasis to those who live in the desert.
Christopher Brooks, from his EWP Talk “Rethinking Urban Poverty”
Detroit pastor Christopher Brooks is leading an effort to bring local churches together in support of economic revival in their city. He comments that poverty is more than a lack of resources or even a lack of strong family and work relationships, important as those are. Poverty is also a deep sense of insecurity and fear:
These feelings of fear and vulnerability, and feeling overwhelmed, is exactly what the poor feel on a daily basis. They live in a desert and they know it. It’s caused many of them to feel that, ‘I have to get me and my family out of this community, or we might just die in the desert.
This presents a unique challenge to us as Christians, because we preach a gospel that tells people that they don’t have to relocate in order to experience the blessing and flourishing that comes from being in Christ. In other words, you shouldn’t have to change ZIP codes for the gospel to work for you. This makes me believe that as Christians, we’re called and responsible for casting a different vision for the desert.
The church is not being the church if it is not helping those in need. However, too many churches have come to measure “help” by how much money and resources we spend, not by whether our efforts are providing a path out of poverty. An increasing number of voices are challenging the predominant model of how we help people – through both public social programs and the church’s own ministries.
If the poor are made in the image of God, they have been gifted with productive capacities. We can help them grow into their calling to use those capacities to make a contribution and serve human needs. Eventually they can become economic self-supporters and even join us in providing support to those who cannot work. By contrast, indiscriminate giving sends the implicit message: “You have nothing to contribute; I expect nothing from you.”
If the poor are made in the image of God, they are made to be in relationship and in community. We can help them grow toward interdependence, with people serving and supporting one another in families, businesses and communities. By contrast, indiscriminate giving sends the implicit message: “What matters is money, not relationships of mutual service.”
Underneath all these efforts lie the call to rest securely and confidently in God’s presence and provision for his children. Only this gospel call, made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, can root out the fear and vulnerability at the heart of poverty.
The Green Room 