Book Describes Biblical Flourishing

The Bible does not specifically address political or social approaches to solving problems plaguing the world in the 21st Century, says Calvin Seminary systematic theology professor John Bolt in his new book Economic Shalom.

Rather, Scripture is more about “moral imperatives such as honesty, integrity, fairness and mutual respect,” and this brings up important questions for the contemporary believer, he writes.

“This is a particular challenge,” says Bolt, “for Reformed Christians whose theological tradition emphasizes integrating biblical faith into every dimension of human life.’

Published by Christian’s Library Press, the full title of his book is Economic Shalom: A Reformed Primer on Faith, Work, and Human Flourishing.

Instead of focusing on how the Bible applies to individual issues and circumstances, his book aims to offer a broad overview of where and how to find “the freedom for living in this world.”

And that means, he says, “it all starts with Jesus, who he is and what it means to be in him,” said Bolt in an interview.

His book looks at the concept of the kingdom of God.

There are those who argue that the kingdom, brought forth by Christ, is not reflected very well in the world today and that it is the role of Christians to formulate and bring about strategies to establish the kingdom, with its focus on social and economic equality.

“If you look at the kingdom in this way, with this utopian thread, clearly the world doesn’t measure up,” he says.

Taking this approach demands that we be “constantly on the side of discontent and activism and work to where we think we should be,” he said.

In his book, Bolt says he believes it is wiser to take an “anthropological” approach, rather than an idealized king dom approach, in addressing the issues troubling the world.

Instead of imposing a predetermined solution toa problem, go back into history and study how humans have addressed it in the past.

“We have to ask such questions as, ‘What do we believe about the human person? What kinds of structures and ways to regulate the economy and political structures enhance the freedom and the dignity of the human person?’”

Instead of using the Bible as a kind of blueprint for taking political and social action, Bolt says it is better, and ultimately more fruitful, to support circumstances and an economic system in which “free people associate and exchange (goods, services, ideas, etc.) to the mutual benefit of everyone.”

He supports a free market system with checks and balances set into place carefully to avoid abuse and the concentration of too much power.

“This vision is biblical and comes from who we are as humans in relationship to work,” he said.

Flourishing as humans, Bolt says, means being able “live and work within God’s creation and to follow one’s gifts and desires within the rule of law.”

Bolt also says that, despite the many concerns facing the world today, is is important to note that progress has been made on many fronts for many people over the centuries.

“For most of the human race’s history, life has been nasty and brutish. This tells me, as we look at some of the structures in place today, that we know and can develop the conditions under which people can flourish,” he said.

He doesn’t discount the reality that many people in the world are suffering. But he does ask questions about how to best play a role in alleviating the suffering.

“We have the obligation to provide charity and love, and that precedes social justice,” he said.

“We honor the poor when we meet their immediate needs as they are presented to us, but the poor also have an obligation,” which, he says, can be hard for many to carry out.

But regardless of the obstacles, “we have to give people the dignity that comes from being increasingly responsible for themselves.”

He says he sees the answer to human flourishing in being able to remember and act upon the truth that “the Gospel changes lives .… We won’t change the world effectively solely through the political process.”