When I first saw the new LBC promise, I was excited to see the word flourish as a main component. Human flourishing is connected to the term shalom, which is what God intended the world, and particularly humans, to experience when He created them. Shalom goes beyond peace to include “a condition or sense of harmony, well-being, and prosperity. The biblical concept means more than the absence of hostility, and it is more than a psychological state. . .. It was not a negative or passive concept but involved wholeness and completeness. . ., ‘uninjured, safe, complete, peaceable.’” (Clendenen, E. Ray. “Peace.” Ed. Chad Brand et al. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary 2003: 1261.)
After the fall, God worked to bring about the restoration of human flourishing. This included giving his people “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 13:5; Deuteronomy 27:3; Ezekiel 20:6; and others). This description presented the land of Canaan as a place as close to (in a fallen world) the Garden of Eden. The creation mandate to subdue, to have dominion, to tend and care for God’s creation continued throughout the Old Testament, and it continues today, calling us to establish shalom in our realms of influence. Although I was not in on the drafting and approving the promise, I see this as one of the main reasons that our promise includes flourishing. That idea is not just about the rest of creation, but it should focus on human flourishing, which allows us to care for the rest of creation properly.
As I consider the idea of human flourishing, I believe that the work of the Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ is the foundational component that undergirds all that is done to restore shalom. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit and other character traits that Christ displays will lead to healthy relationships with God and with our neighbors. In my classes, I seek to help my students understand how the Spirit is at work in them to bring about this transformation, and to emphasize why this is such a critical aspect of their life and work. Some of the key passages of Scripture that I share with them related to this idea of transformation into the image of Christ are Romans 8:28-29, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and 1 John 3:1-3.

Dr. Gordon Gregory
A second critical aspect of integrating flourishing, both for our students and those they will work with in the future, is the understanding of how their vocation can lead to the restoration and advancement of shalom. When I teach about the creation mandate or touch on it related to another topic, I always stop to ask the students to consider how their intended vocation can lead to that advancement or restoration. Some vocations focus more on fixing what is broken in the world, while others focus more on helping people to grow in their knowledge and skills for an increasing flourishing in some area of their life or work. Both are important. Teaching theology always includes the Bible, but from my side, this is one of my favorite ways of integrating vocation into what I teach. I believe this integration also helps students to be encouraged to see how their work is a part of God’s purpose to restore shalom.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize one further critical area for integration: that displaying the character of Christ and advancing human flourishing can also open doors for the gospel. As people see a difference in our lives and the lives of our students, questions may arise that lead to gospel conversations that can bring others to Christ. Fulfilling the creation mandate in meaningful ways, plus fulfilling the great commandment, can lead to having a part in fulfilling the Great Commission.