For decades, this resurrection hope carried me through lean seasons in ministry, hardships in my marriage, challenges in parenting, battles in daily life, and health issues. But somewhere along the way, over the past eight years, it began to take second seat in my life to a cultural emphasis in America—the gospel of human flourishing.
Cultural Emphasis on Human Flourishing
What is the gospel of human flourishing? In reading on the topic recently, I’ve seen that there has been a shift in many denominations over the past several decades from a focus on the gift of Christianity as eternal life to a focus on life here and now and the blessings we can receive as we put our hope and trust in Christ. The purpose behind this teaching is logical, as it reminds believers of the essential truth that new life in Christ is much more than just waiting for eternity. I believe it has been developed to help Christians embrace the Gospel reality that when we receive the Holy Spirit and are brought into God’s family, we are called to work together in the Spirit’s power to build His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
This emphasis was much-needed. Previously, theological imbalances caused many believers to embrace an overly spiritualized focus on the eternal to the neglect of the practical. With this imbalance came an abandoning of practical wisdom for flourishing in marriage, work, finances, parenting, and even the stewardship of our bodies. Leaders developed Bible studies and seminars to help believers learn to apply Biblical truths and concepts to all areas of life.
This brought great blessings to the church and spoke volumes to the watching world about the redeeming power of the Gospel. However, by spotlighting the call to flourish in this life, the light on the hope of the resurrection was dimmed. Instead of holding these Biblical truths in balance, which is crucial, the pendulum swung to the opposite extreme. Flourishing, which is evidence of the Gospel at work, is not the whole Gospel message, and when separated from the hope of Christ’s resurrection diminishes the finished work of Christ.
Paul explains the essential role of the resurrection hope of the Gospel clearly in Colossians 1:5. In this passage, he shows that Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection with and in Him are foundational to flourishing in faith and love—which includes all that we do in this life. He also highlights that our Father is the very “God of hope” who fills us “with joy and peace as we trust in Him” (Romans 15:13). Paul continues to echo this reality when he says that our hope is in the resurrection, and that if our hope is in this life only, we are to be pitied above all people (1 Corinthians 15:19–20).
Flourishing Anchored in Resurrection
The blessing of flourishing in the Christian life, then, is not found in focusing on how we can thrive more in this life. Instead, as Paul reminds us, true flourishing—true blessedness—comes as we set our hope on the resurrected King, anchoring our hope in His resurrection, and setting our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1–2).
As I’ve been reading Colossians 1, the Lord is reminding me of this essential truth. One practical step that I’m taking—and that may help you—is taking time to daily meditate on the resurrection, along with Christ's ascension: “Keep seeking the things above not the things of earth, because you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Not only is the ascension essential, but His second coming and our coming back with Him in glory is vital to the Gospel (Colossians 3:4).
The more we set our minds on our future hope, the clearer our thoughts will be regarding His promise that “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52), and all things will be made whole. This life, though very important for the child of God in building Christ’s Kingdom, is only temporary. Both our trials and triumphs are momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory waiting for us in the resurrection, where we will live with the Lord forever (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). This helps us focus our minds on Christ and Christ alone as our very life: “And when Christ who is our life is revealed, we will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
In essence, the hope of our eternal life in Christ is the crown jewel of our Christian life, with Jesus being the crown itself. True spiritual flourishing flows out of a deep and growing hope in His resurrection, not the other way around (Romans 5:2b-5). When we fix our eyes on Christ and the life He promises, we will be able to walk in faith and love in a way that bears fruit for His glory.
“We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only [in this] so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love for us has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:2b-5).
