Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

358 | Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Wholeness ( Shalom ) is the personal and communal experience of peace, abundance, goodness, soundness, well-being, and belonging. Wholeness is founded on righteousness (right relationships with God and man), truth (right beliefs about God and man), and holiness (right actions before God and man). Shalom is a gift of God and a sign of his Kingdom’s presence. Development should create an environment where cooperative relationships can flourish. Explanation Development that leads to wholeness acknowledges that human activity takes place in community. The web of relationships that occurs in the work environment (e.g. trainer to trainee, co-worker to co-worker, etc.), must reflect our values of Christian community. Implications • People are not means to an end. Development seeks, first of all, to develop people. This will necessarily involve equipping them (and holding them accountable to) accomplishing tasks. However, it is the maturing of the person, not the completion of the task that is always the primary end of development work. • All people in the development process should work for each other as if they are working for Christ himself. Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us that our work is ultimately directed toward and rewarded by Christ. Development projects must operationalize this principle. This suggests that our work must be done with excellence, integrity, diligence, meekness, love and whatever other 7.1

7. Wholeness

virtues are necessary for proper service to God. • Relational dynamics must be taken seriously.

A development project which produces an excellent product and equips people with marketable skills, but which is characterized by disharmony or disunity among its employees has not achieved its goal. The developer must seek to develop genuine community within the workplace.

7.2 Development activities should demonstrate the truth of the Gospel. Explanation 1 John 3:18 exhorts us to love not merely with words or tongue, “but with actions and in truth.” The love of Christ is given not to “souls” but to