Shalom is the word from the Bible that describes the pervasive and comprehensive condition of well-being experienced in the Creation when God completed His work.  It is shalom that has been vandalized by sin.  The gospel is that shalom begins to be restored in our lives and in the world through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  That work of restoration continues as Jesus, through His Spirit, empowers the church to preach and live the realities of His present rule and reign.  Here is a deeply encouraging insight into the heart of the hope of the gospel from a very important book by Cornelius Plantinga:

“To speak of sin by itself, to speak of it apart from the realities of creation and grace, is to forget the resolve of God.  God wants shalom and will pay any price to get it back.  Human sin is stubborn, but not as stubborn as the grace of God and not half so persistent, not half so ready to suffer to win its way.  Moreover, to speak of sin by itself is to misunderstand its nature:  sin is only a parasite, a vandal, a spoiler.  Sinful life is a partly depressing, partly ludicrous caricature of genuine human life.  To concentrate on our rebellion, defection, and folly-to say to the world ‘I have some bad news and I have some bad news’-is to forget that the center of the Christian religion is not our sin but our Savior.  To speak of sin without grace is to minimize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and the hope of shalom.”  (Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, p. 199)

This is why we go to Tanzania.  This is why we drill wells.  This is why we ask you to pray and ask for God to favor with His blessing the little bit that we do.  God is restoring shalom.  We are privileged partners with Him in that work.

 

Mike Malone