Human Flourishing Through the Lens of Reformed Theology

In the vibrant heart of Africa, where the sun rises over bustling markets in Accra and the rhythms of communal life echo through villages in the Sahel, we often ponder what it means to truly thrive. Is it wealth from a successful harvest, the joy of family gatherings, or the peace of a life well-lived? This blog started as a platform for advocating human performance primarily based on the humanist ideas born out of psychology. It was discontinued because my view as a Christian changed to what I now understand as the truly biblical worldview that was recaptured by the reformers of the 16th Century. There is no room for the prosperity gospel that drove my thinking and ministry previously. After years of study, however, it has become clear that there is a place for human flourishing within the context of the walk with Christ. What is different is the frame in which one thinks about it. As we seek to revive this blog, I will explore a timeless perspective: human flourishing according to the truly biblical worldview. This tradition, not only rooted in the teachings of reformers like Luther, Calvin, and other pivotal biblical thinkers, but also echoed in more recent years through thinkers like Jonathan Edwards. These, in my opinion presents a profound vision of fulfilment that's not about fleeting happiness but about aligning with God's eternal purposes.  

Reformed theology, emerging from the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the grace that transforms sinful humanity. At its core is the belief that humans are created in God's image but marred by sin, redeemable only through Christ's work. Human flourishing, in this view, isn't self-centered achievement but the fulfillment of God's good intentions for us as His creatures. Drawing from Reformed thinkers, it's multidimensional: a right relationship with God, healthy bonds with others, an integrated physical and spiritual life, and pursuing a unique vocation in our specific time and place.
Think of it like tending a baobab tree—the "tree of life" in many African cultures. Just as the baobab flourishes when rooted deeply in fertile soil, drawing nourishment from rain and sun, human flourishing happens when we're anchored in God's grace. The Biblical worldview holds that true wholeness comes from glorifying God in all things, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism famously states: 
"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." 
This isn't abstract; it's practical. In a world of economic hardships and social upheavals, it means exercising our God-given creativity and productivity to contribute to His kingdom—whether building sustainable farms in rural Ghana or innovating in Nairobi's Silicon Savannah.Biblically, this vision draws from passages like Psalm 1, where the righteous person is 
"like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season." Or consider Jesus' words in John 10:10:

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 
This abundant life entails a right relationship with God, which restores wholeness across all aspects of existence. It's not about pursuing personal happiness at all costs but embracing self-denial and service.
Yet, the truly biblical worldview departs from the shallow view of flourishing. It's not prosperity gospel's material wealth but a biblical prosperity that includes spiritual growth amid trials. Wisdom literature, like Proverbs, guides us: true flourishing comes from fearing the Lord and walking in His ways, shaping us to be fully human in a broken world. For those of us facing life's endless challenges, this offers hope—flourishing isn't thwarted by circumstances but deepened through dependence on God.

As we revive Rooted Africa, this foundation sets the stage for deeper explorations. Tomorrow, we'll continue with our series on Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions, a Reformed giant whose personal commitments embody this flourishing life. How does this vision challenge or inspire your own pursuit of fulfilment? Share your thoughts in the comments or on X (

@kateyakli

)—let's dialogue and grow together! For further reading, take a look at the references provided.References

1. Neil G. Messer, "Human Flourishing: A Christian Theological Perspective," in Measuring Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Social Sciences and the Humanities (Oxford University Press, 2021). Available via Oxford Academic – Draws on Karl Barth for a Reformed-rooted multidimensional view.
2. Scott R. Swain, "Psalm 19 and Human Flourishing," Reformed Blogmatics (2015). Link – Discusses biblical warrants for flourishing in Reformed thought.
3. Jonathan Pennington, "A Biblical Theology of Human Flourishing," Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (2015). PDF link – Explores creativity and productivity in God's design.
4. Tyler J. VanderWeele, A Theology of Health: Wholeness and Flourishing (reviewed in The Gospel Coalition, 2025). Link – Ties health/flourishing to right relationship with God.
5. Various Reformed discussions, e.g., "Against Human Flourishing" critiques in Sanityville by Warhorn Media (2024). Link – Warns against shallow uses while affirming biblical roots.
6. Ken Myers, "The Pursuit of Happiness," Ligonier Ministries. Link – Connects happiness/flourishing to obedience and God's purposes in Reformed ethics.

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Sound doctrines and apologetics

 It has been established that the absence of sound doctrine endangers salvation. We have also seen that its absence means that the believer has no offensive weapon—i.e. sword of the spirit. One cannot go to war without a sword. It can even be argued that the defensive gear may be non-existent without the word[1]. Faith comes by hearing[2] the word and it is through the word that transformation into a regenerated righteous believer can be accomplished. Essentially, all the defensive gear from Ephesians 6 are all products of the word which is also the weapon of offense. One cannot resist the devil by discerning the fine lines of his half-truths and walk in the power of God’s will without sound doctrine. Everything rises and a falls on sound doctrine—so to speak. This must explain why a defence and protection of it is an imperative.

The book of Jude is perhaps one of the least read in the Bible. It is rather small and may seem insignificant. Yet it contains one of the most important responsibilities of the believer; contending for the faith.

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. ⁴ For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about^[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord” — Jude 1:3-5

The choice to start from this rather obscure text written by a very little known personality is intended to call attention to the fact that sound doctrine requires a thorough knowledge of the entire Bible. No aspect of it is unimportant. As we will see going forward, contending for the faith i.e. expressed correction of misrepresentations of the word and safe-guarding of its borders from the enemies whose goal is the consequences of its distortion was the primary occupation of Jesus himself as it was with some of the prophets before Him[3]. Jude’s call is therefore well placed and intended to ensure the security of sound doctrine; the importance of which we have said cannot be over emphasized.

Right after the wilderness experience where Christ overcame the devil using the sword of the spirit, He engaged with the public and corrected a number of misinterpretations that had been perpetrated by the Pharisees—teachers of the word. Mathew 5 contains some important examples;

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
– Mathew 5:38-39

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, –Mathew 5:38-39

The two texts were selected specifically because of their distinctive departure from the prevailing understanding of the time. They are literally opposites of what was accepted. In view of the fact that Christ is the word in flesh, He is the author of the text and the only one who can present the perfect interpretation. The importance of the text has been repeatedly stated together with its consequences. Christ’s mission therefore included a correction for the word—a contention for the faith. It may be also important to remember that the fall of man in the garden started with a distortion and false interpretation of what God had said. Christ’s salvation enterprise was to fix that fall and the error that caused it and his engagement with Pharisees was a demonstration.

Jesus’s engagement with the Pharisees was always combative. Clearly, their interpretations of the scriptures brought death while His’ ensured life. A most vivid snapshot of this was rendered in the case concerning the adulterous woman[4]. Being guilty, she was condemned to death by stoning. The intervention of Jesus saved her life and charged her not to sin anymore. On the flip side the Pharisees came to understand that they themselves were guilty of sin and did not qualify to condemn anyone to death[5]. An eye for an eye would lead to nothing but death for all. Forgiveness is therefore key and Christ never ceased to emphasize it in contrast to the pharisaic legal position. Death therefore await without Christ’s intervention.

His debates with the Pharisees and the many plots to kill him dominated the Gospels until they finally had him nailed on the Cross[6]. Lies without repentance will continue to attack truth. In the minds of the Pharisees, they were right and it seemed like they had won. Falsity will look like its winning until the eternal power of truth is demonstrated as was revealed in the resurrection. The need to maintain the sanctity of the Gospel became even more important after the departure of Christ. Having corrected and fulfilled the word, he ordered for it to be spread to the ends of the world so all might receive it and be saved[7]. We have seen that wrong Gospel means no salvation and only benefits the usurper. A defence of it was therefore an imperative. Christ pointed to the expected false prophets[8] who were going to continue the agenda of the Pharisee who he called children of the Devil[9].

From the apostles to their descendants, the Church has been attacked with false doctrines and half-truths of all kinds from within and without. It has taken believers who have responded to the call to contend for the faith to maintain the faith against the evil interest of heterodoxy. The Apostle Peter made a similar call to Jude’s;

^“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”
– 1 Peter 3:15

Paul was consistently engaged in the defense of the faith and the sanctity of the Gospel. In the Aeropogus incident[10] he was in his philosophical elements as he took  on thought leaders of the time. In the case concerning circumcision and salvation, he together with his associate Barnabas had to battle fellow Jewish believers from Antioch to Jerusalem where the very first council[11] resolved the matter. Their work has ensured that the next generation was inherited a sound teaching. After it had all been written down, interpretation became the matter for concern. The generations that followed in the apostolic line did what they could to maintain a sound interpretation and doctrines that emanated from it thereof.

In the early Church, Gnosticism (supposedly originated by a sorcerer known as Simon the magus who made a quick appearance in Acts 8:9–24) was the most prominent. Montanism, Docetism, Arianism and modalism are but few of the countless heretical ideas that flourished between the early Church and medieval times[12]. The patristic fathers were all in involved in this endless battle with both internal and external forces whose mission it has always been to fulfil the wish of their master– the father of lies. Consequently Justin Martyr, John Chrysostom and the likes of Origen and Tertullian while not always on point, have left behind a treasure trove of apologetic writings from which today’s believer benefits a great deal. The Reformation of 15^th Century begun with a disagreement over interpretations and the consequent wrong doctrines of works over grace or a balance combination of both. The Catholic Church itself had anathematized and burnt a few to death over charges of heresy. The examples are countless.

The charge to keep that the believer has is for every generation to carry the teaching of the faith forward in its most pristine form. The salvation of the next generation depends on it and the Holy Spirit will always work with available vessels to ensure that the Church is built against the pleasure of the gates of hell. This is a sacred task and it is referred to as apologetics. Apologetics is a means by which sound doctrine is safe guarded…it is a call to all believers and YOU must either engage in it or support those who have made themselves available to be used for the purpose.

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[1] Ephesians 6 [2] Romans 10:17 [3] Isaiah 44:25-27 [4] John 8:1-11 [5] John 8:1
[6] https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Pharisees,-Attitudes-To-Jesus-Christ
[7] Matthew 28:16-20 [8] Matthew 7:15 [9] John 8:44 [10] Acts 17:22-23
[11] Acts 15:1-6[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy_in_Christianity

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