Transformation and flourishing

Previously I have reflected on how flourishing, or thriving, is a concept and a metaphor that now dominates our thinking about the purpose of human existence. Our purpose is (or we have been designed by God) to flourish. Metaphors entail assumptions – they sneak in presuppositions.

So, when we talk about thriving and flourishing, we draw from agricultural metaphors. Plants are things that grow all by themselves. Plants have within themselves the resources and capacity to draw on the nutrients and resources around them, and utilise these to grow and reach their full potential. A tube stock, given sun, water, warmth, and nutrients, can become a substantial tree.

There is a second assumption buried deep inside the concept of thriving. An apple seed thrives by becoming an apple tree – whereas an orange seed thrives to become an orange tree. Flourishing is about becoming a bigger and better version of what already is. Thriving is about realising the existing potential I have inside me. Some Christians imagine God’s role is to provide the sun, water, warmth and nutrients I need to grow so that I can achieve my God-given potential.

Now let’s read Ephesians 2:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Paul is talking about transformation. Growth entails putting off something old, corrupted, deceitful desires – something that enslaves and leads to death (Rom 6:6). The old self is to be cut out, and replaced with something new from the outside. This new self is not always natural, or innate, but rather comes from God and causes us to become more and more like someone else – Jesus.

Paul is talking about a type of transformation that is different from – perhaps even the opposite of thriving and flourishing. Not everything inside us is good. Not every desire ought to be nurtured. Parts of us are selfish, greedy, and just plain nasty. Some of the good things we need to become, do not originate naturally inside us.

Jesus also uses agricultural metaphors and relates them to personal spiritual growth. His most extended metaphor is found in John 15, where Jesus says he is the vine, and we are the branches. Are not vine braches supposed to thrive? Yes, but like Paul, Jesus does not depict us as self-contained, self-growing organisms. We are but a branch, which must remain in the vine, and is incapable of bearing fruit without connection to that vine.

Jesus’ use of this metaphor has layers of distinctions from our modern concept of thriving. It is not us who seeks out the life giving nutrients for ourselves, rather Jesus is the source of all needs. Our purpose is not to become a bigger better version of ourselves, but rather to bear fruit in our Father’s garden. Failure to bear fruit is more than just a lost opportunity – it results in pruning and judgement. Some come later to join the vineyard, and they also are branches that can only survive and be productive when they are grafted into the true vine.    

I am not opposed to following the fad and using the concept of flourishing. On the contrary, it is word that speaks to the yearnings of our culture, and its use is appropriate contextualisation. But – before you try to offer encouragement by telling a younger person they can thrive, think about what you are saying, and what they might be hearing, before you mouth those words.