Wellbeing is a word that has entered common use in the last few years. Increasingly we are recognising that the different parts of our lives are interlinked – mental or emotional stress makes us more physically tired, physical illness affects our mental and emotional capacity, isolation and loneliness affect our physical health. Wellbeing is about finding ways to keep in good shape in all the different areas of our life – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, even financially, so that we are able to cope better with the challenges we encounter every day.
So what is Christian wellbeing? As a Christian charity are we just trying to jump on an already overcrowded bandwagon, or do we have something worth sharing?
Christian wellbeing draws on the common sense found in the Bible, and the wisdom of Christians through the ages, alongside the best of today’s scientific thought. For two thousand years Christians have followed the teaching and example of Jesus – who said:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Over the centuries many people who have been struggling with life have found restoration and new hope through Jesus and his teachings.
Secular wellbeing can often end up focussing mainly on what an individual can do to improve their life. Christians wellbeing takes a wider view – looking outward at our effect on the world, not just the world’s effect on us, because we believe that our own wellbeing is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of others and our planet. This is perhaps best summarised in these words from Luke’s Gospel:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
The Bible also says people are like the different parts of a body – we need each other to function properly, and if one part is in pain, all of the body feels it (just think about toothache), if one part is happy (like a satisfied stomach after a good meal), then the whole body feels good (Romans 12:12-26).
We want people to be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy, but we also believe that humans were designed to be in relationship with others. We will not be truly well, we will not truly find ‘rest for our souls’ unless we are at peace – in good relationship – not just with our self, but with our ‘neighbours’ – other people and the natural world, and also with God, who we believe created, loves and wants the best for everyone and everything.
There is lots we can learn from secular wellbeing, but sometimes it can feel quite self-centred and it can leave us feeling empty or inadequate, particularly if we have a health or other problem that is not easy to ‘fix’. Many businesses use wellbeing to market their products – putting a hefty price on something that should be free. It can be difficult to work out what is really going to help our wellbeing, and what is a gimmick. We can end up spending time and money we can’t afford for little reward. By contrast, in words written over two and a half thousand years ago – but still relevant today – God says:
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” (Isaiah 5:1-3a)
At Hopeswood we believe wellbeing is not about striving for unattainable personal perfection, but learning to rest in God – the source of all life – to be restored and revived by the freely offered ‘living water’ of his love, and to share that love with others. We are learning through the teaching of the Bible and the example of the life of Jesus, to look outward as well as inward, because we recognise that our wellbeing is inter-linked with the wellbeing of other people and our planet. We seek enough rather than everything, community rather than individuality, contentment rather than happiness, and peace rather than perfection.
The Bible uses a special word for this concept: ‘shalom’ is usually translated in English as ‘peace’, but has more depth and breadth to it in the original Hebrew. Shalom is the original wellbeing – as it describes not just an absence of conflict, but a positive living in harmony with others, nature and God. Shalom is about looking after your own and others welfare, everyone being able to prosper and enjoy a tranquil life safe from harm. It is about experiencing wholeness and feeling complete in our relationships and activities.