Reflection: A Biblical View of International Development
Sundee Simmons serves as the Associate Director for Perspectives Global and prior to that served as the Director of Training for Perspectives USA. She is working on an MA in International Development with William Carey International University.
WCIU Journal: Worldview Topic
March 29, 2021
by Sundee Simmons
A biblical view of international development is found in the metanarrative of the Bible, i.e., God’s global mission/purpose and specifically in the reality of the Kingdom of God with Jesus as King and humans being made in the image of God. Being made in God’s image, we were made for community, we were made to be in right relationship with God and all that He created. The fall resulted in broken relationships between God and man and man with creation which includes himself, others, and the environment. The fall was holistic. Evil corrupted the entirety of creation, therefore international development must also be holistic. It must address the problem of evil and broken relationships on all levels.
International development is a means by which people can not only experience the blessing of Jesus’ rule and reign through the family of God, but they can also be invited into the family of God to share in this global purpose to be a people of blessing.
Development efforts that benefit some at the cost of well-being and dignity of others, “desecrates the image of God” (Befus and Bauman 2010, 90). Sin and evil have not only corrupted individual hearts and minds, but also the societal systems and structures that keep some people in situations of suffering and blind others to the reality of it. God is love. Justice and righteousness are central to his character. “Justice demands righteous relationships” (Befus and Bauman 2010, 91). Jesus sees the suffering of creation and is working through his people to eradicate evil and restore relationships. Justice, whether political, economic, or social, is redemptive and brings blessing to all.
Development efforts that benefit humanity at the expense of creation is only temporary. It will not produce long lasting, sustained blessing but rather lead to more suffering, death and chaos.
Disease is an evil that also brings suffering to all humanity regardless of economic and social status. It is not necessarily the result of sin, but the reality of an intelligent evil in rebellion against God. This intelligent evil through our sin has thoroughly corrupted creation leading to all kinds of diseases, illness and death. Jesus work on the cross has conquered death and made a way for people to have eternal life, but until He comes again bring final destruction to evil and complete restoration of creation, development efforts must also include the fight against illness and disease.
The church is to be an outpost of the kingdom of God in the world. It is a community of people submitting to the lordship of Christ, worshipping, and following Him together. The church is the presence of Jesus and a demonstration of His kingdom. It is a glimpse or taste of the kingdom yet to come. Evil is defeated through the good works of church. The church is to follow the example that Christ gave through his life, death and resurrection. Incarnational ministry, caring for the poor, the sick, the marginalized, undoing the works of the evil and restoring the dignity to fellow image bearers of God for the glory of God.
Western Christians need to grasp that our experience has come at the expense of others around the world and that our “pursuit of happiness” has resulted in suffering in other parts of the world. We need to acknowledge and repent of our ethnocentrism and begin to see the world as God sees it. We also must feel the weight of responsibility to steward our wealth and resources to the glory of God and the blessing of the nations. Only from this place of repentant humility and a passionate desire for God’s glory to fill the earth can we embrace our call to work with Jesus in international development.
Reference
Befus, David, and Stephan Bauman. 2010. “Economic Justice for the Poor.” In International Development from a Kingdom Perspective, edited by James Butare-Kiyovu. Pasadena: WCIU Press.