In the glocal (global and local) situation in which Christian believers live today, we are all called to redemptive care—sharing the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, nurturing the faith of others, and "fulfilling the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11). The best way to do that is to build a platform - a bridge - that creates a shared space in which believers can engage others as they serve in the mission of God in the world.
Caring for our community is rooted in the "Great Commandment"—to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our neighbors are certainly those in our own communities. Addressing the social vulnerabilities within our communities enables the message of redemption and reconciliation to take root in a more receptive environment.
At the core of the great mandate is the concept of humanity serving as image-bearers—representing or imitating God on earth. Humans uniquely reflect the image of God within them when they express their God-given creative abilities. So it is possible for humanity to create cultures rich in beauty and goodness which represents the nature of God authentically. However, because humanity is sinful, it can also be tainted by sin and some of it can be demonic. (Lausanne Covenant, para. 10). Thus all cultures are integrated systems of beliefs, values, customs, and institutions that are impacted by sin.
In Genesis 2 Adam was placed in the garden of Eden—a place where humanity was to live intimately with God. In this setting humanity was given the charge to work or to serve in the temple-like atmosphere. Adam was given the task to watch over, guard, preserve and protect the garden. As image-bearers of God, humans were given the task of "keeping" the garden just as the Lord "keeps" us and blesses us (Numbers 6:24-26, Psalm 12:7). This task was repeated in Genesis 3:23 after Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden. Thus, the task of caring for creation is central to our identity as being created in the image of God. The purpose for which humans were given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28) is the peace and blessing that God intends for us and for creation as
we serve as caretakers of the creation God has entrusted to us.
A biblical view of human well-being includes spiritual well-being as foundational to physical, mental and social well-being. In fact, since the loss of human well-being began with the first sin in Genesis 3, all humanity has suffered spiritual, physical, mental and social loss requiring healing of body, mind and spirit. God desires all of humanity to experience shalom, an inward sense of completeness or wholeness, that comes through peace with God (spiritual wholeness) combined with physical, mental, and social healing. The ministry of Jesus brought healing to human interconnected loss of well-being. Since life cannot be compartmentalized into the physical and spiritual, health care is truly compassionate care for the whole person encompassing forgiveness of sins (redemption), healing of disease (physical restoration), mental health (renewing the mind), and healing of relationships (reconciliation).
Isaiah says that God desires his people to "Keep justice, and do righteousness" (Isaiah 56:1). Keeping justice and doing righteousness means to live according to the commandments that God has given us. "Loving kindness" refers to our relationship with others—which grows out of the "loving kindness" God has extended to us. The requirement of "walking humbly with your God" means to maintain a vibrant relationship with God. Equitable justice encompasses loving to serve God and treating others justly while maintaining a proper relationship with God and others. Jesus summed this as the Golden Rule, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12).