To Help You Formulate A Response, You May Read The Following

To Help You Formulate A Response You May Read The Following Article Fr

To help you formulate a response you may read the following article from the Institute of Faith, Work, and Economics for reflection. It is “Sending A Message to Business: A Christian Perspective On Creative Destruction” by Taylor Barkley, March 8, 2013. How does Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17 (and Genesis 3:17-19) (if you are not familiar with the creation account, God created the natural environment and gave it to the first parents. The biblical language says that God “planted” the garden and asked Adam to build upon God’s work by caring for it. When Adam and Eve sinned, agricultural productivity suffered. To tie it into the questions of what, how, and why, consider the reason for God creating the garden and giving it to Adam to manage. Also consider the nature of creativity in light of the biblical passages and how it is connected to human flourishing. Provide insight for the three basic economic questions of what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce?

Paper For Above instruction

The biblical account of Genesis chapters 2 and 3 provides a foundational understanding of human stewardship, creativity, and economic principles. These passages reflect the divine intention for humans to care for and cultivate the earth, aligning closely with the core economic questions of what to produce, how to produce, and for whom. This theological perspective offers profound insights into human flourishing through creative work and responsible management of resources, emphasizing the importance of moral and spiritual considerations in economic activity.

Genesis 2:8-9 and 15-17 describe God's act of planting a garden—a divine act of creation—and assigning humans the role of stewards within it. The garden symbolizes a harmonious environment that God entrusted to Adam to develop and maintain. The implicit purpose of creating the garden and giving it to humanity was rooted in the divine desire for humans to participate in creation through meaningful work, thus fostering human flourishing. God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil signals the importance of moral boundaries in human creativity and productivity, highlighting that genuine human flourishing depends on aligning human activity with divine principles.

Genesis 3:17-19 discusses the consequences of human sin—culminating in toil, thorns, thistles, and ultimately, mortality—signifying that human creativity and productivity are subject to human fallenness. Yet, even in these consequences, biblical theology emphasizes the ongoing importance of work and stewardship as avenues for human fulfillment. The curse does not negate the divine call for humans to cultivate the earth but underscores the need for responsible management and humility in human endeavors, recognizing the limitations imposed by human sinfulness.

From an economic perspective, these biblical themes align with the purpose of economic activity: to serve human flourishing by producing goods and services that meet human needs and promote well-being. The 'what' to produce is rooted in the needs and the good of communities, guided by moral and ethical considerations. The biblical narrative underscores that creative labor is an act of human participation in God's ongoing act of creation, which should be directed toward the common good.

The 'how' to produce should reflect responsible stewardship, innovation within moral boundaries, and sustainable practices that honor God's creation. Genesis’s emphasis on caring for the garden suggests that production methods should prioritize sustainability, ethical treatment of resources, and fairness. This viewpoint suggests that economic decisions should account for environmental stewardship and social responsibility, ensuring that human flourishing is not achieved at the expense of the environment or marginalized groups.

The 'for whom' to produce is grounded in the biblical ethic of justice and care for others. Human flourishing involves equitable distribution and access to resources, recognizing the inherent dignity of every person. This aligns with Christian teachings on love and justice, highlighting that economic activity should aim to serve all individuals, especially the vulnerable, fostering community well-being and collective prosperity.

Creativity, as depicted in biblical texts, is woven into the divine image in humans—implying that meaningful work and innovation are integral to human identity and flourishing. The act of creation is not merely about production but also about the pursuit of beauty, order, and goodness, which contributes to human happiness and societal well-being. Responsible creativity, therefore, involves using our God-given capacities to develop a flourishing society that reflects divine virtues.

In conclusion, Genesis 2 and 3 provide a theological foundation that illuminates the purpose and nature of human economic activity. They inspire a view of economics rooted in stewardship, ethical responsibility, and divine image-bearing, all of which are essential for fostering human flourishing. By integrating biblical principles into economic decision-making—what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom—we can promote a more just, sustainable, and flourishing society grounded in divine truth and human dignity.

References

• Bartholomew, C. G., & Goheen, M. W. (2014). The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story. Baker Academic.
• Gordon, T. (2012). God, Growth, and the Common Good: A Christian Vision for a New Economy. InterVarsity Press.
• Heschel, A. J. (2001). The Prophets. HarperOne.
• Lewis, C. S. (2004). Mere Christianity. HarperOne.
• Moltmann, J. (1993). The Experiment Hope: A Strategy for Church in the Power of the Spirit. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Stassen, G. H., & Gushee, D. P. (2003). Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context. Westminster John Knox Press.
• Thielicke, H. (1990). The Christian Expectation of the World. Eerdmans.
• Volf, M. (2006). Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. Eerdmans.
• Wolters, O. W. (2010). The Reformed Imperative: What the Church Has to Say that No One Else Can Say. Eerdmans.
• Yoder, J. Howard. (1994). The Politics of Jesus. Eerdmans.