What is the relationship between Wellness and Christianity? What does California have to do with Jerusalem? In this presentation we think about the similarities and differences, and consider how we might integrate wellness with our faith, without identifying the one with the other. I blogged about this whole area here: https://alisterpate.com/2017/05/15/the-kathleen-syme-centre-has-no-bible/

1. Wellness
and
Christianit
y

2. John 6: 22-26

3. The next day the
crowd that had
stayed on the
other side of the
lake saw that
there had been
only one boat
there. They also
saw that Jesus
had not got into
the boat with his
disciples, but that
his disciples had
gone away alone.

4. Then some boats from Tiberias came near
the place where they had eaten the bread
after the Lord had given thanks.

5. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his
disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats
and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

6. When they found him on the other side of the lake,
they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’

7. Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are
looking for me, not because you saw signs, but
because you ate your fill of the loaves.

8. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that
endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’

9. Then they said to him,
‘What must we do to
perform the works of
God?’

10. Jesus answered them,
‘This is the work of
God, that you believe in
him whom he has sent.’

11. What Does the Passage
Say?
• Setting
• Characters
• Place in the Gospel
• Parallels in other
Gospels

12. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of
the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They
also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his
disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then
some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they
had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So
when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were
there, they themselves got into the boats and went to
Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said
to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered
them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not
because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the
loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the
food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will
give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his
seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform
the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work
of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

13. What Does it Mean?

14. What does “bread” stand for in the passage?
Symbol of Bread

15. Cultural Values
• What are the basic values of our culture?
• If you were trying to explain how
Australian society works to someone from
Mars, what would you say?
• What do people think they are doing
every day of the week? (What’s going on
as opposed to what’s happening.)

16. Telos
What purpose does Human life
have? Is it directed to a telos,
and if so, what is it?

17. The Role of Wellness

18. An Enlightenment Credo
“We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they
are endowed by their
Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness”
USA Declaration of
Independence, 1788

19. Question
What does “pursuit of
happiness” mean?
What are they getting
at? Why choose
“happiness”?

20. Secularism
Originally meant
neutrality between
competing creeds and
philosophies of life.

22. Something We Can All
Agree On?
If we can’t agree on
competing creeds, then
what can we agree on?

23. A Possible Slogan for a
Church?
“Refresh through
Christian Spirituality” –
Solace c. 2010
• What’s good about
this idea?
• What problems does
it have?

24. Faith and Secularity
Christianity
Wellness
Mindfulness
Physical
Activity
Culture
Healthy
Diet
Yoga

25. Why is This Problematic
for Faith?What values are encoded in this way of seeing
things?

27. Ordering Principle
Perhaps the solution is
for Christianity to be
seen as an ordering
principle. There’s
nothing wrong with
health, wealth, or
happiness – but what is
the purpose of it? What
does it serve?

28. What Does It Mean For Me?

29. Question
• What is the organising
principle for my life?
• What would it look like
to organise my life
around “believing in
him who he has sent”

30. Christlikeness
What would it look like to be “Christ-like”?

31. Go in peace;
may you carry God’s Wisdom,
speak forth God’s Word,
and embody God’s Presence
wherever you are.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

32. Blessing
The grace of Christ attend you;
the love of God surround you;
the Holy Spirit keep you;
this day and for ever. Amen.