Ourworldishungryforsalvation,butwedon’talwaysknowhowtotalkaboutit.ChristiansagreethatGodcaresaboutpeople’slivesbothinthisworldandintoeternity.Butthewayswedescribesalvationoftenseparatethespiritualfromthematerial.Manygroupsemphasizeoneattheexpenseoftheother,limitingthepictureofwhatGodhastooffer.MarkTeasdaleworkstobridgethegapsbytakingupJesus’languageofabundantlife.ThislifeissomethingJesusinvitesustoparticipatein--toseekbothforourselvesandforothers.It’srichandmultidimensional,notsplittingspiritsandmindsfrombodiesandmaterialneeds.Byconnectingbiblicalperspectivesofholisticsalvationtocontemporaryconceptsofwell-being,TeasdalealsoshowshowChristianscanbothbettercommunicateinsecularsettingsaswellaspartnerwithallpeopleregardlessoftheirfaithtoseekthecommongood.Incorporatingconceptsofmaterialstandardoflivingandsubjectivequalityoflife,Teasdaleargues,givesChristianscommonlanguagetosharethepromiseofabundantlifewiththosewhoholdtosecularcommitments.YetwemustalsoboldlypresentJesus’invitationtoeternallifeanddiscipleship.Forchurches,ministryleaders,andlaypeopleTeasdaleoffersideastoimproveandmeasuremethodsofpromotingalldimensionsofsalvationforthegoodofothers.
