Working For God (III)

This is the third post in a series on 'Work'. In previous posts we've looked at Creation and the Fall, and Christ's work and the new task of gospel work. We will conclude this series by looking briefly at how the gospel transforms our work in this world. I will also summarise some workshops looking at different perspectives the scriptures take on work.

5. New Creation: Work in the World

At the beginning of the Bible, work is a good part of God's intentions for humanity - an imaging forth of God's ruling work in creation. Due to human rebellion our work was frustrated, and now takes the form of toil outside the garden. However, Christ came to do the work God had given him, to undo the curse by his sin-bearing death and victorious resurrection. Here we see the beginning of the new creation, where in Christ God re-establishes man to a position of rulership over creation. Those who are 'in Christ' are part of this new creation order, and await it's full consummation when God's purposes reach their fulfillment in the new heavens and earth.

We can summarise the elements of a Christian view of work as follows:

1. Work is an opportunity to serve and love my neighbour
2. All of life is an opportunity to glorify God
3. There are two tasks commanded for every Christian, creation work and new creation work (or building Christ's church) - both of which are ultimately God's work
4. The task of new creation work must have priority for the Christian - it is gospel work which grows the kingdom (e.g. 1 Corinthians 7:29ff).
   

What are the two extremes which Christians can fall into on this issue?

• New creation work as the only work of value

Some Christians can get very busy with 'ministry' and fail to recognise the value of anything else in life. They see this world as a sinking ship, and the only task of importance is to tell as many people the gospel so that they can escape the world before it sinks into the sea. This view fails to see this world as worthy of redemption, and doesn't see any value in creation work. This is falling into the trap of dividing the world into 'sacred' and 'secular'.

• No distinction between creation work and gospel work
  

Many Christians will react against the position described above, and recognise that placing no value on creation work is not a responsible way of living in God's world. But this can lead to another error- refusing to acknowledge any priorities in the work that God has given us. When reacting against the 'sacred-secular divide', a person can re-affirm the rightness of creation work to the point where it has equal value with gospel proclamation. After all - aren't both acts of service/minstry? And do we not have different gifts? Some would say that particular Christians are 'called' into Christian ministry, and that others are 'called' into other vocations such as medicine or engineering. Both are valid, and are ways of worshipping and serving God. But this view does not recognise that our work in medicine or engineering does not bring in the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of all Christians being given gifts for the building up of the body of Christ, and that we are all responsible in some way for that task. It is through the preaching of Christ that the kingdom is built.

It needs to be stated that 'creation work' is not done outside of the kingdom for Christians. The gospel transforms the way we approach the whole of our lives, as we live under Christ's lordship. Our work is our worship to God; living with thankfulness in response to God's goodness, and working as for our heavenly Master. We go to work with an attitude of service, not selfishness; it is an opportunity to think of others needs above our own. Our speech will not be taken up with our deadlines, our workload, our problems, but expressing an interest in others' lives and needs. Work will be characterised by humility not rivalry; refusing to play the game of workplace pecking-orders and popularity. And we will be concerned about good stewardship; getting to know the field in which we are employed, and thinking of better ways of using the resources God has given us in a responsible way. Christians should be experts in the areas of environmental and resource stewardship.

'New creation' work is the task of proclaiming the work of Christ and building his church. All believers can be involved in this work by praying (Matthew 9:38), being involved in a local gathering of Christians, training, and looking for opportunities to serve in the work for making Christ known. This can happen in an infinite number of contexts and ways, but it is priority for all Christians.

In 1 Corthinians 15, Paul reminds the believers of the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection. He speaks to them of the great hope of being raised to a new and imperishable existence when Christ returns and puts all enemies under his feet. This amazing promise of the ultimate victory of Christ is the basis for giving ourselves fully to 'the work of the Lord'.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)

The reason gospel work is priority is because of the lastingness of Jesus' new kingdom. We can be certain that the work of building Christ's church is not in vain. His kingdom has broken into this old order, and through the gospel people are being transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's beloved Son. The hope of resurrection should give us cause to be fully engaged in 'new creation' work in new and imaginative ways, as we live with the reality of a creation still in bondage to decay. Let's stand firm in the gospel, always giving ourselves fully to the Lord's work.

In the next post, I'll summarise three of the workshops from conference