Work Matters: Exploring the Integration of Spirituality in Work
I’m out of breath. Two police officers chased me for a mile on the beach earlier today. I was running without a mask on dry sand. Please, send HELP. I live in Los Angeles. Now to my article…
Works have fallen on hard times in the Christian world. One of the nastiest accusations that can be made toward another Christian is that they are a legalist. If you want to get down and dirty, you’d say, “I bet you believe in works salvation.”
In fact, the clarion call of the Reformation was the Five Solas:
Sola Scriptura [scripture alone]
Sola Fide [faith alone]
Sola Gratia [grace alone]
Solus Christus [in Christ alone]
Soli Deo Gloria [to God be the glory alone]
The Five Solas declare the separation of God saving us from any effort or ability inherent in man. I have spent a great deal of time on this in my books, talking about how even a slight corruption of what Luther actually taught has led to a disastrous discounting of the role of works and effort.
I don’t think it is an overstatement to assert that many people erroneously believe that work, particularly frustrating imperfect work, is part of the curse. That humankind yearns to work and that this pollutes our understanding of grace and spiritual salvation. I suppose it has, and does, come into play, but the divorce of “good works”, as James requires, to demonstrate proof of new life, or saving faith, has been devastating to the witness of the church.
I would like to take a different angle with regard to the issue of work though. Work has trouble being integrated into the spiritual life. Let me give an example.
Many hold to the idea that work is part of the curse upon humankind. If that curse were lifted, we would all be sauntering in the south of France, consuming banana daiquiris. That heaven, or something close to it such as an all expense vacation to a Sandals Resort, is the kind of pleasure that could go on forever. The problem with this, to be very simple about it, is that we are Jesus’ disciples. We are called to be like him, and he went to work six days a week from the time he was old enough to help his Father until he was thirty years old. I can show you some very thick theology books that have sections called “The Work of Christ.”
Let me be even more fundamental about this - God was the first person to work. He worked for six days, this is the Genesis narrative, and said it was not only good, it was very good. Then to confuse our minds even more, the God who never sleeps or tires rested on the seventh day. From what did he rest? Work? Yes. God was no sinner and he worked. Christians often say, “God is at work” or, “God is working”.
Work matters. Without it, we would be lost and wouldn’t know what to do because leisure is like a warm bucket of spit without it being a break from work. God loves workers and he needs many workers for his harvest. Ok, I think I’ve made my point. Almost everyone works. You start with chores and homework, then you enter into the work world.
Yet, so many Christian workers are not successful in integrating their faith into their work. In fact, they suffer from intimidation, fear of rejection, or fear of accusations of being an insufferable, self-righteous pig.
Can you imagine (maybe you can’t) what kind of work we would do in eternity? Possibly you have never thought Heaven would include work, labor, or anything to do. Mormons believe that they will inherent planets or solar systems based on their numbers; that is why they have big families. Big families, big “space” real estate. If we will have “a new heavens and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), then someone needs to live there. Someone needs to manage it, enjoy it, and cultivate it. That someone would be all the people who like God and can stand Him forever.
Yes, there will be work, but it won’t be hard work as in unproductive or frustrating. There is no reason to believe that God won’t give us something to do besides sing, float around, and admire Him. So, my advice is to start figuring out right now how to integrate the life of God in to you and your work because you will be doing it forever - a rake in one hand and a banana daiquiris in the other.
