Introduction
This is above all meant to be a time of encouragement – in my time as a Christian I have heard very few talks on How God sees our work. Mark Green in his book ‘Thank God it’s Monday’ did a survey and found that “over 50% of Christians have never heard a sermon on work, and over 70% have never heard a theology of work, and only 26% have been asked to consider developing a ministry in the workplace. So above all I pray that this evening is helpful – The structure of the evening is a combination of sharing, and testimony – Nick, Amy & Ralph will be sharing
There are 3 main areas that I want us to cover this evening
History of attitudes to work
Testimony 1 - Nick
Renewing a sense of call
Testimony 2 - Ralph
Renewing a sense of mission
Testimony 3 - Amy
Q&A -
PART 1 - History of attitudes to work
Work does not just mean – 9-5 – it can include all housework – running kids around – cleaning the car
The reason I want to look a the history of attitudes to work is because it helpfully reveals both truth and error, and also because as much as we don’t want to admit it – our own views on work our shaped by history. I will start with looking at the Greek and Roman Culture
1 - Greek & Roman Culture – Work is evil
In these cultures work was viewed as something for the underlings. We have slaves – slaves are here to do the work for us – so we can be free to develop ourselves – work is unworthy and beneath us. There was also a belief “spirit good”, “matter bad” – what was most important was the spiritual world, and their culture had a low view of the physical world.
2 - Medieval church – Sacred work good – secular work bad
During the period of the medieval church was to divide work into two great categories – the sacred and the secular. There was the religious, the monastic and the convent, aimed at perfection devoted to contemplation, and then those outside who kept the wheels of the world running at the cost of condemning their souls to a 2nd best spiritual life. You can see how actually this view is not so dis-similar from the Greco Roman view of spirit good matter bad – but here it was sacred good secular bad.
3 - Reformation/Rennaissance – The Dignity of Work
Then came the Renaissance – where the craftsman and the artist was exalted. Individual creation was lifted up and praised. But this was extended in the Reformation where they added the concept of “a calling” for all, that God called people to tasks in the world. All work was done for the glory of God – but it assumed that living a godly life was valued supremely, and work was always to the service of God and others. Actually the reformers really turned things on their head a bit and
4 - Enlightenment – Pursuit of human gain
Then came the Enlightenment which is really where the idea of the good “Protestant work ethic” came from. Service of God was perverted into a creed of personal success:
“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealty and wise
God helps them that helps themselves
If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting
Leisure is time to do something useful
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN – POOR RICHARD
It replaced a spiritually controlled work ethic with a humanly governed economic system that regarded work as a means to financial ends. This led to the distinction between the owners and the labourers, profit was God
5 - Marx – The classless society – control sin
Marx saw how this system often led to abuse – and so wanted to create the classless society – where every one had enough – This led to government control of industry – and stories of vast factories that produced things people didn’t need so everyone was in labour. Marx’s analysis of the problem that money had been made god of this world and man’s happiness had been forgotten – however Communism was a human system erected by sinful man – and so often led to abuse, injustice but also a lack of freedom.
Work as necessary evil – Have we gone full circle??
In today’s society there are a mixture of views – In some ways we have gone full circle – and work is seen as a necessary evil – somewhat like Roman society – if I only I won the lottery I could escape it all OR work is seen as a means of personal fulfillment an idol – gaining power and success. A lot of folk in P&G were in not only for their own profit, but also to be able to influence others. I work to be successful, or so that I can be upwardly mobile, bigger car, bigger house, bigger reputation. There are still some who want to escape the Rat Race with idealized views of living in the countryside ‘The Good Life’ style – but to me that somewhat smells of escapism – and is condemning any form of work in industry.
Well why have I shared this history lesson – Last 300 years work has been too often seen as devoid of God and discussed in a non religious context. Work once a religious issue has fallen victim to the retreating province of the Chriostian faith in the modern world. And yet within this history of work I can identify at least 3 major views or issues
Work as a necessary evil –
Work as an unimportant or neutral endeavuor
Work as a means of profit–
Work as a necessary evil – we saw this in the Greco-Roman cultures and we see it today – if work has to be done let someone else do it. What matters to me is retirement – relaxation leisure “Yes I need to work but its only so I can provide for my wants and needs. The problem is this results in dis-satisfaction,
Work asas unchristian or neutral endeavour– we see this in the Medieval church James – it’s great you’ve given up your work to be a minister. Or people saying Wow that’s a totally different job – how could a minister have worked in the cut throat world of business making things people don’t need for profit. When we believe that what we do is unchristian or even merely neutral – it leads to devaluation – it devalues what we do.
Work as a means of profit – we see this today – and we see this in the Enlightenment – I’ve got one life to live – let me use it wisely – just a bit more LORD, the bigger, the better, let me be seen to be doing well by others. This leads to too much work, and idolatory, but also it leads to abuse of others. What matters is my needs, getting on getting ahead – sorry you have to go we need to save costs to please the shareholders. This error has both an internal and an external edge to it.
I now want to pause and hand over to Nick – who is going to share his own testimony and then will return to look at what the Bible has to say about these issues and look at the question of Renewing a Sense of Call
TESTIMONY -NICK
PART 2 - Bible’s response to errors of history
1 - Work as a necessary evil – leading to dis-satisfaction
Work is a creation ordinance – so not evil – but good & necessary
People often quote Genesis 3 – where God tells Adam after they have sinned how the ground will be cursed and work will be hard – and therefore how it shows that work isn’t really a good thing – it’s part of the sinful world we have to live in till we get to heaven but before that comes Gen 1:26, Gen 2:15 – You see this command is important because it shows that work is part of the divine plan for history. The Bible never says work is a bad thing – it sees it as part of the natural part of the created order (Psalm 104:19-23). Clearly following the fall work that was originally good has now become perverted – so work can have that element of being burdensome, but this can be redeemed. The Lord Jesus cam not only to save our sould, but to transform our dinful attitudes. I can see my work as toilsome or troublesome or I can see it as part of God’s divine plan for my life. God has called us to work – and we can expect there to be an element of dis-satisafaction. But if I take on board that God has commaneded me to work and that this is part of his plan for my life – this indwells it with an immense amount of priviledge and should help us be more satisfied. Because it tells us to work is to obey God’s commands
Not a necessary evil but an ordained command
2 - Work as an unimportant or neutral endeavour– devalues Work -
God is a worker
Gen 1:1
Genesis 1 has much to tell us about God – but above all it shows us that God is a worker here are just a few of the jobs God does
He makes things as a craftsman might
He categorises and names things as a zoologist might
He carries out his work in a planned order
He examines his work at every stage, as a fine artist or a manufacturer might.
He assigns clearly defined functions to the components of creation as a good engineer might
He even creates order out of chaos – like a house-worker or cleaner might
Psalm 8:3
And in the New Testament Christ is highly likely to have been a carpenter till the age of 30. (John 5:17)
All these things shows that work is good and God-like. Psalm 24:1 – There is no sacred and secular in my Bible – The Christian doctrine of creation tells us that all things have the potential for good and that means all jobs - That the creation has value to God and therefore the work we do within his world is valued by him.
3 - Work as a means of profit– greed or abuse
The mistake of the last 200 years is that we have views work as serving ourselves – when actually it is a means of serving God & others.
Colossians 3:23-24 Ultimately work is unto the Lord we are doing it for him – not for our profit – but also our attitude should.
Philippians 2:4-5
Also we are called to look out to the interst of others.
Work is not a means of profit but a means of service.
TESTIMONY - RALPH
PART 3 - Work as a missionary calling
There are 2 themes I want to explore – firstly work as a calling and secondly work as a missionary calling
1 - Work as a calling
When you hear someone say I had a calling – what does that bring to mind.
We have very narrow views as Christians we can say I had a call to the ministry, or I had a call to Brazil – why not I had a call to be an accountant.
I want to put forward that each of us has 2 callings. The first and primary calling is to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus calls out “Come and follow me” – This is our primary calling to salvation, discipleship and godliness – Work is not the most important thing – being a disciple of Jesus is. MARK GREEN TAPE
Clearly Scripture shows how God can place a call into specific Christian service (I Cor 1:1) , Eph 4:11 – but often we have this inverted triangle – believing the top part is called and holy.
God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel
God chose David to be king of Israel
There was a call on the artists who did the artwork on the temple
The picture that emerges from the Bible is that God arranged society in such a way that there are farmers, housewives, hunters, soldiers, kings, chariot drivers. That the LORD led these people into one or another of these. If they are not callings fro God – what are they – randomn
1 Cor 7: v17,20
Work involves the whole range of tasks and duties that attach themselves to the roles that God has given us.
We have already seen how work is a creation ordonance – a command from God, but to view work as a calling at once makes it something personal. If God calls us to work, then to do the work is to obey God. Work only becomes a calling if we recognize God’s hand in it and view our work as part of our relationship to God. All work is equal – no one upmanship.
How do I know what I’m doing is my calling –
Our calling is that job which currently provides our livelihood – even if temporary. The job by which God is currently providing for our needs is our calling
LISTEN TO THE LORD
PUSH DOORS IN PRAYER
IS IT USING MY GIFTS & TALENTS
IS IT HELPING ME LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS IN AN ETHICAL WAY
Immense freedom in being obedient to God
WORK IS A CALLING
2 - WORK IS A MISSIONARY CALLING
“Witnessing in the workplace is done in word and deed, with respect for the truth and compassion for the listener”
- You spend more time awake at work than with your partner
P55 Clumsy for Christ
Clumsy for Christ
Five of us were on a two-day trip out of town. Surely, with all that time, God would give me an opportunity to share some¬thing with someone. No opportunity came, or at least none that I could see. The time came to fly home.
The client and I decided to work together on the plane. So, briefcase in hand, I negotiated my way into the window seat. As I lifted my case over the seat-rest, the lid came open and out tumbled about twenty small orange booklets...
’Oh no,’ I thought.
Twenty copies of a tract called `The Four Spiritual Laws’ scattered over the floor and on the seats in front of me and my client. I felt like a teenager caught with some improper publication. I began to pick them up.
Then the worst thing that could have happened did happen.
The client said, `What are those?’
`Er ... They’re little booklets that explain the main points about Christianity.’
I waited for a look of embarrassment. Or perhaps pity. Or discomfort.
’Oh, that’s interesting,’ she said, with a genuinely inter¬ested and open expression on her face. ’I’ve been thinking a lot about that recently. Could I have a look?’
The great dread
Witnessing is a guilt-edged word that fills many Christians with dread, particularly in the context of secular employment.
Some of this dread has to do with natural nervousness, fear of rejection or lack of confidence.
Some of this dread may also have to do with an incomplete understanding of witnessing as simply the verbal delivery of the gospel message - telling someone what the gospel is and challenging them to accept it. It is that - or at least that is a critical component of witnessing and something we often try to avoid. But witnessing is more than just that. It is living the gospel in such a way that the difference it makes is communi¬cated non-verbally. We witness verbally to the truth of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. But we witness in deed and in character to the transformation that has occurred in our lives through what he has done for us.
Jesus makes a difference. Unlike Muhammad, Jesus didn’t simply come to bring a message: he was the message, the word made flesh, and witnessing to him is living that message in our human flesh. It is being and doing and speaking.
CAKES / TEA / ASKKING QUESTIONS / DRINKS / FAMILY CHIT-CHAT – BEING THERE.
Apparently the most common mistake that professional
salespeople make is that they don’t ask for the sale. Perhaps one of the most common mistakes Christians make is that they never ask their friends or co-workers if they would like to become followers of Jesus.
I had been in my job at Ogilvy and Mather for four years. In my first two-and-a-half years, I had probably shared my per¬sonal testimony over thirty times. I was involved in an early morning meeting with a non-Christian, and another one with two Christians. I developed a number of solid friendships which I still have today. I prayed. And I gave away a lot of books.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
In that time, however, no one at Ogilvy and Mather became a Christian.
After two-and-a-half years, the total known number of Christians at Ogilvy was five. About 0.3 per cent of the corpo¬rate population. An evangelistic need greater than the one mil¬lion Bambara in the Ivory Coast, the three hundred and fifty i housand Dagomba in Ghana, the two million Acehnese in North Sumatra. In fact, an evangelistic need greater than ;ilmost every ethnic group on earth. Fortunately, only my com¬1)~ my was paying for my missionary efforts.
In the nine months that followed, the ministry grew dra¬matically. Three separate quiet-time groups started meeting in (lie mornings. A man called Ted began a Bible study. A prayer¬, liain with ten people was set up. Three people were involved. in a 14-week Bible study after work in someone’s flat. An excit¬ed, recommitted Christian woman appeared and quietly start¬ed developing a ministry. And, in response to prayer for more workers, a mature Christian man emerged. Four people became Christians.
At the spiritual level, God clearly intervened. Perhaps we too were reaping the fruit of three years’ work and prayer. We did pray. We not only prayed generally, we prayed for growth. For more Christians to come. For more workers to come. And they came.
And we did actually ask people the crucial question: do you want this? We communicate the gospel through our behaviour, but at some point people need to hear the word. People need information to make a decision for Christ. In the nine fruitful months, I gave away ten copies of the longish gospel tract `The Four Spiritual Laws’ (now renamed `Knowing God Personally’) and I went through the material with three people. All three became Christians.
We must give people the information they need to make a decision, and ask them if they want to decide for Christ. This has nothing to do with high-pressure guilt manipulation. It is simply taking the initiative to ask them what is, after all, a nat¬ural and vital question: do you want Jesus in your life?
So from time to time it’s good to consciously remind our¬selves of why we are at work, and to ask ourselves what fruit we have seen. Has anyone come to Christ? Have we seen any change in attitudes? Have we been able to develop relation¬ships with anyone? Have we had an opportunity to share the gospel with anyone? Is there another Christian co-worker we could pray with? Have we been praying for opportunities for growth?
The problem for many of us is that we will do almost any¬thing rather than directly share the gospel and ask someone if they are interested. I used to get quite tense as I got to that point in a conversation and often had to force myself forward, even though there was nothing in the other person’s behaviour to indicate that they didn’t want me to go on. Certainly there may be some kind of spiritual warfare when we get close to sharing the gospel with someone: it is, after all, not in Satan’s best interests to see Christ’s kingdom growing in citizens. Sometimes we put our reticence down to Britishness: we are not pushy Or we call it sensitivity, when sometimes it’s just plain cowardice. But the irony is that very often people want us to tell them about Jesus.
EACH HAVE A STORY – How was your weekend? – what did you respond
Gain encouragement from other Christians
EPILOGUE p69
Epilogue: `All that glitters...
It had been a great conversation. I had felt free to talk to her at some length about Christ. She seemed attentive, interest¬ed, open. I was quite excited about what might happen next. It was Friday and she was going away for the weekend.
Come Tuesday, there it was. I could hardly believe my eyes. There, on a piece of paper stuck to her bookshelf for all to see, were these words: ’He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s alive’.
I said nothing. I didn’t want to come across as overeager or perhaps put her in a situation she wasn’t ready for. But inside I was rejoicing. Imagine that. ’He’s alive, he’s alive, he’s
The good news of the resurrection writ large in an ;idvertising executive’s office! Hallelujah!
A couple of months later I discovered that one of her Iriends had sent her the piece of paper, and it referred not to Jesus but to another reputed sighting of the long dead king of to~ck ’n’ roll, Elvis Presley.
Things ain’t always what they seem. But even though the ~onversation I’d had with her had not lead at that time to a hoartfelt conviction about Christ’s resurrection, it was from mother point of view a successful piece of witnessing. I’d Liken `the initiative to share the Good News in the power of i he Spirit’. The results, as always, are up to God.
TESTIMONY FROM AMY
RECAP
Q&A
Commissioning
