{"id":207,"date":"2014-04-04T22:17:01","date_gmt":"2014-04-04T22:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/the-big-picture\/?p=207"},"modified":"2014-03-29T21:30:42","modified_gmt":"2014-03-29T21:30:42","slug":"establishing-the-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/the-big-picture\/2014\/04\/establishing-the-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Establishing the work of our hands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
By Hugh Whelchel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cMay the favor of the Lord rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us \u2013 yes, establish the work of our hands.\u201d \u2013 Psalm 90:17<\/em><\/p>\n
Last fall, hip-hop artist Lecrae Moore spoke at on the importance of engaging culture from a Christian perspective. Speaking at the 2012 Resurgence Conference<\/a>, Moore told the audience:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cGod has structured things for his glory and his goodness and humanity is directing it in evil or good ways. If you are going to engage culture, it\u2019s about taking the things you are skilled at and asking, \u2018how can I direct them in a good way?\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Moore\u2019s comments are part of a renewed interest among Christians regarding the biblical doctrine of work. This doctrine teaches that all things come under the Lordship of Christ, including the work of our vocations. Our work matters to God. As human beings created in the image of God, we work and create as a reflection of that image. The work of our hands is intended to serve three great ends:<\/p>\n
\nTo glorify God.<\/li>\nTo serve the common good.<\/li>\nTo further the Kingdom of God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n***
** ***What are the implications of this doctrine for Christians today?<\/p>\n\nAs Christians, our primary call is to follow Jesus. This call encompasses the whole of our lives, including our everyday work. This call should lead Christians to a radically different lifestyle, seeking not to follow the culture, but influence it for the glory of God.<\/li>\nIt is important to understand the mission we are called to carry out in this world. For Christians, life without work is meaningless, but work must never become the meaning of one\u2019s life. Our identity is in Christ, not our work. It is our union with Christ which transforms our hearts and gives us the desire to serve him out of gratitude while we engage the world.<\/li>\nThe purpose of our work is to have a positive impact on culture. A prominent biblical metaphor is the bringing of light into a dark world (Matthew 5:16, John 1:5). When light is brought into a dark room, the room is transformed. The light of the gospel has the power to radically transform individual people and their culture as a whole.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n***
** The biblical doctrine of work is one of the most powerful means God provides for us to shape and influence culture. Yet today we hear many Christians say that we should not<\/em> be involved in shaping culture.<\/p>\n
** ***People who say this are supporting the social status quo<\/em>, whether they agree with it or not. Tim Keller had this to say in a recent essay:<\/p>\n"
\u201cWhen Christians work in the world, they will either assimilate into their culture and support the status quo or they will be agents of change. This is especially true in the area of work. Every culture works on the basis of a \u201cmap\u201d of what is considered most important. If God and his grace are not at the center of a culture, then other things will be substituted as ultimate values. So every vocational field is distorted by idolatry.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n***
** When Christians do their jobs with excellence and accountability, in a distinctively Christian manner, they cannot help but have a profound effect on the world around them. Thomas Cahill, in his book How the Irish Saved Civilization<\/em>, tells how Christian monks in the Middle Ages moved out of Ireland and through pagan Europe. Along the way, they established academies, universities, and hospitals. The monks transformed local economies and care for the poor and unfortunate through these new institutions.<\/p>\n
** The Irish monks\u2019 goal was not to change the pagan culture into the church. Instead, their vocation was inspired by the gospel, and that changed the way they carried out their work. They worked for the flourishing of mankind, rather than strictly for themselves.<\/p>\n
** ***Christians today have a similar opportunity. If we are serious about the truth of Christianity, we need to engage in cultural renewal. Like Moore encourages, we need to \u201ctake the things we\u2019re good at\u201d and \u201cdirect them in a good way,\u201d a way that serves the common good of our culture and the Kingdom, for the glory of God.<\/p>\nQuestion: What have you perceived to be the Church\u2019s attitude towards the cultural\u00a0<\/em>status quo? Leave a comment\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
This post is part of a series on\u00a0The Work of Our Hands<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nPart 2:\u00a0You are Called to be a Servant<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 3:\u00a0What We Can Learn About Sacrifice from John Calvin\u2019s School of Death<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 4:\u00a0Are You Young, Restless and Reformed?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 5:\u00a0Using Economics to Understand the Biblical Concept of Work<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 6:\u00a0Our Calling to Reweave Shalom<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 7:\u00a0Daniel, an Example of Reweaving Shalom<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 8:\u00a0Our Calling to Restore Culture<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 9:\u00a0Christ and Culture<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 10:\u00a0It\u2019s Personal: Tales of Comparative Advantage<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 11:\u00a0Can Christians Today Really Impact Culture?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 12:\u00a0Getting Down to Business and Changing the World<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 13:\u00a0How Do We Shape Culture?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 14:\u00a0Cultural Change \u2013 Is It Possible Today?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 15:\u00a0He Who Dies With The Most Toys Wins\u2026Or Does He?<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 16:\u00a0Fear of A Meaningless Life<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 17:\u00a0Kingdom Work<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 18:\u00a0The Power of Ideas<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 19:\u00a0Putting It All Into Practice<\/a><\/em><\/li>\nPart 20:\u00a0A Wing and A Prayer<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Hugh Whelchel is Executive Director of the\u00a0Institute for Faith, Work & Economics<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and author of \u201cHow Then Should We Work?: Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work<\/a><\/em>.\u201d Hugh has a Master of Arts in Religion and brings over 30 years of diverse business experience to his leadership at IFWE.<\/em><\/div>\n
From The Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics<\/a>. Image: Jennifer Woodruff Tait.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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