April 24

More on work

Posted at 11:17 AM

I’ve continued to think on the issue of so-called “secular” and “Christian” careers, and was helped yesterday by Vaughan Roberts’ book “God’s Big Design”, particularly the chapter on work. Roberts has what I think is a brilliant way of referring to the “twin callings”, namely “creation” and “new creation” work. So all work is Christian work, but some is more focused on this creation (in obeying the “First Great Commission” as Hardyman puts it – culture, development, conservation etc.) and some more focused on the new creation (evangelism, pastoring, Bible teaching etc.). The categories aren’t distinct (those doing “creation” work are still involved in evangelism; pastors are there to help those in “creation” work; evangelists still do the washing up!) but can overlap, however the essential calling is to “creation” work or set-aside ministry. Both are biblical, both are good, both are worthwhile. To deny the worth of “creation” callings is to say that God’s good creation is not as good as all that; even to say that “new creation” callings have more value is to say something the Bible never does.

Martin Luther taught the controversial message that all work, even street sweeping or looking after a sick child, is something done for God and has value and worth. In recent times, it seems like a bit of the world’s ideas about status have crept into Christian thinking to create a hierarchy of “worthy” professions: church planters and other missionaries at the top, followed by pastors, then people like doctors or teachers, then maybe accountants, and down the bottom politicians, or cleaners. This is unbiblical, and hopefully this isn’t the way we think. But maybe in certain situations we take a look at this list and start comparing things. So I have a choice between a “creation” or a “new creation” job: those advising me might say “being a pastor is more important than being a recording engineer, so become a pastor”. Maybe we’re more hierarchical in our thinking than we thought.

One big thing I haven’t touched on yet (mainly because I’ve no real idea about it) is the issue of “calling”. I might have various gifts which could lead me into creation or new creation work; every book or article I’ve read so far suggests that I assume I’m doing creation work until I’m “called” to be set apart in new creation work. So what constitutes a calling? Does it mean a pastor or other leader taking you aside and saying “you should consider this work”? Does it mean you feel like you could do it and would quite like to do it? Does it mean trying it out in an apprenticeship scheme and seeing by doing whether it’s for you?

More thinking needed, then.

3 Comments · Tags: , , , , ,

Comments

  1. I thought I’d comment on this one following on from the last one on the same topic…

    I don’t think it is fair to talk about a “high” calling, or “creation and new creation” work… Witness and utilisation of spiritual gifts is part of life, it’s not something you are called to. How you witness and utilise your gifts is something that may be seen as a calling. God provides method and opportunity for you to make use of them.

    I think there is intrinsic spiritual value in “creation work.” If you are an artist your creation reflects the very fact that you are made in God’s image, just as he enjoys his own creation, so he will enjoy his creation’s creation. It’s getting into the whole chariots of fire thing… kinda!

    There is a great series that says what I want to say but much more eloquently (and enjoyably!) by Rick McKinley (of Imago Dei Community fame) on “Rugged Spirituality”… It’s a series following David, but it really makes a good job, when you sit and look at, of showing how God worked, but how David pretty much just lived seeking Him… Y’know? I think the first of the series really sums up what I’m trying to say.

    Ultimately I think if you are thinking this seriously about calling, then there is probably an abnormal calling for you (ie into full time ministry or something) as opposed to the more difficult to avoid calling of secular work…

    John Orme on

  2. Aha! a link would be nice right? http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/information/sermons/

    John Orme on

  3. I might have to have a listen to that first talk, but it seems like I basically agree with what you’re saying – the distinction between “creation” and “new creation” work isn’t always an important or necessary one, and isn’t the defining name for any one person’s calling – I guess we’re all called to both, just in different proportions.

    So it becomes an issue of (I suppose) how to tell if you’re called to set-apart ministry.

    Maybe one thing I can think more on (in the area of “calling”) is: does having gifts of leadership/teaching in itself constitute a call? That combined with pastoral wisdom and suggestion? Or, what I feel might be the issue, is there such thing as a “call” to set-apart ministry? Doesn’t the NT talk about “call” being to salvation and adoption, not to a career? Probably – need to read more.

    As for your last paragraph: Well, maybe, but I think my assumption has always been becoming a pastor of some description – so for me, it seems it might be the opposite! If that makes sense.

    Matthew on