“God has yet to bless anyone except where they are. And if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being right, we will simply have no place to receive His Kingdom into our lives.” (Dallas Willard)
A new blogging friend Bradley Moore invited me to comment on his recent blog posting on “the Myth of Calling” http://shrinkingthecamel.com/2010/05/11/the-myth-of-calling/ and it’s got me thinking. How many of us are waiting for just the right call, so that we can be in a job with which we can be content? Or perhaps our rationalization isn’t quite so sanctified … perhaps we admit that we’re waiting for a job in which we can have fun, or be paid well, or be recognized appropriately.
The trouble is that we’re doing ourselves out of blessing! I described in http://faithatworkplace.blogspot.com/2010/03/discovering-god-work-part-2.html how it took me a year to recognize that I would do best to accept that I was where God wanted me, and that in fact He was pouring out His blessings on me right where I was. You’d think I’d learn wouldn’t you? But I still catch myself sometimes thinking “if only” or “what if” kinds of thoughts. Then today I came across the Dallas Willard quote that starts this post. Well duh! What a commentary on “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)! Or on Paul’s “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).
I think I’m going to have to post Willard’s words somewhere around my office or, better still, somewhere in the front of my brain!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Theology @ Work – Kingdom
“For you I'd wait til kingdom come” go the Coldplay lyrics. Implying forever, or until the end of the world. Because that’s when we’ll see God’s Kingdom come, or so popular expectations will have it. But popular belief, as so often, is wrong.
When Jesus started his earthly ministry, according to Mark he announced his arrival with these words: "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Here and throughout the gospels we hear that the Kingdom has already arrived through Jesus, and that we’re invited to be a part of it!
In my last couple of Theology @ Work posts I explored our role and calling as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as priests. Both of these are intermediary roles, in which we become the place where heaven and earth come together (as N.T. Wright so helpfully puts it), and in which we bring others before God in our intercessory prayers, while at the same time offering the grace and hope and beauty of God to those around us. But the Old and New Testaments both speak of our calling not just as a priesthood, but as a royal priesthood. For example Exodus 19:6 includes a promise to God’s chosen people that “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. 1 Peter 2:9 then picks up this promise and applies it to followers of Jesus, His church: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The royalty spoken of here isn’t a statement about us, but about God. We are the priests of His Kingdom – His present reign and rule over all of His Creation.
When Jesus announced the arrival of the Kingdom, he did it in full knowledge that his followers would be the ones he would use to bring the developing Kingdom to fruition. We are the ones he has called to carry out the work of redemption – buying back not just people, but all of creation, so that it is fully and perfectly back in tune with God’s original intentions for it.
That was a long pre-amble for a short application, but what does this have to do with work. Absolutely everything! In the workplace, everything we do, every word we speak or write, every motivation and ambition – all are in the light of the present reality, and developing hope, of the Kingdom. This is our context and perspective. As priests and workers in the Kingdom, we are accountable to the King Himself, equipped by Him, empowered by Him, and authorized by Him, through the presence of His Spirit. My next bankruptcy filing needs to reflect this. The coaching session with one of my staff members needs to be in this context. The ethical debate with my boss is a Kingdom debate.
It may take us each a lifetime to work out what this really means (it’s the primary quest of my blog) but we can help one another. May God be glorified as we seek to live Kingdom lives at work.
When Jesus started his earthly ministry, according to Mark he announced his arrival with these words: "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Here and throughout the gospels we hear that the Kingdom has already arrived through Jesus, and that we’re invited to be a part of it!
In my last couple of Theology @ Work posts I explored our role and calling as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as priests. Both of these are intermediary roles, in which we become the place where heaven and earth come together (as N.T. Wright so helpfully puts it), and in which we bring others before God in our intercessory prayers, while at the same time offering the grace and hope and beauty of God to those around us. But the Old and New Testaments both speak of our calling not just as a priesthood, but as a royal priesthood. For example Exodus 19:6 includes a promise to God’s chosen people that “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. 1 Peter 2:9 then picks up this promise and applies it to followers of Jesus, His church: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The royalty spoken of here isn’t a statement about us, but about God. We are the priests of His Kingdom – His present reign and rule over all of His Creation.
When Jesus announced the arrival of the Kingdom, he did it in full knowledge that his followers would be the ones he would use to bring the developing Kingdom to fruition. We are the ones he has called to carry out the work of redemption – buying back not just people, but all of creation, so that it is fully and perfectly back in tune with God’s original intentions for it.
That was a long pre-amble for a short application, but what does this have to do with work. Absolutely everything! In the workplace, everything we do, every word we speak or write, every motivation and ambition – all are in the light of the present reality, and developing hope, of the Kingdom. This is our context and perspective. As priests and workers in the Kingdom, we are accountable to the King Himself, equipped by Him, empowered by Him, and authorized by Him, through the presence of His Spirit. My next bankruptcy filing needs to reflect this. The coaching session with one of my staff members needs to be in this context. The ethical debate with my boss is a Kingdom debate.
It may take us each a lifetime to work out what this really means (it’s the primary quest of my blog) but we can help one another. May God be glorified as we seek to live Kingdom lives at work.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Faith @ Work is now part of High Calling Blogs
The Faith @ Work blog has been added to a terrific community of blogs related to the High Calling of Christian living, including many on living out faith in the workplace. I am honored to be a part of that community. Click on the badge at the left to see more.
Monday, May 24, 2010
God’s Perspective @ Work – Frustration
How many attorneys does it take to file a bankruptcy plan? I don’t know yet, but apparently ten is barely enough! Hence my frustration …
Actually this isn’t even the original Plan – it is an amendment that has to be filed today. We had nearly two months to do it, and we’ll probably just make it by the skin of our teeth. The trouble is there are so many parties at interest in this case that it really does involve at least ten attorneys. They are apparently all used to leaving things to the last minute, assuming that they are correct about everything, and forgetting that getting two attorneys to agree on something, let alone ten, is a lengthy process.
Yes, I’m frustrated. So what do I do about it? Look up, is of course the answer. I don’t know about you, but in the midst of chaos and stress, I still find it hard to do – at the very moment I need God’s perspective the most, I am least inclined to look for it! I’m writing this in a momentary pause in the pressure, as a way to direct my attention back to the Sovereign God, the One who called me to this position in the first place, the One who rules over His Kingdom. Already this is looking much more petty and insignificant than it was earlier today. I am accountable to do everything I can to get this filing completed (and it will happen), and I am accountable to continue to value and develop relationship with all those I work with, including all the attorneys! (Yes, Dorothy, even attorneys have souls!)
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) is a verse that I need desperately right now. Being still doesn’t mean stopping everything, but rather holding this Spirit-given stillness and knowledge of God over everything I’m doing. Another word for it is “peace” – the knowledge that all is and will be well in God’s Kingdom, that every gift and talent and experience He has given me that got me into this job in the first place, is given solely for His service. I lay them at His feet, and commit to the front of my mind as a meditation, almost a mantra, this saying. “Be still and know that I am God!”
OK back to the panic, but in peace!
Actually this isn’t even the original Plan – it is an amendment that has to be filed today. We had nearly two months to do it, and we’ll probably just make it by the skin of our teeth. The trouble is there are so many parties at interest in this case that it really does involve at least ten attorneys. They are apparently all used to leaving things to the last minute, assuming that they are correct about everything, and forgetting that getting two attorneys to agree on something, let alone ten, is a lengthy process.
Yes, I’m frustrated. So what do I do about it? Look up, is of course the answer. I don’t know about you, but in the midst of chaos and stress, I still find it hard to do – at the very moment I need God’s perspective the most, I am least inclined to look for it! I’m writing this in a momentary pause in the pressure, as a way to direct my attention back to the Sovereign God, the One who called me to this position in the first place, the One who rules over His Kingdom. Already this is looking much more petty and insignificant than it was earlier today. I am accountable to do everything I can to get this filing completed (and it will happen), and I am accountable to continue to value and develop relationship with all those I work with, including all the attorneys! (Yes, Dorothy, even attorneys have souls!)
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) is a verse that I need desperately right now. Being still doesn’t mean stopping everything, but rather holding this Spirit-given stillness and knowledge of God over everything I’m doing. Another word for it is “peace” – the knowledge that all is and will be well in God’s Kingdom, that every gift and talent and experience He has given me that got me into this job in the first place, is given solely for His service. I lay them at His feet, and commit to the front of my mind as a meditation, almost a mantra, this saying. “Be still and know that I am God!”
OK back to the panic, but in peace!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Fruit of the Spirit @ Work – Self-Control
With all the work crises, tough decisions, failures of others to deliver, and of course my own shortcomings, I sometimes lose self-control. This is only natural. Isn’t it?
Self-control is the last (but not least) of the fruit of the Spirit. It is one that I find rather ironic. Why should we need to Holy Spirit to control ourselves? In fact isn’t that a bit of a contradiction in terms? Yes and no. The nature of my sin is that without help I don’t have complete control. The more I try to exert control over myself, the less I seem to be able to. Paul talks about this struggle extensively in Romans 7: for example verse 17 “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” He says it isn’t that I don’t want to be able to control my tendency to sin, but just that sin takes control unless something is done about it. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:18-20).
In a way, self-control (or the lack of it) summarizes our success in our failure in exhibiting all of the fruit of the Spirit. When I blow up at an employee because a deadline hasn’t been met and I have to face the music, I am also failing to exhibit gentleness, kindness, love, and a host of other fruit. This is because the Spirit is no longer controlling my life and so His fruit is no longer in evidence. When panic sets in because all the circumstances working against become overwhelming, even though others don’t necessarily see my panic, the fruit of the Spirit (e.g. joy and peace) will again not be evident.
So in the context of the fruit of the Spirit, self-control really means Spirit-control. Paul’s antidote to the struggles of Romans 7 is in Romans 8. “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) He states quite clearly that in reality we are under the control of the Holy Spirit, not sin, if the Spirit is in us. Scripture all over the place (e.g. much of John’s gospel) assures us that our salvation results in the gift of the Spirit so we should be free from the power of sin. But we also know the reality that this is a work in progress and, like the rest of the fruit of the Spirit, we will experience and exhibit it to the degree we grow in everyday knowledge of God and in surrender to the Spirit.
Self-control isn’t something we do, but something the Spirit gives us. It is a paradox – the more we try to take control of ourselves, the less we’re able to. The more we allow the Spirit to take control, the more self-controlled we’ll be. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when he said “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33).
Self-control is the last (but not least) of the fruit of the Spirit. It is one that I find rather ironic. Why should we need to Holy Spirit to control ourselves? In fact isn’t that a bit of a contradiction in terms? Yes and no. The nature of my sin is that without help I don’t have complete control. The more I try to exert control over myself, the less I seem to be able to. Paul talks about this struggle extensively in Romans 7: for example verse 17 “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” He says it isn’t that I don’t want to be able to control my tendency to sin, but just that sin takes control unless something is done about it. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” (Romans 7:18-20).
In a way, self-control (or the lack of it) summarizes our success in our failure in exhibiting all of the fruit of the Spirit. When I blow up at an employee because a deadline hasn’t been met and I have to face the music, I am also failing to exhibit gentleness, kindness, love, and a host of other fruit. This is because the Spirit is no longer controlling my life and so His fruit is no longer in evidence. When panic sets in because all the circumstances working against become overwhelming, even though others don’t necessarily see my panic, the fruit of the Spirit (e.g. joy and peace) will again not be evident.
So in the context of the fruit of the Spirit, self-control really means Spirit-control. Paul’s antidote to the struggles of Romans 7 is in Romans 8. “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) He states quite clearly that in reality we are under the control of the Holy Spirit, not sin, if the Spirit is in us. Scripture all over the place (e.g. much of John’s gospel) assures us that our salvation results in the gift of the Spirit so we should be free from the power of sin. But we also know the reality that this is a work in progress and, like the rest of the fruit of the Spirit, we will experience and exhibit it to the degree we grow in everyday knowledge of God and in surrender to the Spirit.
Self-control isn’t something we do, but something the Spirit gives us. It is a paradox – the more we try to take control of ourselves, the less we’re able to. The more we allow the Spirit to take control, the more self-controlled we’ll be. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when he said “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33).
Friday, May 14, 2010
Theology @ Work – Priesthood
Priests don’t belong in the workplace, right? Though the armed forces, medical facilities, prisons and the like may have chaplains, there’s no place for religious professionals in your work place or mine. Or is there?
In my last Theology @ Work post (Temple) I pointed out that we have, according to the New Testament, become the “temple of the Holy Spirit” – the place where heaven and earth come together. Part of our calling as followers of Jesus is to be that place to which people can come and see this coming together of the divine and human realms, the Kingdom of God. The New Testament has another word for this role – “priest”. From the earliest books in the Bible it is apparent that in some way God intended all His people to be priests – not necessarily in the official capacity of the Levitical priesthood, but in the general capacity of being intermediaries between God and people – presenting God to the people, and bringing the people’s requests before God, at least until the relationship with Him is established and they no longer need a priest.
Jesus provided the way for this intimate relationship to be created, and it is by our dying and rising with Him in His crucifixion and resurrection that we are able to approach God safely, knowing that we are justified by Him (i.e. that His sinlessness makes us right with God). As a result, we’re able to fulfill the role of priest with those we move among who have not yet arrived at relationship with God through His Son. Just as Jesus is declared by the author of Hebrews to be a “priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17), the king-priest to whom Abraham paid homage (Genesis 14), so we are also to become a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2). This is a serious and challenging calling, but one that we are authorized and enabled to take on because we are in Christ.
Every time we in some way exhibit Jesus to others around us, we are fulfilling this role, particularly as others are drawn toward Jesus in some way through us. In the same way, every time we bring the concerns of others to God in prayer, we are fulfilling the calling to be priests. We are the connection point with God that everyone needs (and most people actually want). We are, as temples of the Holy Spirit, the go-between people, linking humanity and deity, linking heaven and earth, drawing others to Jesus. This is every bit as true at work as anywhere else – not through our words or even our actions, not because of overt (and sometimes obnoxious) proselytizing, but simply because we are privileged to be those in whom the Spirit dwells. In a sense, as priests, we really are “religious professionals” – our calling, our profession, our occupation as Christians is indeed that of priest, in whatever context God has placed us. What a calling!
In my last Theology @ Work post (Temple) I pointed out that we have, according to the New Testament, become the “temple of the Holy Spirit” – the place where heaven and earth come together. Part of our calling as followers of Jesus is to be that place to which people can come and see this coming together of the divine and human realms, the Kingdom of God. The New Testament has another word for this role – “priest”. From the earliest books in the Bible it is apparent that in some way God intended all His people to be priests – not necessarily in the official capacity of the Levitical priesthood, but in the general capacity of being intermediaries between God and people – presenting God to the people, and bringing the people’s requests before God, at least until the relationship with Him is established and they no longer need a priest.
Jesus provided the way for this intimate relationship to be created, and it is by our dying and rising with Him in His crucifixion and resurrection that we are able to approach God safely, knowing that we are justified by Him (i.e. that His sinlessness makes us right with God). As a result, we’re able to fulfill the role of priest with those we move among who have not yet arrived at relationship with God through His Son. Just as Jesus is declared by the author of Hebrews to be a “priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17), the king-priest to whom Abraham paid homage (Genesis 14), so we are also to become a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2). This is a serious and challenging calling, but one that we are authorized and enabled to take on because we are in Christ.
Every time we in some way exhibit Jesus to others around us, we are fulfilling this role, particularly as others are drawn toward Jesus in some way through us. In the same way, every time we bring the concerns of others to God in prayer, we are fulfilling the calling to be priests. We are the connection point with God that everyone needs (and most people actually want). We are, as temples of the Holy Spirit, the go-between people, linking humanity and deity, linking heaven and earth, drawing others to Jesus. This is every bit as true at work as anywhere else – not through our words or even our actions, not because of overt (and sometimes obnoxious) proselytizing, but simply because we are privileged to be those in whom the Spirit dwells. In a sense, as priests, we really are “religious professionals” – our calling, our profession, our occupation as Christians is indeed that of priest, in whatever context God has placed us. What a calling!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Fruit of the Spirit @ Work – Gentleness
Gentleness is not my strong suit. Ask anyone who knows me. Besides, the times I’ve tried to be gentle with people in the workplace I’ve generally been slapped down by my boss. Is there a place for gentleness at work at all?
When it comes to our behavior at work, this is another counter-cultural, and perhaps even counter-intuitive fruit of the Spirit. After all we are employed to get the most out of people and relationships, and that means being demanding, setting the bar high, expecting a hundred percent (or more!) When someone isn’t performing to our expectations, we need to get tough with them. If someone has problems that are affecting their work, we may show some compassion, but we can’t allow their personal issues to impact our work output.
But gentleness isn’t necessarily counter-productive. I have been in many situations where all that is needed is a soft word, a few minutes of listening, or an understanding smile. Perhaps a colleague’s boss has been particularly tough on them. We may agree with the issue, but we value the person and understand they are hurt – the gentle reassurance may be just what is needed to remedy a situation.
My biggest challenge is as a manager, when a member of staff doesn’t seem to be listening well, or doing what I want, or meeting my expectations. I have a tendency to get frustrated and that leads to anything but gentleness. In an effort to make expectations very clear, I become blunt and formal, rather than seeking to understand and empathize with whatever is going on in the other person. There are times to be direct and firm, but that in no way prevents us from also being gentle. I need to post Ephesians 5:1-2 by my desk: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Being gentle doesn’t come naturally to most successful business people – it isn’t what got us where we are. Sometimes we’ve needed to be pretty tough, and we’ve mistaken our resulting success as an indication that gentleness is a sign of weakness. But if we consider Jesus, the gentlest man who ever lived, and also clearly the strongest man who ever lived, gentleness is really a great sign of strength. In fact, that’s one the best definitions I’ve heard: gentleness is “strength under control”, with the other person’s well-being firmly in mind. I pray that the Spirit will help me to exhibit gentleness as we try to work as a team through our current financial, business and legal difficulties. Otherwise people are going to be unnecessarily hurt and everyone will lose.
When it comes to our behavior at work, this is another counter-cultural, and perhaps even counter-intuitive fruit of the Spirit. After all we are employed to get the most out of people and relationships, and that means being demanding, setting the bar high, expecting a hundred percent (or more!) When someone isn’t performing to our expectations, we need to get tough with them. If someone has problems that are affecting their work, we may show some compassion, but we can’t allow their personal issues to impact our work output.
But gentleness isn’t necessarily counter-productive. I have been in many situations where all that is needed is a soft word, a few minutes of listening, or an understanding smile. Perhaps a colleague’s boss has been particularly tough on them. We may agree with the issue, but we value the person and understand they are hurt – the gentle reassurance may be just what is needed to remedy a situation.
My biggest challenge is as a manager, when a member of staff doesn’t seem to be listening well, or doing what I want, or meeting my expectations. I have a tendency to get frustrated and that leads to anything but gentleness. In an effort to make expectations very clear, I become blunt and formal, rather than seeking to understand and empathize with whatever is going on in the other person. There are times to be direct and firm, but that in no way prevents us from also being gentle. I need to post Ephesians 5:1-2 by my desk: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Being gentle doesn’t come naturally to most successful business people – it isn’t what got us where we are. Sometimes we’ve needed to be pretty tough, and we’ve mistaken our resulting success as an indication that gentleness is a sign of weakness. But if we consider Jesus, the gentlest man who ever lived, and also clearly the strongest man who ever lived, gentleness is really a great sign of strength. In fact, that’s one the best definitions I’ve heard: gentleness is “strength under control”, with the other person’s well-being firmly in mind. I pray that the Spirit will help me to exhibit gentleness as we try to work as a team through our current financial, business and legal difficulties. Otherwise people are going to be unnecessarily hurt and everyone will lose.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Theology @ Work – Temple
British theologian and churchman N.T. Wright has a beautiful picture of the Temple as the place where heaven and earth come together. If we are (according to Paul) the temple of the Holy Spirit, what does that mean to us in the workplace?
God’s interaction with humans goes full circle in the Bible. It starts in Eden with God walking the garden with Adam and Eve – symbolic of constant, intimate communion. Heaven and earth are originally intended to be completely intersecting with no real differentiation. Then, after Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden that bond, that presence of God, is broken. Later, after God’s call and blessing to Abraham (so much like our own), and later on the call of Moses, He provides for His special people of Israel a succession of ways in which heaven and earth can come together again – places where God will meet with His people. Initially in the Tabernacle, during the wandering of the Jews in the wilderness, it is mostly just through Moses that this takes place – the people are too afraid to draw close. Then after the Temple is built (by Solomon – see 1 Kings) the High Priest is allowed in the Holy of Holies one day a year, but the people know that in some way God’s presence it there – heaven meets earth, if only very partially.
In Jesus, the imagery of heaven’s interaction with earth is made complete as God Himself takes on humanity fully, and in Jesus we see heaven and earth coming fully together – but still His disciples are just observers. The prophets, and Jesus Himself, have talked about a time coming when the original intended relationship between heaven and earth, God walking in Eden as it were, will come to full fruition. When Jesus announces the Kingdom, He is also announcing the beginning of the fulfillment of these prophecies.
The next step is taken at Pentecost, when the church is formed and the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is now what one author calls the “Go-Between God” – the very Spirit of Jesus Himself, given to us so that in us, heaven and earth will be brought together. In fact, Paul picks up the language of the Old Testament when he says “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you hear this? When you and I go to work every day, we are the place where heaven and earth come together, God’s temple, a place for others to approach to see and encounter God!
Now we are called to partner together with God in His world, in our everyday lives, in all of our relationships, tasks and calling, as He moves His Kingdom toward the final joining of heaven and earth as laid out in Revelation 21 and 22. As the temples of the Holy Spirit we are increasingly the places where heaven is meeting earth, where God is being seen in action, and where the hope of nations can be encountered.
God’s interaction with humans goes full circle in the Bible. It starts in Eden with God walking the garden with Adam and Eve – symbolic of constant, intimate communion. Heaven and earth are originally intended to be completely intersecting with no real differentiation. Then, after Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden that bond, that presence of God, is broken. Later, after God’s call and blessing to Abraham (so much like our own), and later on the call of Moses, He provides for His special people of Israel a succession of ways in which heaven and earth can come together again – places where God will meet with His people. Initially in the Tabernacle, during the wandering of the Jews in the wilderness, it is mostly just through Moses that this takes place – the people are too afraid to draw close. Then after the Temple is built (by Solomon – see 1 Kings) the High Priest is allowed in the Holy of Holies one day a year, but the people know that in some way God’s presence it there – heaven meets earth, if only very partially.
In Jesus, the imagery of heaven’s interaction with earth is made complete as God Himself takes on humanity fully, and in Jesus we see heaven and earth coming fully together – but still His disciples are just observers. The prophets, and Jesus Himself, have talked about a time coming when the original intended relationship between heaven and earth, God walking in Eden as it were, will come to full fruition. When Jesus announces the Kingdom, He is also announcing the beginning of the fulfillment of these prophecies.
The next step is taken at Pentecost, when the church is formed and the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is now what one author calls the “Go-Between God” – the very Spirit of Jesus Himself, given to us so that in us, heaven and earth will be brought together. In fact, Paul picks up the language of the Old Testament when he says “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you hear this? When you and I go to work every day, we are the place where heaven and earth come together, God’s temple, a place for others to approach to see and encounter God!
Now we are called to partner together with God in His world, in our everyday lives, in all of our relationships, tasks and calling, as He moves His Kingdom toward the final joining of heaven and earth as laid out in Revelation 21 and 22. As the temples of the Holy Spirit we are increasingly the places where heaven is meeting earth, where God is being seen in action, and where the hope of nations can be encountered.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Hope @ Work
“Hope is not a strategy” as an old boss of mine used to say. What he meant was that hoping for the best was no substitute for proper planning. But is he always right? Is there a role for “hope” as the Bible defines it?
It seems as though we constantly have to strike a balance when we try to live out our faith in everyday life. God is sovereign, and yet we have free will. God’s grace brings forgiveness, and yet we are accountable for our actions. And I would say that even though hope comes from God, we still need to plan. Hope isn’t a substitute for planning, but it is a gift that is very much missing from a number of work environments. I see at least two ways in which Biblical hope comes into play.
The first, and perhaps more obvious one, is that hope provides perspective. The Bible is full of deferred gratification (which runs so counter to our present culture). Paul puts it like this in Romans: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (5:3-5) In other words, things may seem really bad right now, but that’s because we’re seeing them narrowly from our point of view, at this point in time. But there’s a bigger perspective (even for someone who doesn’t believe in God’s sovereign grace). There’s the hope that difficulties now will turn out later to have been a blessing in disguise, or at least not as bad as they seem. For a Christian who believes that in “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) this is doubly true. When we display this kind of hope (confidence in the future) we have an impact on those around us. We who believe in God’s Kingdom are called to share the hope of redemption and restoration that God is working all around us.
The second aspect of hope is one of attitude. We can approach challenges with an air of resignation, or annoyance, or even despair. Or we can approach with a “can-do” attitude that says we will do what can be done to address a situation, to learn from it, to adapt to it, and to see good grow out of it. This attitude is infectious, and is a gift that can be most easily given by one who knows the “hope of the ages” (Jesus) because of the overriding hope we find in Him.
Hope is one of the three enduring gifts, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (the others being faith and the greatest of all, love). It is gift we can share with all those with whom we work, in our perspective and our attitude.
It seems as though we constantly have to strike a balance when we try to live out our faith in everyday life. God is sovereign, and yet we have free will. God’s grace brings forgiveness, and yet we are accountable for our actions. And I would say that even though hope comes from God, we still need to plan. Hope isn’t a substitute for planning, but it is a gift that is very much missing from a number of work environments. I see at least two ways in which Biblical hope comes into play.
The first, and perhaps more obvious one, is that hope provides perspective. The Bible is full of deferred gratification (which runs so counter to our present culture). Paul puts it like this in Romans: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (5:3-5) In other words, things may seem really bad right now, but that’s because we’re seeing them narrowly from our point of view, at this point in time. But there’s a bigger perspective (even for someone who doesn’t believe in God’s sovereign grace). There’s the hope that difficulties now will turn out later to have been a blessing in disguise, or at least not as bad as they seem. For a Christian who believes that in “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) this is doubly true. When we display this kind of hope (confidence in the future) we have an impact on those around us. We who believe in God’s Kingdom are called to share the hope of redemption and restoration that God is working all around us.
The second aspect of hope is one of attitude. We can approach challenges with an air of resignation, or annoyance, or even despair. Or we can approach with a “can-do” attitude that says we will do what can be done to address a situation, to learn from it, to adapt to it, and to see good grow out of it. This attitude is infectious, and is a gift that can be most easily given by one who knows the “hope of the ages” (Jesus) because of the overriding hope we find in Him.
Hope is one of the three enduring gifts, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (the others being faith and the greatest of all, love). It is gift we can share with all those with whom we work, in our perspective and our attitude.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Fruit of the Spirit @ Work – Faithfulness
Whatever happened to the idea of loyalty at work? To be called a “faithful employee” would be considered an insult in most circles. Even employers don’t seem to value faithfulness. But God does!
The seventh aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is faithfulness, which in the Greek had the sense of trustworthiness. For us, two questions come to mind. First of all, we are to be faithful to what or to whom? Clearly the Bible expects that we will be faithful first and foremost to God, as a response to His faithfulness to us. At the same time, since this list describes the fruit that results from the Holy Spirit’s control over us, it is something others should see. So the second question is what does this look like in the workplace?
God’s faithfulness, which through His Spirit can be exhibited in us, shows itself in His steadfast and unshakeable love, and in the absolute certainty that He will keep His promises. For us to be faithful to God in the workplace, and thus to the employers or marketplace to which He has called us, means that we will show the kind of self-sacrificing love God has shown to us without condition, and without wavering. Self-sacrificing – that is putting the other’s interests ahead of ours. As an employee we won’t jump ship just because we have a better offer from elsewhere. As an entrepreneur we won’t renege on agreements made with a customer just because we’ve seen a new business opportunity that would be more lucrative or more fulfilling.
Better offers don’t come along that often though. So perhaps the most common way in which we would see the fruit of faithfulness exhibited is simply through keeping our promises. If we make a commitment, whether to our boss, or co-worker, or client, or supplier, then we will keep it. Trustworthiness is a rare and highly valued commodity in most business and trade environments. As it turns out, it is really good for business! But even more than that, it is a small way in which we can exhibit the character of God.
Faithfulness in the workplace is not weak or to be despised. It is noble, strong and, I admit it, something very difficult. There are times I want to bail. And there are times I make commitments I shouldn’t have made. At other times the commitment was reasonable, but I don’t have the energy or resources to follow through. I’m praying for faithfulness to be more evident in me at work, by the Holy Spirit’s power – I can’t do it alone!
The seventh aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is faithfulness, which in the Greek had the sense of trustworthiness. For us, two questions come to mind. First of all, we are to be faithful to what or to whom? Clearly the Bible expects that we will be faithful first and foremost to God, as a response to His faithfulness to us. At the same time, since this list describes the fruit that results from the Holy Spirit’s control over us, it is something others should see. So the second question is what does this look like in the workplace?
God’s faithfulness, which through His Spirit can be exhibited in us, shows itself in His steadfast and unshakeable love, and in the absolute certainty that He will keep His promises. For us to be faithful to God in the workplace, and thus to the employers or marketplace to which He has called us, means that we will show the kind of self-sacrificing love God has shown to us without condition, and without wavering. Self-sacrificing – that is putting the other’s interests ahead of ours. As an employee we won’t jump ship just because we have a better offer from elsewhere. As an entrepreneur we won’t renege on agreements made with a customer just because we’ve seen a new business opportunity that would be more lucrative or more fulfilling.
Better offers don’t come along that often though. So perhaps the most common way in which we would see the fruit of faithfulness exhibited is simply through keeping our promises. If we make a commitment, whether to our boss, or co-worker, or client, or supplier, then we will keep it. Trustworthiness is a rare and highly valued commodity in most business and trade environments. As it turns out, it is really good for business! But even more than that, it is a small way in which we can exhibit the character of God.
Faithfulness in the workplace is not weak or to be despised. It is noble, strong and, I admit it, something very difficult. There are times I want to bail. And there are times I make commitments I shouldn’t have made. At other times the commitment was reasonable, but I don’t have the energy or resources to follow through. I’m praying for faithfulness to be more evident in me at work, by the Holy Spirit’s power – I can’t do it alone!
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