Vocationality - if that is a word

I always find it interesting to see how applicable ancient history is to current issues and challenges. Hopefully, by studying history we can understand the driving principles behind the issues of the past, and will be able to learn vicariously, rather than have to needlessly go through the trials once again.

One aspect of the early church that is particularly interesting is their concept of vocationality. In the early church scattered for service we see Christians who did not live dualistically - separating the sacred and secular, but rather attempted to live out all of life in a way that was consistent with their Christian presuppositions. Tertullian exhorted Christians to do their job for the common good, and it was common practice to do whatever your job was, as of, and unto God. Christians living out their faith in the marketplace, political realm, and cultural realm allowed them to be agents of change in the culture they were apart of.

In some circles today there seems to be a growing disconnect between the local church and the local believers (i.e. Barna’s “Revolution”). Some in church leadership have retreated from public life and do not address their members as business people or cultural drivers, but rather only teach on matters of personal spiritual beliefs and practices.

I have a friend who leads an organization dedicated to serving Christian CEO’s. He says the CEO’s are in desperate need of support from grounded, mature Christians who understand the environment they are trying to live their faith out in. I am guessing the need could be met in several ways such as linking local churches to para-church ministries that specialize in ministry to executives, or perhaps the church itself could develop affinity groups of the various types of vocations represented in the church. There could also be value in the church promoting a high view of the role the laity plays in living out their faith in the marketplace, whatever that market may be. If the church could affirm that almost all professions can serve a redeeming purpose and commission it’s members as salt and light to the field they are in, and champion them as people serving the common good I believe we would see a greater participation in church, as well as, a greater impact on society as a whole as we saw among in the Roman empire in the first few centuries after Christ.

I am not picking on churches. I know we Americans are incredibly blessed to be able to participate freely in so many great churches, and I appreciate the godly men and women who dedicate their professional and personal lives to leading people into a growing relationship with Christ. The pastors I know do a far better job of it, than I could ever hope to, so I speak only as an observer wondering how we could do a better job of serving one segment of our population.

I have been listening to podcasts of some of the emergent church services and regardless of ones personal views on the emergent church, it does seem that they have taken a lead in encouraging people to do whatever it is that they do for God’s glory, and for the common good and that may be part of the reason the emergent church enjoys a sense of relevancy greater than some traditional denominations. The wholeness created by seeking to live out our roles in the world for God’s glory and the common good goes a long way to provide the transformation we seek as Christians.