God, Vocation, and Politics © John Stevenson, 2008

Traditional View Separation between clergy and laity Priesthood of all believers Reformed View Active life versus contemplative life Work is a calling from God

Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. Work Rest

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

Traditional View Separation between clergy and laity Priesthood of all believers Reformed View Active life versus contemplative life Work is a calling from God What have been the excesses in each of these two views?

Summary of Biblical Concept of Work Work Comes from God Because of the fall, there is a secular view of work that stands in opposition to the Biblical view of work

Secular View of Work Biblical View of Work I work in order to get status or to get money to do the things that I really want to do I work because God has designed me for a labor of service to Himself and to my fellow man

Summary of Biblical Concept of Work Work Comes from God Because of the fall, there is a secular view of work that stands in opposition to the Biblical view of work When I realize that my earthly work is a service, not only to men, but also to God, then it takes on eternal consequences. A Biblical View of Work brings a sense of Rest.

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Compared to the early church, is it harder, easier, or about the same for us to be Christians in our world today?

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Transforming Church Church World

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church When the world recognizes the church as a part of society, should Christians withdraw for the sake of purity or take advantage of the situation and attempt to influence the culture?

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Accommodation Church World Church

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Transforming Church Church World Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World

Which Model describes our Church? Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm Transforming Church Church World Accommodation Church World Church

Which model makes the most sense to you? Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm Transforming Church Church World Accommodation Church World Church

The Priesthood The hierarchical priesthood The priesthood of all believers How does the principle of the priesthood relate to your life?

The Anabaptists Separation from the prevailing culture Paralleled by the Essenes in the first century Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm

Should Christians be involved in politics? Will engagement in politics necessarily result in a trade-off or some degree of compromise?

Are movements like the Religious Right similar to or different from the medieval papacy?

What is the relationship between the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate?

Great Commission And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18- 20).

Cultural Mandate God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28).

Cultural Mandate The mandate to rule the world as the representatives of God Great Commission The commission to go into all the world and make disciples Commands a fruitful multiplication Based upon a delegated authority conferred to those made in the image of God Based upon a delegated authority to those who are joined to Christ to whom has been given all authority

Bringing the rule of Christ to the entire world Primarily through making disciples of the nations We fulfill the cultural mandate today

Richard Niebuhr Christ against culture Christ of culture Christ above culture Christ transforming culture Christ and culture in paradox (a tension between the two) Professor at Yale 1955