Perhaps one of the most perplexing matters many believers must deal with is how to understand and carry out a Christian’s role in society. There is a lot of confusion about this, as well as many misconceptions about what it means to express one’s faith in the world. So, what, exactly, are Christians supposed to do as they live out their lives in the world?
It is pretty easy to identify the role of Christian leaders. Since Christian work is their profession, it seems obvious that they should be out there doing “Christian work” – teaching, preaching, and witnessing.
But what about all of the other Christians who do not work in a “Christian vocation?” Is their role simply to support the ministry of those who are called into Christian service and, perhaps, to do some volunteer work in the church? Is it enough for them to just financially support the church and other Christian ministries, to attend worship services, and perhaps teach a Bible study class or serve on some church committee? Sadly, that is exactly what the large majority of self-identified Christians truly believe, but there can hardly be anything further from what is taught in the Bible.
Of course, the work of a Christian in the world can certainly not put aside the spiritual work of ministry. Look what it says in Ephesians 4:11-13. Here the apostle Paul writes: 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We will not take the time here to get at all the nuggets found in these verses, but we do need to grasp one important truth. Here, Paul speaks of the calling of two different categories of people. In verse 11 he lists some of the church leaders that were common in that day. These were people who had a particular calling into church leadership positions. Then, in verses 12 and 13, he shares the nature of their calling. In doing this, he also alludes to the calling of those who were not called into church leadership ministry. The part we are particularly interested in says that the work of the church leadership is to prepare God’s people for works of service. Essentially Paul is teaching that the ministry calling of church leaders is to equip all the other believers to be effective in sharing Christ with the world. By default, then, those not called into church leadership positions are to become equipped, then go out into the world and do the work of God.
This principle is not a hidden gem. While it is not something that the majority of Christians seem to grasp very well, those who take their faith seriously intuitively realize the implication of this teaching for their lives.
But even among the more faithful segment of the Christian population, there is a lot of confusion about how to express this principle in daily life. The biggest part of the struggle to understand lies in the fact that there is a strong tendency to conceive of “spiritual work” and “material work” as completely separate spheres. But the truth is, they are not. There is only one world, and it is God’s will that it all be placed under his sphere of influence. So how does this work? Where does the mundane “material work” Christians do in the world fit into Gods calling and his purpose for believers?
What Is Our Purpose?
Before we can clearly deal with how believers should express their Christian faith out in the world, we must first grasp the outcome God has called us to accomplish. We can’t say something ought to be done if we can’t identify what that “something” is. As we look at how to fulfill God’s purpose in daily life, we will see that there are three facets to that fulfillment that must be addressed. We must: 1) glorify God, 2) accomplish a spiritual outcome, and, 3) accomplish a temporal outcome. All three must be addressed.
Glorify God
In the case of the Christian faith, the bottom line purpose that must be accomplished is to glorify God; in fact, the very reason for the existence of the material universe is to give him glory. But not only is the purpose of the existence of the natural universe to glorify God, the actions that take place within the universe also have that purpose. So when we begin dealing with the actions people take in the world, we must start with an understanding of how that action can fulfill God’s ultimate purpose – to glorify him.
The idea that the existence of the universe, and all actions taken in it, are to glorify God, though, is not to be seen as some mere abstract principle; it must actually be expressed in the world. Of course, God is glorified in everything he does simply by the fact that he is the one doing it. But he can only receive an expression of that glory if there is someone there to express it. That expression comes from the beings he created. He receives glory from the angelic creatures in the spiritual realm, but human beings who live in the material world are also to express his glory.
There are those who think that the work of God is confined to “religious work” – specifically the work done by the church and of sharing a verbal witness for Christ. The implication of that kind of thinking is that the other work done in the world is only necessary because human beings have physical needs that must be accounted for, and that material work people do is secondary to the real (spiritual) “work of God.”
That perspective is simply wrong. The truth is, the entire creation was deliberately created by God for his purpose, and there is nothing about any part of it that is outside of that purpose. He is just as interested in the work of government, education, commerce, media, and so on, as he is in the work of the church. God calls people into these kinds of work just as surely as he calls people into church leadership. To get at the core of the truth of this, we must realize that the importance of the calling is not so much in the particular “job” a person is called to, but the work that is done in and through that job.
At the beginning of this article, we looked at Ephesians 4:11-13 and noted that the work of church leaders is “to prepare God’s people for the work of service.” At this point, we need to break that down a little more and clarify the meaning of “the work of service.” There is a spiritual element and a temporal element to this work.
The Spiritual Element of Ministry
Spiritual ministry involves work that affects the spiritual lives of people. As we saw already in the verses above, there is a spiritual expression that happens when God is glorified. This has to do with the spiritual effects that occur in and through the believer’s life, and in how it impacts other people’s relationship with God. We glorify God when our lives are transformed by our relationship with him, and is expressed by the way we live out that relationship in the real world.
Part of that would involve evangelism. Evangelism is the work that expresses outwardly the call of God to non-believers so they can respond to it. It is the work of numerically increasing the size of God’s kingdom. It is important to recognize that the work of evangelism is not the responsibility of professional Christians alone. God has called and commissioned all believers to share their faith. The particular way that is done will vary widely by the circumstances individuals find themselves in; in some places it can be done overtly, while other places require a more subtle approach. But regardless of the particular approach, sharing our faith is one of the spiritual expressions of a faithful Christian life.
Another aspect of spiritual ministry involves promoting spiritual growth among believers. Salvation does not end with justification. Christians are called by God to mature in their faith to the highest degree possible – “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (v. 13)” Faithful believers will use their work out in the world as opportunities to grow spiritually themselves, and to help other believers grow.
The Temporal Element of Ministry
God’s calling to individuals is not just about doing “spiritual work,” however. The teachings in the Bible assume that as people go about doing their work in daily life, they will be faithful in doing spiritual ministry. But the actual physical work itself is also a part of the work of God – a part of his calling to individuals.
The key to understanding this concept is in grasping that God actually calls people, for instance, to work in government. That said, he is not satisfied that these individuals simply be government workers. He wants the work they do to be done in a way that accomplishes the fullness of his purpose. This means not only getting the work done, but doing it with excellence, doing it with integrity, doing it with the right motives, and creating an outcome that literally explodes with God’s glory. The same is true in the arenas of commerce, media, the arts, and every other area you can think of.
Glorifying God in temporal work is expressed by the kind of effort we put forth as we carry out the work. In Colossians 3:23-24 we read: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
The clear teaching here is that the physical efforts we put forth out in the world are as important to God as is the spiritual work. It is two sides of the same coin. The laborer who does his or her work and fulfills God’s purpose in that work pleases God to the same degree the church worker does. In fulfilling it, God will be glorified, people’s lives will be touched by him, and an excellent outcome will be displayed in the world.
Expressing God’s Purpose in the Various Arenas of Life
In order to grasp this concept more concretely, let’s look at some of the specific spheres of life and explore how Christians should engage work in those areas in order to accomplish God’s purpose. We will look at how a person can fulfill God’s purpose in each of the areas by accomplishing the three outcomes mentioned above.
Church
We are starting with the church, not because it is more important than all of the others, but because we need to see the specific work of this institution, and the boundaries of this sphere of influence. We need to understand this to help us see the specific work of the church, as well as its interaction with the other societal institutions.
As we address this topic, we must first note that as we speak of the church in this setting, we are talking about the institutional church – local church bodies. Within this institution, there are those who have been called to make it function as an organization. This refers to such people as pastors, church staff, church office personnel, and others who work in the institution.
The church’s purpose in God’s economy is to lead people in their worship of God, and to help them mature spiritually. In order to accomplish this purpose, the church is charged with sharing Christ with those who do not know him, providing opportunities for believers to corporately worship God, and equipping them to do the work of ministry out in the world.
Glorify God
God is glorified when the church, as an institution, does its work to build up believers in a way that helps them take their faith out into the world. The institution must set up its programs to accomplish the purpose of the church, and its workers must put forth the effort to become equipped to do the work of church ministry. When these things happen, God is glorified.
Spiritual Outcome
There are two spiritual outcomes that happen when church workers fulfill God’s purpose in their work. The first is that believers are strengthened in their faith as they worship together and become more knowledgeable about the things and ways of God. The second spiritual outcome is that people who do not know Christ are confronted with the claims of the gospel, and have an opportunity to come to know God in a personal relationship.
Temporal Outcome
A very important thing to understand, as regards the institutional church, is that it also produces a temporal outcome as a part of the fulfillment of its purpose. Even the work of the church has “spiritual” and “non-spiritual” elements. The outward manifestation of the work of the church is displayed as those who are called to this work run the programs of the institution. There are buildings to maintain, finances to manage, committees to lead, personnel to oversee, and many other things. Those who work in this arena should do the work God has called them to with excellence and with the right spirit.
Government
In order to grasp how a Christian government worker should express his life in the workplace, the first thing we need to know is the purpose of government in God’s economy. Knowing that gives us our cues as to how we are to interact with it based on a biblical worldview.
The purpose of government is to provide order and justice in society, and create an environment where the other societal institutions are able to accomplish God’s purposes. It does that by making sure there is a system of laws to define the limits of behavior in society, and by making sure its laws are enforced equally and fairly.
There are different arenas within government that Christians can be involved with. One is that part which creates laws. Within that segment there are the actual law makers, and others who facilitate the work of the lawmakers. A second arena consists of those whose job it is to carry out the laws that are established. This includes executives who make policy, and bureaucrats who are tasked with implementing the policies. A third arena consists of those who adjudicate the laws to make sure they are being implemented in a fair and right manner. Within that area are those who actually make judicial decisions, and those who facilitate the work of the judges.
Christians who work in government can be found in any of these areas, and the work they do is focused on making sure the work of government is accomplished. On a personal level, each of these Christians should look at and carry out their work based on a biblical worldview. This means doing the work in a way that accomplishes God’s purpose for government.
Glorify God
God is glorified when the government does its work in a way that accomplishes his purpose (to create order and justice) in a way that is based on biblical teachings. Thus, Christian government workers, whether decision makers or worker bees, should do their work in a way that accomplishes that purpose. God is glorified when this happens.
Spiritual Outcome
The work of Christian government workers should produce spiritual outcomes that affect their own life and those of coworkers and customers. Spiritual outcomes are those that have an effect on people’s lives in a way that points them to God. Some of that is accomplished when Christians provide help and encouragement to fellow workers and customers, while other is done as they share the love of Christ with those they interact with, both directly and indirectly.
Temporal Outcome
Every bit of work that is done has some kind of material expression. That which comes from a Christian government worker should be expressed in both honest work and in the production of an excellent product – whatever that might be. The ultimate outcome is government service that provides order and justice, and an environment that allows for all of the other institutions of society to effectively do their work according to God’s purposes.
Commerce
The purpose of commerce – the buying and selling of goods and services – in God’s economy is to provide services and resources for the human population, as well as to give people a wholesome environment in which to faithfully live out their faith in the world. Since the world we live in is a physical world, and human beings are physical creatures with needs that must be met by the physical environment, there must be a mechanism that provides for these needs to be met. Commerce is not the only means for meeting those needs, but is an important part of the mix. As such, God has an interest in it being carried out in a way that is consistent with his revealed will.
Glorify God
God is glorified when people in business work in such a way as to provide for the needs of those who live in the world, and they do it in a way that is consistent with his revelation. There are two elements that play into this work. First, it is God’s desire that businesses provide the actual goods and services people need to live and the thrive in the world. As people rightly accomplish this purpose, God is glorified. Additionally, God is glorified when those in commerce create a work environment that allows people to grow, find fulfillment in life, and express their faith.
Spiritual Outcome
Those who work in commerce should produce spiritual outcomes that affect their own life and those of coworkers and customers. This is done as believers show the kind of attitude that expresses the work of Christ in their life, and as they use their work to point people to Christ.
Temporal Outcome
The temporal work of a Christian working in commerce should be clearly visible to anyone. It should be seen in the honesty and integrity a believer shows as they do their work, and in the excellence of the products and services they produce.
Media
The role of the media in God’s economy is to share truth with the public. God has a particular interest in truth and righteousness, but we live in a fallen world where corruption is not unusual. As the media searches for truth and exposes lies, the public is able to know what is going on in the various sectors of society, and make corrections where they are needed.
Glorify God
God is glorified when those who work in the media do the work of exposing falsehood and of promoting truth.
Spiritual Outcome
Because they are actively broadcasting information, workers in the media have a special opportunity to produce spiritual outcomes that affect both their own life and the public in general. Christian media workers should demonstrate faithfulness to God personally by keeping all aspects of truth front and center in the public square. As they do this, God is honored, and people should be pointed to Christ as the truth becomes evident.
Temporal Outcome
The temporal work of Christians in the media is seen as they, themselves, work with honesty and integrity, then produce a product that demonstrates excellence.
Education
Education, in God’s economy, is for the specific purpose of teaching right facts, right beliefs, and right values. Without the right facts, people are unable to understand what is going on in the world. This is needed to equip people to actually go into the world and do effective work. Without right beliefs, people will be living in ways that conflict with reality. When people live in opposition to reality, society’s institutions cannot operate effectively. Without right values, people will accept and live out lifestyles that are destructive to self and society.
Glorify God
God is glorified when those who work in the field of education teach in ways that help people learn truth and to do what is right.
Spiritual Outcome
Those who serve in the education arena have the opportunity to promote important spiritual outcomes in the lives of those they teach. When students learn right facts, they are placed in position to be able to go out into the world and be productive citizens according to God’s purposes. When students learn right beliefs, they are able to live productive lives in relationship with God. When students learn right values, they are able to create a lifestyle that pleases God, and promotes a good relationship with him. Additionally, living by right values creates an atmosphere in society that is moral and productive.
Temporal Outcome
The temporal work of those who faithfully serve God in the education field is expressed in two areas. First, it is seen in the lives of students as they are equipped to be faithful servants of God in the world. Second, it is expressed in the life of the teacher as he or she does excellent work in the teaching process.
Arts and Entertainment
As a part of the activity that goes on in the world, arts and entertainment also has a place in God’s economy. Its purpose, as with education above, is to express right facts, beliefs, and values.
The way these elements are expressed, though, is different from how it is done in the media and in education. The media and education put these forth in a straightforward, rational way. While rationality is certainly not set aside, arts and entertainment tend to focus more on addressing those matters via people’s emotions.
Glorify God
Arts and entertainment both express the characteristic of creativity – an element of personhood that God gave man as a creature made in his image. Arts and entertainment glorify God as they express truth related to facts and beliefs, and as they promote biblical values.
Spiritual Outcome
When the arts and entertainment are used in ways that correspond with God’s purposes, they are able to point people to God. When those who are involved in the arts and entertainment do their work based on God’s purposes, their own life is affected as they serve God in their work. The lives of other people are also affected by the artists as their work and creations express the work of God in the world.
Temporal Outcome
The arts and entertainment also have a profound impact on the very functioning of society. The knowledge, beliefs, and values that are transmitted through these media profoundly impact the lives of those who consume it, and that impact will affect the beliefs and values that society accepts and expresses.
Family
The place of the family in God’s economy is to provide emotional and physical well-being for the members of the family. The family is the most basic and important societal institution that exists, and is God’s provision for meeting people’s most basic needs. Modern society has seen a huge breakdown in this most important institution, and the result has been a breakdown in society’s other institutions.
Glorify God
Personal relationships are at the very core of human life. The ability to even have self-conscious relationships is a gift from God, and is an expression of the fact that we were created in his image. The most basic set of relationships are found in the family. God is glorified as family life is expressed in a way that provides for the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of all family members in a way that is consistent with his revelation.
Spiritual Outcome
It is within the bonds of family life that an individual’s deepest human needs are met. As each person works properly to make family life conform to God’s purposes, their own life is affected as they have their personal spiritual, emotional, and physical needs cared for. Other members of the family also are strengthened as they have their needs met.
Temporal Outcome
A stable family that operates according to God’s plan is a key to creating a stable society. When relationships are right in this arena, it provides stability for those in individual families, and for the rest of the institutions of society.
Putting it All Together
As we have seen, God’s will for Christians is expressed in three parts: 1) to glorify God, 2) to produce a spiritual outcome in people’s lives, and 3) to produce a material outcome in the world. We accomplish his will when all three are fulfilled.
Too many people think of God’s will only in spiritual terms. Of course it begins there. God created mankind for the purpose of knowing him. But just because it begins there does not mean that is all there is to it. It is possible for people who come to know God to then disappoint him by not living their lives in a way that gives him glory. It is also possible for people who know him to disappoint him by not living continually in fellowship with him, and by not putting forth their best effort in the work he opens up for them in life.
It is pretty obvious that, on the whole, God’s will is not being done in society. There is rampant immorality, laziness, a lack of concern for other people, and on and on. But that is not God’s will. It is his desire that every facet of life and reality conform to his will. While those who do not know God cannot be expected to be interested in glorifying him, that should never be the case for Christians. All believers are called by God, regardless of the specific work they do, to express his glory. All are called, regardless of the specific work they do, to share Christ and build up other believers. And all are called to do whatever work they do in a way which demonstrates that God is at work in their lives.
When we fall short on any of the three, we fall short of his will. It is not just religious workers who are called by God and who are to do his work in the world. Every job in existence falls into the category of “the work of God,” and it is up to believers to understand their calling, and do the work in a way that accomplishes his will on earth as it is in heaven.
© 2017 Freddy Davis