I don’t have it yet but I am pressing forward until I achieve it. Of course, I am paraphrasing the Apostle Paul but I am also making a personal declaration. I am reminding myself that when it comes to fully understanding the theological framework of faith and work integration, I am still striving for greater clarity. I am still seeking to answer the question, how do we, the leadership of the church help those who occupy the pews of our church understand the importance of faith and work integration.
As I sit here writing this blog post, I am reminded that my Doctoral work was concerned with answering this question. I just did not have the working knowledge or correct language at the time. Yet, I wanted to wrestle with the question of how do churches equip leaders and laity alike to understand that there is both a vertical and horizontal dimension to their faith. I noticed that the church seemed to only be concerned with the vertical dimensions of our faith, however, I sensed that there was a broader application possible.
“It is the responsibility of the church to equip those under our charge and in our care to live out an integrated discipleship.”
My introduction to faith and work integration, the work of Made to Flourish and other organizations of “like precious faith” has only sought to increase my desire to answer the question of “how.” I deeply believe that the church has a responsibility to help its members understand that what they do during the week is just as important as what they do on Sunday Mornings. Part and parcel of the responsibility of the church is to help its members see that what they do day in and day out is a part of their worship. The church has a responsibility to develop disciples who understand that they spend most of their lives outside of the church walls. They live their lives outside of the window of Sunday morning worship. And it is the responsibility of the church to equip those under our charge and in our care to live out an integrated discipleship.
This understanding of discipleship reminds us that our full worship is realized in the lives we live. It is seen in their daily efforts and endeavors. Therefore, our full worship is seen in our interactions within our families, among our friends and peers as well as in the places where we spend the most of our time—at work. This “work” will look different for every disciple but the responsibility is the same. Whether we are working a nine to five, shift work, volunteering at the soup kitchen or care giving for a loved one. The opportunity is the same. We can share the grace of GOD with others and we have the blessed opportunity to offer our “work” to GOD as an expression of worship.
It is no wonder that David Johnson Rowe arrested my attention from the very onset of his book Faith at Work: A Celebration of All that We Do. In this text, David suggests “faith at work is a spiritual rationale for considering every effort we make, paid or volunteer, as a fitting and proper offering to God.”
I was arrested by that thought— “every effort we make” is a “fitting and proper offering to GOD.” It is to this end that I have dedicated my ministry. Properly understood, this restores the dignity of work that GOD intended in the creation. Properly understood, this raises the level of our “every effort” to the place of worshipful offering. Properly understood, our “every effort” takes on the weight of Glory.
This surely raises the stakes, doesn’t it? Imagine with me a world in which our “every effort” is approached from the standpoint of worship and an offering to our GOD. Imagine a world where our “every effort” is received as a sweet smelling fragrance in the throne room of heaven. Imagine a world where our “every effort” brings glory to our GOD.
Paul D. Flowers, Sr. 