And Never The Twain Shall Meet?

It’s Sunday. The service is over. Social “hi's-and-byes” done at the atrium. “Catch up sometime soon” to a few others in a greater hurry. And as we exit the church gate, we bid a fond farewell and a wave of the hand; but have we left God behind? Till next Sunday then!

Where’s God on Monday?

Aha! Looks like someone’s keeping the sacred and secular separate. Are they immiscible? That’s a fancy word for incompatible, unmixable – best kept apart?  

After all, the secular domain is often associated with science, thinking and the rational (somewhat like “see first, then believe”). Whereas the spiritual realm tends to go beyond the utilitarian, and explore meaning, feelings and the numinous, even the other-worldly (“believe first, then see”)!

Poles apart.

Some people take it a step further – for example, that we shouldn’t apply the craft and methods of secular management in churches and Christian organizations. “Untouchable” objects – things like KPIs and OKRs – are best shown the door. (Those stand for “Key Performance Indicators” and “Objectives & Key Results” – the business of identifying targets and tracking progress.) Since it is spiritual work, people need not be held accountable. Compassion and forgiveness come first. Love reigns supreme. After all, these are mostly volunteers, giving their best with good intentions. Why impose obligations? 

But a writer from “Theology of Work Project, Inc” observed: “This strange habit we have of splitting life into spiritual and secular boxes just doesn’t appear in the story of God’s creation of work. In fact, as we’ve already noted, God begins by doing some very ‘earthly’ work himself – creating the universe! God acts as designer, builder, gardener…

Then God takes the bold step of giving to us humans a role in this universe – work of His, by commissioning Adam and Eve to be stewards of His creation. Does that sound like a second-rate call? Did Adam really think, ‘Oh, no! – I really wanted a more significant role, God. Not a farmer! I mean, isn’t there some spiritual task I could do? A priest maybe…?’”

So, every Christian has a “higher calling” because it is God who does the calling and placement. We are to be His witnesses and followers, whatever the profession or vocation.

Obviously there is a place for the “full-time” ministry. Pastors, priests, parachurch executives and workers, and especially cross-cultural missionaries – who have to leave home, the near and familiar – their work is a full plate of duties and responsibilities. Some, for various reasons, could be bi-vocational (simultaneously engaging in ministry and working in another job to support themselves). This has a specific name – “tentmaking”.

The apostle Paul sometimes supported himself (as a tentmaker – Acts 18:1-4), looking after his own needs and those of his immediate team and contributing to the community, too. But there was no dichotomy – whether preaching or manual labour – the one was not superior to or holier than the other; he was gainfully witnessing for Christ.

In the Bible we also find people like Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah and Esther, who were not called to leave their “secular” employment to do God’s special assignments for them. God was with them wherever they were. The book of Nehemiah, for one, has been known to be a reference textbook for Management and Leadership training programmes. Rebuilding walls and construction are sanctified work, too. 

You may have heard of the two signs placed on the doorway of the sanctuary at Kenilworth Union Church (USA). On the way into the sanctuary, a plaque reads, “enter to worship” and on the way out the door, another reads, “depart to serve.” Only six simple words but they integrate and prioritize the seamless connection of our purpose on earth. Similarly, our dear Pastor John Willis (Bartley Christian Church) liked to ad-lib as we shook hands and left church through the front doors, “Caution: you are entering your mission field”. The two have become one indeed.

Now, what’s the Monday question again?

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What's inside this latest issue?

VOL. 49 NO. 3 of IMPACT Magazine

CROSSING THE DIVIDE 

By Corné J Bekker

WHAT HAS KEPT ME GOING AND GROWING

Interview with Fong Hoe Fang 

A MATTER OF THE HEART

By Boey Yin Chong

PARENTING...The sacred mission in a secular world 

By Terrence Tan

HOW I HAVE BEEN PARENTED Four Contributions

WHEN THE TWO SHALL BE ONE?

~ The Impact Panel responds ~  

SHOULD YOU STAY IN THE SAME CHURCH ALL YOUR LIFE? 

By Henry Chua

FROM EVOLUTIONIST TO CREATIONIST

~ Interview with Ron Neller ~

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