Long ago.... when theology still mattered.... there was a Theology of Work.
The concept of WORK
JUDAISM. Jewish rabbis for many, many centuries (probably beginning long before Jesus was born) see "work" as a horrible consequence of the Fall. When the fall happened, God told Adam that his punishment was now he'd HAVE TO till the soil ( now full of weeds). Work thus is punishment for sin, for rebelling against God, a consequence of sin. It's part of our punishment, our "suffering" for the sin of Adam. In heaven, Jews believe, we'll have perfect leisure.
ROME. The ancient Romans saw society like a giant machine..... rather mechanical..... with each of us a cog in the machine. Each of us a pulley or lever or whatever. So each PART of the machine needs to do it's PART ( adequately) for the whole thing to work.
EARLY CHURCH. Early Christians largely merged these two views. Christianity of course flows out of Judaism but "grew up" in Rome - so the merger is understandable. Theologically, work is punishment, part of our suffering, a consequence of the Fall. Early Christian art followed the Jewish theme of heaven being the place of an absence of work, laying around for eternity DOING nothing. BUT.... meanwhile.... here on earth..... this work has a practical function, indeed an essential function if this fallen world is going to work at all. BUT..... a second kind of "work" was invented. Sacred work, holy work, work NOT in the world but in the Church. Indeed, the lowliest of most humble and small of SACRED work is worth more and is more pleasing to God than the mightest thing done in the fallen machine of this sinful world. A sharp division of work was given: for God and for man. Holy and fallen.
LUTHER: Luther looked not to Genesis 3:18-19 (after the Fall) for the idea of work, but to God placing Adam and Eve into the perfect Garden "to till it and keep it." Luther saw ALL work as our divine calling (thus this is called "vocatio" - Latin for Calling), our active participation in the providence and care of God. A farmer is God's hand for the feeding of His children. And of course, the one who milks the cow and the baker who makes the bread, etc. The wife who bathes and dresses the children and cares for the home. They are His hands for His purposes, serving ("ministry") Him. Obviously, priests, etc are doing this TOO but this is not a different level of ministry, simply a different application of it. A pastor TOO is God's Hand for the care and blessing of His people. All such work ("vocation" God's Calling! "Ministry" God's service!) is thus holy, precious, meaningful as it is done in faith and is done is love for God and man. Thus, we are ministers, instruments of God, participants in His gracious providence, doing HOLY work as we prepare our child's meal, as we put that new tire on a customer's car, as teach that child to read, as we built that new home, as we sing that baby to sleep, as we repair the old man's shoe, as drive that load to bread to the local store. And it's not so much the Vocatio WE CHOOSE (although that can be a factor) because God calls us - we don't call Him. We are to look where GOD has placed us, how GOD has gifted us, what situations/needs GOD is placing before us to do. For HIM. And "whatsoever you do for these, you do it for Me." And of course, we often have many Vocatios - our work, our service in our family and community and country, our service in church, etc., etc.
CALVIN: Calvin is famous (infamous?) for his "Work Ethic." In the English speaking world, it's called "The Protestant Work Ethic" but it's really the Calivinist Work Ethic because it's radically different than Luther's view. Calvin largely rejects the Early Church view - but by returning to Rome's view (largely without the Jewish concept). In this fallen, broken world entirely impacted by the Fall and Sin, we must WORK. Sweat. Hard. Children are to work as early as they physically can... are are to work as hard as they can, dealing with the weeds of this fallen world. Calvin, however, changed the focus of this. Rome stressed for the greater good of all - WORKING TOGETHER as one machine that has one purpose. Calvin individualized work: we are to be self-sufficient, working for our own selves, so that no one needs to supply the needs of me and mine - that's MY duty.
I think what has happened in the past 500 years, is that these views have often muddled and blended. And I'm not sure that's ENTIRELY without merit. But I think Luther had a very biblical and very blessed view that greatly enriches the concept, and highly motivates love, care and service. It's awesome too in that Luther stressed ALL can so bless - the child as a Vocatio and serves God and others in it, the old man has a Vocatio and serves God and others in it. Of course, the Roman Church of his day saw this too as rebellion and protest and dangerous since it undermined the whole emphasis that serving that denomination was FAR, FAR, FAR superior (in fact, in a whole other category) than any other lowly, sinful, fallen "work."
I hope that helps.
Pax
- Josiah
