I have just re-read ‘Good News to the Poor’ and in chapter seven (‘Good News to the Rich’) the author, Tim Chester, says
Some people make life choices by deciding first on the lifestyle to be adopted, then they choose a job to fund that lifestyle, then a home nearby before finally choosing a local church… [an alternative is to] see ourselves first and foremost as gospel ministers and members of gospel communities
Tim Chester then goes on to say how our gifts and passions – in the context of needs - would shape our ministry (eg, sharing the gospel with elderly people, helping the homeless – “It could be any one of a hundred things”). We would then decide where we needed to live and how much we needed to earn to fund this ministry. Only then would we decided what job we were to do and where we were to live.
Is this practical? Is this Biblical? It flies in the face of most of what I have done for most of my life – but that does not mean it is wrong.
What is our first priority here on earth? Can Christians even talk in such a way? Our first calling is to be lovers – to be lovers of God and lovers of other people (there are no commandments greater than these). But – and can I put a but here? – how does that play itself out?
Is my first priority to feed and clothe myself and those for whom I am responsible? Should that be my first thought every day – or should I be thinking, primarily, “How can I seek God’s kingdom today – since if I do I shall not have to worry about what I am to eat or drink?” I suspect it is the latter. Or is it the former – since if I am dead I cannot glorify God (the dead don’t praise Him)? Is it the former with the caveat that I should not worry, but rather do everything – as I seek to feed and clothe me and my dependents – to the glory of God?
I am now middle-aged (you’d guessed that – right?). What advice do I give to my children? Do I encourage them primarily to see how they can advance the kingdom and for that to inform their plans – or do I encourage them primarily to develop their skills, interests and talents in a way that will earn them a living – but do that all the time aware that there is a God who demands their worship, wants them to speak and live for Him and will bring every deed into judgement?
April 4, 2010 at 8:58 pm |
Hi Alan,
I’m not sure I agree with Tim here (nothing new on that one). What he is suggesting seems to me unrealistic: who could this apply to? Who would know what their ministry is, or what church they are called to prior to knowing what career path they want to pursue? Perhaps, as you say, we could train our kids in this…but what about converts, or ordinary Christians like us who are already developing careers for ourselves? Unless Tim is suggesting that we all become loo cleaners or something…would such jobs necessarily free us up to ‘do ministry’?
Again, it seems to me that Tim is ‘problem solving’ and he has these problems (or his people have these problems..perhaps) because he misunderstands the kingdom of God. Interestingly enough, Dave Gilpin, who pastors Hope City Church, Sheffield (same town as Tim) places a strong emphasis on the alternative economics of the kingdom, helping his people break out of the poverty trap by, amongst other things being creative and entrepreneurial. The key to this is, of course, a life and lifestyle given over to God, as you suggest. I couldn’t find a link to an article that specifically addresses finance or career, but here is an article that catches the spirit of this movement I think:
http://www.hopecitychurch.tv/life/lifestyle/you-can-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too! (exclamation mark is part of the hyperlink)
April 5, 2010 at 11:35 am |
A mistake that Tim Chester may be making is to regard a secular job as a way of funding a ministry that takes place in a Christian’s spare time, rather than looking at the job itself as a form of outreach. Realistically, the spare time left after sleeping, travelling to and from work, eating, looking after family, and household chores. The spare time is realistically
probably about 12 hours a week (ie two hours four evenings a week and four hours a day on Saturday, assuming rest on Sunday). And probably a good deal less.
Compare that to effective witness in a 37 hour a week job. This witness is likely to be more effective if a Christian does a job that he enjoys and is good at (often these are related). Therefore a good strategy is to choose a job that you are good at and enjoy, and choose a house fairly close to that job to minimise travelling costs and time.
April 5, 2010 at 6:44 pm |
A few years ago I managed a Foyer which is a housing and employment project for homeless young people. We were next door to a baptist church building and the minister invited me to speak at a sunday evening service about our work. Afterwards there was a Q&A session where someone asked me why she should give give time to a project that wasn’t involved in direct evangelism. If I had thought on my feet I would have responded that most Christians spend virtually nil time in an average week “directly evangelising” people: so I wasn’t asking her to stop directly evangelising and support our work instead, divert the time you would spend surfing the Net or playing the Wi.
April 6, 2010 at 2:16 pm |
Chris: I think I agree with you as to Chester’s possible mistake here – the roughly 40 hours a week the typical Christian works (wherever that happens to be: office, school, building site) aren’t simply to “fund gospel ministry”, because they’re commissioned by God too (“fill the earth and subdue it”). Then of course it’s a form of outreach too – banks need Christians in them to witness to bankers, schools need Christians in them to witness to teachers and children etc. Following on to what Alan mentions (paragraph beginning “We would then decide where we needed to live”), we can see that for many people, the normal “pursuing a career” may well be where they can best minister, and where their passions lie!
What I find helpful in Tim’s point, though, is that so often work and career are the driving forces in our lives by default, and we don’t stop to think that perhaps moving to a different city for a promotion isn’t necessarily the wisest thing. To move away from my church family isn’t something to be taken lightly, and I feel that sometimes it can be. (This may just be those I’m aware of.) Perhaps some of us need to think about whether we can manage on less in order to free up more time for the community we’re part of, but it’s certainly not a “more holy” route.
Alan: Paul makes it clear in 1 + 2 Thessalonians amongst other places that we are to support ourselves and not be a burden on others, as you well know; it’s also clear we’re to be living lives of sacrifice, such lives “among the pagans that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. I read your last paragraph and thought “both, surely?” The former will hopefully be accomplished through the latter!
April 8, 2010 at 7:49 am |
Thanks to all for your comments so far – they have certainly clarified my thinking.
I am not sure Tim Chester is right in that he suggests people first decide the lifestyle to be adopted (and I don’t think I’m taking his words out of context). Rather, first, they look at their skills and interests and decide how they can use them to earn a living. After that will come deciding where to live – but with high house prices, few people are able to ‘choose’ the ‘nice’ areas.
This might be good for the gospel since Chrisitians will be ‘forced’ to live in ‘less nice’ areas, ones that people – Christians and non-Christians alike – tend to abandon when they are able. Of course, once their children reach the age of four, or ten, they will think again… but that’s another story.
April 11, 2010 at 8:35 pm |
Hi Alan, I reckon you are doing a really great job here for all of us who have jobs, homes and families and wonder how we can make a difference for Christ.
Our pastor spoke of our church entering a new and exciting phase of ministry. He is a good guy, Biblically based (as is the rest of the church which is why I go there) and sincere and probably correct in what he says since we have now moved into new building in a strategic area of the city. This presents opportunities for outreach to groups such as office workers, students and down-and-outs.
After the service I was in conversation with a school teacher at a local junior school. She is single and therefore without the demands of a young family but is busy in the evenings with marking and spends the weekends catching up on washing and housework. She remarked that she wished she could share our pastor’s enthusiasm for the exciting new opportunities and challenges, but wondered where would she find the time.
Perhaps I speak for many of us that we need to somehow have effective Christian ministries in the midst of reasonable responsibilities of work and home, and indeed church. I would certainly like to hear and indeed observe an example of a Christian who has been sucessful, indeed victorious, and what he or she could teach us.
Alan, you are doing a good job in mawamfc in raising these issues and hopefully we will get some answers.
April 11, 2010 at 8:42 pm |
Dear Matthew: you wrote “banks need Christians in them to witness to bankers”.
True.
Also, would an effective Christian prescence in banks and other financial institutions have prevented the “Credit Crunch”? I am not a financial specialist but I know the Bible has much to say about money in general and the teachings about borrowing and lending are apt, especially at this present time.
The Credit Crunch has caused much suffering and misery and preventing it would have been a great act of Christian service.
April 12, 2010 at 10:24 am |
Your school teacher friend at church – “Work to do and bills to pay”, as one of own poets has said – is JUST the sort of person who needs the encouragement that this site tries, in some small way, to provide. There is far more to being a Christian than just giving money and what we do with our ‘spare’ time.
April 15, 2010 at 9:20 am |
I think Tim is trying to challenge something which I too have observed in my
Christian friends in more traditional church settings. I have to say I agree
with what he says and believe it is timely. Here’s why I think this…
What is my identity? First and foremost I must find my identity in the
gospel and who I am in Christ. Therefore there is nothing that should come
before Him. There is no greater interest than Him and His purposes. Not even
my wife, family, interests/hobbies, security, career or anything should come
before the glory of God. It’s all about Him and His purposes.
Now this does not mean that my wife, family, hobbies, genuine material needs
and work do not matter. The problem arises when I give TOO MUCH weight to
these good, important things in my thoughts, words, deeds and decision
making. I take these GOOD things and make them GOD things when I pursue them
with little or no regard for God’s purposes. Something that takes undue
weight in my life and matters more to me than God is, in biblical terms, an
idol. Something created that takes the place of the Creator.
The thing that I want to see challenged is not work. Work is important. We
must work hard with our hands to the glory of God by using the skills and
gifts he has so graciously given us and seek the missional opportunities it
affords. However, my big problem is the careerism that is creeping into the
church. This is when christians default to thinking about their jobs as
their main task and identity. They think about their own personal idea of
what would be a respectable career and a good area to live in rather than
thinking where would be a better situation to serve God’s purposes, namely
the extension of His Kingdom; the building of His Church.
I am treading on my own toes here…perhaps this is why we have so many
teachers and doctors in our church? They are respectable ‘christian’ careers
that we can pursue with little questioning of our motives. We can climb the
ladder and apparently serve Christ. Really, we are just as guilty of
idolising work and worshipping our career as the bloke who is a stoke broker
in the City.
Is it really an absurd thought to suggest someone might work as a cleaner in
order to serve God by reaching people with the gospel if there is little
witness in such jobs (the church is overwhelmingly middle class in the UK)?
Even if they are Oxbridge educated? Surely we should be prepared to
sacrifice anything to the glory of Christ? Even the skills He has apparently
given us!
Use of gifts and having a specific ‘calling’ are often used by christians as
trump cards against questioning their decisions and cover up a christian
version of materialism/careerism. Is unbiblical to suggest that someone
would be encouraged by a church to take a certain job and live in a certain
area because of Gospel need? Timothy appears to have been sent to Ephesus,
he didn’t get a job there first.
I suspect the low priority people give to church and mission in decision
making about jobs probably reveals a misunderstanding of God’s purposes.
God’s plan is not to give you a career or economic security. Rather, God’s
plan is to win people for Himself and His glory. We should be prepared to
surrender anything to this end. I suspect too many christians have been sold
a too individualistic, consumerist, materialistic gospel which doesn’t look
very much like Jesus. They really want to pursue their own dreams under the
guise of serving Christ.
We are all tempted in this way I suspect. Well I certainly am anyway. I
often am ashamed to think ‘I like earning money working in a school in
Rotherham but Lord please don’t send me to live here’. This debate is really
at the forefront of my thinking you see.
Here’s one more thought…perhaps we should stop using the word career? It
has a very different meaning to non-believers. We do not live as christians
to develop our job and material things at any cost. Everything is expendable
for the glory of Christ.
I hope my thoughts are helpful.
April 24, 2010 at 8:28 am |
Hello, Martin
There are some strong points here, not least the one about the ‘acceptable’ careers for Christians being those in the caring professions. Mark Greene wrote about this tongue-in-cheek in ‘His Thank God it’s Monday’ pointing out the hierarchy of jobs: overseas missionary being at the top and marketing exectutive (which he was) at the bottom.
Bob Bentley has long pointed how ‘career’ is a relatively recent concept and questions to what extent Christians should embrace it and the thinking behind it.
May 14, 2010 at 7:20 am |
I loved the article.
It resonated with something that Tim Chester had written on very similar lines in “The Busy Christian’s Guide to Busyness” (IVP 2006). He asserts that there is a biblical alternative to the lifestyle-job-home-church-ministry model (see pages 49-51).
Jesus says, “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:29-31).
Tim Chester goes on to say that our model needs to be ministry-church-home-job-lifestyle. He believes that ministry is about service, not self-fulfilment, and serving others in love. Deciding on your ministry will obviously involve some self-examination (what are my gifts and abilities, what do I enjoy doing, who do I feel passionate about reaching and serving?). It is also a community activity in which other people around you will have a good idea about what you could focus on. He thinks that what is important is not the Western dream of material success, but serving God and putting his kingdom first.
He says, “So instead of leftovers service, we have a leftovers lifestyle. We’ll be content with whatever standard of living allows us to serve God. Discipleship means living for Jesus and letting everything else fit around that.”
I say, “Amen” to that, whatever the cost.
May 21, 2010 at 9:15 pm |
Lots of food for thought. I am late in posting, but maybe someone will happen upon this like I did today.
I’ve been in Christian Ministry full-time, I’ve been in jobs I liked fairly well, and jobs that I could only do because of the grace of God for each day.
I need to walk with God whatever the job. I’ve learned through the most difficult how necessary my walk with God is–he has used it mightily in my life.
Blessed is the person who puts his or her relationship with God first and seeks His will. As for career…follow interests, natural abilities, trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.
Any kind of work has it’s pitfalls; I think a good prayer is to ask the Lord to lead you where you will be the best witness. Doing a good job is part of that. If one is a square peg in a round hole it is harder to do that good job, and motivation flags a little more quickly.
What I’m wondering now, is, what does a middle-aged Christian do to serve Him after “retirement” (that is, reduced work hours. I don’t think many of my age group can really retire.)
May 24, 2010 at 8:14 am |
Hello, Marcia
You post,
“What I’m wondering now, is, what does a middle-aged Christian do to serve Him after “retirement” (that is, reduced work hours. I don’t think many of my age group can really retire.)”
Perhaps the answer is: “the same sort of things that the middle-aged Christian did when working more hours – except the sphere of service is different” – or is that too obvious? Perhaps it is. What do you reckon?