I am currently reading Ideas Have Consequences by Richard Weaver. So far I have been enjoying the book. In one paragraph he makes the following statement:
"Man is constatly being assured today that he has more power than ever before in history, but his daily experience is one of powerlessness. Look at him today somewhere in the warren of a great city. If he is with a business organization, the odds are great that he has sacrificed every other kind of independence in return for that dubious one known as financial. Modern social and corporate organization makes independence an expensive thing; in fact, it may make common integrity a prohibitive luxury for the ordinary man, as Stuart Chase has shown. Not only is this man likely to be a slavey at his place of daily toil, but he is cribbled, cabined, and confined in countless ways, many of which are merely devices to make possible physically the living together of masses. Because these are deprivations of what is rightful, the end is frustration, and hence the look, upon the faces of those whose sould have not already become minuscule, of hunger and unhappiness."
This book was written 58 years ago yet it stll rings true today. I have felt this sacrifice of independence for the financial return in my own life. Now don't misunderstand, I do believe that I should work hard to provide for my family. However, something does appear to be wrong with the current way that most organizations are set up to run their business. Many people will work 50 weeks a year, at least 40 hours a week, with only two weeks for time off. I do believe that someone's place of employment is a mission field for them. However, it is not the only place they can or should seek to spread the Gospel. What if someone desires to spend several weeks overseas spreading the Gospel? In the current corporate structure, they are imprisoned in such a way as to not be able to do this type of ministry. Have we sacrificed too much for financial gain? Are we devoting ourselves to the wrong pursuits? Working to provide for one's family is the right thing to do, but there must be other ways to do so beyond the slavery that Weaver speaks of above. I have a few thoughts in my mind of ways to accomplish this, but would love to hear from you on ways to have independence from "the man" in order to pursue taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
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7 comments:
Theron,
I thought these verses of scripture from 1 Timothy 6:1-2 are helpful.
"All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles."
Personally, I believe in the corporate and blue-collar world that "the man" is part of our mission field. If one feels led to spend time overseas, he or she may need to pray about using their 1-2 weeks of vacation ministering overseas rather than lying out on a beach somewhere. This is not to say there is anything wrong with vacation, especially since I have spent the last 3-4 weeks on and off of vacation myself. One can easily minsiter in the context of vacation.
The Bible seems to teach us to minister and make disciples in all circumstances, but sometimes we, including myself, are guilty of saying "if only..." or "when I...then I'll make disciples." I have tried to start focusing on "now" and "here." I think this captures the meaning of contentment in the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Great post Theron, very thought provoking. Thanks
In Christ,
Rob
My previous comment is in no way aimed at supporting slavery to materialism and money. Rather it is directed at the percieved slave-like feeling many get when working in the corporate or blue-collar world. I hope the comment made sense in this manner. So to sum up my previous comment more clearly, I am going to focus on "now" and "here" as my place of minstry until God moves me, even if I do feel somewhat enslaved.
Thanks again,
Rob
Hey Rob,
Thanks for the comments. I do agree that we need to focus on being obedient where God currently has us. If I were to spend all my time wishing for something else, then I would miss the opportunities God has given me now. I guess some of my motivation behind this post is a desire that I have to be freed up more than the two weeks a year that I currently have. But, God has me where I am at for a reason. By the way, the Scriptures were quite appropriate and convicting. Thanks brother.
Theron
Theron and Rob,
Great discussion - thank you for the topic, Theron! I also struggle with "slavery" to a schedule imposed by work. As I've thought about different possibilities, I wonder if any work situation would pose some type of schedule. It may mean additional "time off", but then it would require more at other times. Perhaps, if God is calling someone to take an extended leave in order to travel for ministry, He would also call others to support them. I'm not sure if this makes sense or not. I will continue to think about it.
Alan
Thanks for the post Alan. I do think that every work situation does pose some type of work schedule. Although there are some that are more flexible than others. For example, a high school teacher typically has a couple of months off in the summer, two weeks at Christmas, and a week for spring break. This definitely seems more flexible than our current situation. But, not everyone can be employed as a teacher so there will be some that do not have that flexibility. In the end though, we must follow the leading of God's Spirit and be faithful where he has placed us. Thanks for continuing the conversation.
Theron
Of course, many schools are now "year round" schools, so that 9 month jobs will be harder and harder to find. Maybe university profs?
This is true, many schools are becoming year round. I think they still get the same amount of time off, only two to three weeks at a time maybe four times a year. A university prof is another one that would allow time off if the university doesn't place demands on the profs for extensive research and other activities when they are not teaching. Good thoughts. Thanks Alan.
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