“That this state
of affairs has been reached becomes at the same time evident in two ways.
First, it becomes necessary for members of the church-community to make a
visible and public confession of faith in Christ. Second, it becomes necessary
for the world either wisely to withdraw or to resort to violence” (page 228).
I want to make
two other observations before moving on from this quotation. While there is
certainly conflict between the Kingdom and the world in our vocational lives,
it need not always result in “violence.” This does not mean that there isn’t
tension and that there aren’t times of cultural and moral and spiritual
challenge, but faithful witness to Christ is possible while we find fulfillment
in our vocations. Daniel and his friends, Joseph the son of Jacob, and Nehemiah
demonstrate that God’s People can flourish as they faithfully live within the
systems of this present age. We can be faithful to God as well as blessings to
both the world and the Church.
We can find joy in
our vocations, joy in our coworkers and clients and customers, joy in the work
we do as “unto the Lord” (Col. 3:17, 23). Our vocations ought to be primary
venues for our spiritual formation into the image of Jesus Christ, they ought
to be primary venues in which we encourage fellow Christians, and they ought to
be primary venues in which we witness to Jesus in both word and deed (they must
always go together as our way of life). After all, most of us spend more time
at work than we do anywhere else, and who we really are is more likely
to be seen at work and at home than anywhere else…including “at church.”
When Christians
do excellent work, when they are loyal and faithful and truthful and when they
serve others, the world in the workplace often values them…whether the
workplace agrees with or understands their faith in Jesus Christ. When people
know that you respect them and desire their best, when they know you are
truthful, when they know they can trust you, and when your work ethic is
superior, they often want you to be with their organization.
Vickie and I have
known intense conflict in our marketplace careers, but when we look back over
the years we talk about the good times, the fulfilling times, and the wonderful
people we have known, the friendships we’ve had and continue to have. Frankly, the
conflict we've known at work does not compare with the ugliness we’ve
encountered in the professing church, the pettiness, the anger, the poison. The
world is the world is the world, but what about the poison we’ve experienced in
the professing church? Let us not forget that it was the religious
establishment that delivered Jesus to the civic authority for crucifixion.
The “violence”
that Bonhoeffer writes of can take many forms. In the West it can mean disciplinary
action, job loss, ostracism, denial of opportunity to advance; it may even
entail lawsuits and financial penalties, such as when owners of bake shops
refuse to make specialty cakes for events that are contrary to their obedience
to Jesus Christ.
When we encounter
these challenges, when we are obedient to Jesus Christ in the face of conflict,
will the visible church stand with us? Will we stand with others? Will we give
more than lip service to encourage and support our fellow Christians when they are
persecuted for their faithfulness to Jesus in their vocations?
As we engage in
our vocational callings, which are sacred in Christ, let us remember Bonhoeffer’s
words in Part I of Discipleship, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him
come and die.”
“Even as the
Father sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
