“The ‘unworldliness’
of the Christian life is meant to take place in the midst of this world. Its
place is the church-community which must practice it in its daily living…That
is why Christians ought to carry out their Christian life in the midst of their
secular vocation. That is why they ought to die to the world in the midst of
their worldly calling. The value of the secular vocation for Christians is that
it allows them to live in the world by God’s goodness and to engage more
fervently in the fight against the things of the world” (page 227).
It is
unfortunate that Bonhoeffer uses the terms “secular vocation” and “worldly
calling.” All vocation and calling are sacred, unless it is evil. All that we
do is to be a form of worship to God, service to Him and our fellow man, and a
form of transformation into the image of Jesus Christ. However, we will move on
from this observation into the heart of Bonhoeffer’s meaning.
We are to be
“unworldly” in the midst of the world. I think there are two senses to this; we
are to be unworldly people who live subject to an unworldly kingdom. Regarding
the latter, we are citizens of heaven before we are citizens of any earthly nation
in particular and to the world-system in general (Phil. 3:20). As to the
former, we draw our life from above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God
(Col. 3:1-4).
This means that
we will be distinct from the people of the world and the system which they
obey, for while we share the common bond of humanity, the air we breathe is
different, the life which animates our souls flows from above, we are subject
to higher commands, principles, and laws. For example, loving our neighbor is
not an option, blessing those who curse us and use us is our calling, laying
down our lives for others is our cruciform Way of Life. Money and the treasures
of this age are not our arbiters, the accolades of this world are seen
for the vanity they are; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life are recognized as not being from our Father, but as the poison of
the world-system which is passing away (1 John 2:15 – 17).
Bonhoeffer tells
us that we are to “carry out” our Christian life in the midst of our vocation. What
might this look like?
Certainly this
includes love for our coworkers and customers, with a desire to serve others
and be a blessing to them – whether they are thankful or not, regardless of the
state of their souls (Matthew 5:43 – 58). It includes fulfilling our calling as
peacemakers (Mt. 5:9). We are to be faithful witnesses to Jesus in word as well
as deed (Mark 8:38; 1 John 3:18).
We must not
engage in gossip, slander, or backbiting. We must always tell the truth and act
the truth. Nor should we covet, steal, falsify records, or cheat.
In my business
career I was especially focused on treating employees fairly, on opening doors
for training and education and advancement, on equitable compensation, and on
good working conditions and morale. I was also insistent on outstanding and
caring customer service and providing safe and healthy apartments for our
residents. Giving clients my loyalty, telling them the truth, and wanting the
best for them as we did business in a moral and ethical manner were
nonnegotiable for me. I am sure I made many mistakes in my business career; I
made decisions I would do differently; I hope, however, that in some measure I
was a blessing to others and a witness to Jesus Christ.
What can you add
to the above? How does living the Christian life look in your vocation?
Bonhoeffer
writes that we are to “die to the world” in the midst of our calling. The world
pressures us to conform to its ways and values, to take the short-term view,
the easy way out, to believe that the ends justify the means. The world allures
us with its approval and promises of influence, money, possessions, security,
self-fulfillment, and self-preservation. These temptations (and many more) are
real, they can be seductive and they can also blindside us. We ought not
minimize the power of peer pressure, of the instinct to put ourselves above
others, or our ability to rationalize ungodly and worldly behavior.
The more
successful we are, the greater the temptations can be, the more subtle on the
one hand, and the more blatant on the other. Pleasure, ego, pride and vanity,
so many things can deceive us.
When we forget
that we are on mission, that we are called to be the Presence of Christ in our
vocations, that we belong to Another, and that by the Cross “the world is
crucified to us and we are crucified to the world” (Galatians 6:14), we may
find ourselves in the lap of Delilah. Each of us has vulnerabilities, what is a
temptation to me may not be a temptation to you, and what may not be a
temptation to me today may become one tomorrow. “Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
I loved the
sense of accomplishment in my business career. I loved it when I did well and I
loved it when my teams did well. When I was a boy I loved playing sports, I
wasn’t a good athlete, but I loved playing baseball and football and
basketball. In business I was a pretty good “athlete” and I loved putting
points on the board. There were days when my sense of fulfillment and
satisfaction was overflowing, and I gave thanks and praise to God for His
blessing.
The temptation
was to get caught up in recognition; the temptation was self-centeredness. Early
on in my career I learned the intoxication of vanity, and it frightened me – God
gave me a healthy dose of fear. I learned through knowing Jesus and knowing His
Word to see myself as the servant of all, to seek the welfare of my employees
and fellow workers, my clients, my customers. I learned to rejoice in the
success of others, in the recognition given to others, in the growth of others.
I measured my days and weeks and years in how God was using me to bless others.
Dying to the
world means that we often say “no” to the world. We say “no” to cutting
corners, “no” to lies and spin and shoddy workmanship, “no” to treating people
unfairly, “no” to withholding the truth. It also means that we insist on the
truth and the welfare of others.
I had instances
in my career, thankfully they were few, when a client would not address a
health and safety issue in an apartment community – in those cases the course
was clear to me. I put the client on written notice of the problem and gave the
client an immediate deadline for action, otherwise I would end our relationship
– no matter the financial loss to me or my firm.
Regarding the
treatment of employees, more than once I placed my job on the line for an employee
– protecting my people was an element of my calling. I lost what was probably
the best job I ever had protecting an employee. I share this not to pat myself
on the back but so that you will know that I mean what I write, this is no game
to me, it is about Jesus Christ and others, it is about being faithful to
Jesus.
Bonhoeffer tells
us that as we fulfill our vocational callings, we are to “fight against the
things of the world.” Much of the above speaks to this, and we ought never to
forget it. We are to show others a higher way of life, a life of love and truth
and service and self-sacrifice. As a rule, what impresses others ought not to
impress us, for what impresses us, what we treasure, is to be that in which we
find goodness, beauty, and truth. We are to value excellence in workmanship and
fidelity in our occupations. We ought not to be impressed by possessions and
positions, but rather by that which endures – character, wisdom, peace,
kindness, courage, sacrifice. (When is the last time you witnessed courage in
the workplace?)
We are to be
different because we are different, and here is the rub for many of us, we
don’t want to be different. Jesus may have been different, but we don’t want to
be different. Rather than be used by God to transform the world and show its
people a better way, we allow ourselves to be transformed by the world into its
image and we conform to the people around us.
“Therefore I
urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good
and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).
The nature of
our life is that of a sacrificial offering to God, a holy offering; we have
been purchased by the Lamb and our lives now belong to Him. Whether those
around us “see” this or not they ought to be witnessing us offering ourselves
to God throughout each day, in each moment, in each decision, through each
action, in the midst of each challenge.
And may I say,
that this offering of ourselves includes asking forgiveness of others and
making amends when we sin, of admitting our mistakes, of taking responsibility
for our actions. This is a testimony to the world that God has made a Way in
Jesus through which relationships can be healed, made right, and reconciled. As
Paul writes, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing
greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7).
As for being “different,”
we wouldn’t mind being different if we had the cure for cancer, or were giving
millions of dollars away to help others, or if we were feeding the hungry, or
were saving people from fire or flood; do we not realize that we have the Word
of eternal life and love for others, that we have the Hope of all mankind?
Medics on the battlefield
are different from other soldiers, they are seen as the healers, their presence
can be reassurance to others as the medics risk their lives, exposing themselves so
that others may live.
Surely, in
Christ, we can do no less.
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