Faith and Work: A Theology of
Co-operation
An article by Bert Sheridan
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Bible Publishers.
There is much discussion today about faith
and work. That is, the world of religion and the world of
industry or commerce. The discussions are prompted by the
observation that there is a divide between the two worlds, and
a belief that things could be different. That is our belief at
Daily Bread (Cambridge).
One of the main reasons for the divide is that faith often
takes an individual approach to righteousness. Industry with
its complex relationships can be the cause of much distress
and in the main is theologically uncritiqued by people of
faith.
We offer the following information and theological
understanding which is behind the way we at Daily Bread
(Cambridge) 'work' to reconcile the otherwise divided worlds
of work and faith.
Jesus spoke about men not putting new wine into old wineskins,
but into new wineskins. New values of equality, brotherly
love, justice and peace need new wineskins. They need new
structures or new ways of organising relationships so that the
new wine/values can be held and matured and 'both are
preserved' (Matt.9:17). In essence new structures are needed
for new values.
Jesus said 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their high officials exercise authority over
them. Not so with you.'(Matt. 20: 25 ff) This was said as a
response to a request by James' and John's mother for
positions of importance for her sons in His Kingdom. Jesus
denounced the organisational structure of the Gentiles and
commanded his disciples to reject this model. It is a model
whereby those in office, with power, exercise that power over
others. People with power decide for others. It is a model
still much used in our industrial world today.
Jesus followed His denouncement of the Gentiles'
organisational structure with an assault on the appendages to
high office, namely titles. In Matt. 23:8 ff Jesus commands,
'But you are not to be called "Rabbi", for you have
only one Master and you are all brothers ......do not call
anyone on earth "father"..............nor are you to
be called "teacher"'. Jesus' reasoning against
titles is because 'you are all brothers'. Titles help confirm
the superior status of some compared to others, titles breed
inequality. Accepting each other as 'brothers' helps to
establish equality of worth and status.
Proverbs 14:28 states ' .... without subjects a Prince is
ruined'. This gives an insight into how high office depends on
willing subjects to maintain itself. The Apostles encouraged
new ways of relating. This can be seen in Eph. 5: 21 'submit
to one another out of reverence for Christ'. This is an
antidote to the traditional model of one way submission to
those in authority.
Jesus practiced what he preached. When he was asked to decide
an inheritance issue between two brothers he declined the
request, he said 'Who made me a judge or arbiter between
you?'(Luke 12:14) He gave some general advice but left them to
resolve the problem mutually between themselves.
Jesus' main missionary task amongst his disciples can be seen
to be concerned with developing an understanding of how God
wants relationships to be. The scriptures outline various
interactions between Jesus and His disciples which highlight
their inground conditioning to the Gentile model of
relationships. James' and John's mother requesting high
position for them; Peter refusing to allow Jesus to wash his
feet (John 13:7 ff). Peter seemed to believe a Leader should
not lower himself to such a service. Jesus had told the
disciples they would not understand what he was about to do.
However the breakthrough came and is outlined when Jesus
declares that 'I no longer call you servants, because a
servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have
called you friends, for everything that I learned from my
father I have made known to you' (John 15:15). The development
of a full knowledge of God's will amongst the disciples
resulted in a transformation of relationships between them.
At Daily Bread (Cambridge) we are involved in packaging and
selling whole foods. We try to put our faith into action by
being a workers co-operative which we believe is honouring to
Jesus commands to relate differently . We are jointly
responsible for the business, seeing ourselves as equals and
mutually accountable to each other, as such we have equal
remuneration. We have a weekly business meeting where everyone
has opportunity to be involved in the decision making process.
The meetings are chaired, to allow each person an opportunity
to speak. For the daily running of the business, as
co-workers/directors we have appointed a co-ordinator. Daily
Bread tries to operate submission to one another which appears
to be the command of Jesus and encouraged by the Apostles in
the Early Church
Our advice and encouragement to people concerned by the
division between faith and work is that brotherly love is a
real possibility in industry but it will mean taking the
commands of Jesus seriously and 'investing' in new wineskins. |
