Faith & Work 
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 fait 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.