Work as Worship

So often we Christians try to segregate our spiritual life from our home life, extra-curricular life and work life. I assert that separating faith from the rest of life is not possible, and work is a form of worship in itself.

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (NKJV). This verse is in the context of how a Christian home should operate. The specific context is in the context of a bondservant, and I believe it applies to those serving in the marketplace. Work is associated with worship in this passage.

As believers we must be cautious of segregating our faith from our other endeavors. Everything we do is an act of worship. Who we worship will be revealed by our behaviors.

Another aspect of this principle is that our faith should drive the quality of whatever we set our hands to do. If we are working "as to the Lord," the quality of that product should be of excellence as He is worthy of excellence. This applies to sermon-writing, surgery, landscaping, accounting, refuse collection - you get the idea. Christians should be the best employees and contractors, as our labor is to the Lord.

These principles are also applicable to leisure and extra-curricular pursuits. If we apply Jesus' standards to sporting activities, volunteer pursuits, and even board games, we don't discount a strong competition, but we also adhere to the governing standards and rules. By our conduct on the field, across the game board, or serving someone else, we either exalt Christ or demean His name.

Of course, we labor as to the Lord and not men. At times these standards may conflict, and when they do, we must appeal to the standards of Scripture and assume the consequences in the present. This may, or may not happen, as it should not hinder the quality of the work, but standards must be upheld.

Do not discount "non-spiritual " pursuits. These are a form of worship.

My Thoughts on Faith and Life

I plan to start posting here more often. I'm not going to guarantee it will be very often, but I'll certainly try to post more than the every-nine-month plan I'm currently on.

When posting on faith, let me preface this by saying I'm not a pastor, other than to my family, and then I guess that makes me a work-in-progress, learning pastor. I have no theology degree, other than having been a Christian for 25 years, of which 10 of those years were during my formative years. These are just my thoughts and current ideas, and they may, or may not, agree with some theological thoughts (actually, could probably find a school of thought in theology to agree and disagree with every assertion I will make).

That is my preface to the direction I am taking this blog. Please comment, or at least let me know you stopped by.

Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize?

I am utterly stunned. I just saw that the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize went to President Obama! I have two glaring issues with this.

First, Obama hasn't even been in office for one year. Prior to that, he wasn't in the US Senate for a full term. Prior to that, he was only in the Illinois House - not a bad gig, but he wasn't on the international scene. Now, with our nation split, his political party in peril, and growing unpopularity, the world community chose to grant him one of the highest honors in existence.

Second, this solidifies my belief the Nobel Peace Prize is a joke. Jimmy Carter won on his intentions towards peace in the Middle East. Al Gore beat out a woman credited for saving hundreds of children during the Holocost. Now, a president who has accomplished nothing, neither domestically nor internationally, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The US, and the world community, had better wake up soon. This worship of a man that, while attaining the highest office in the land, is eerie at best, dangerous at worst. Until he accomplishes something of substance, I won't be holding him this high esteem.