Sunday, November 27, 2011

Are we neo-monastic?

Gene Veith quotes John Pless in an article entitled Our Calling and God's Glory:

Medieval Roman Catholicism presupposed a dichotomy between life in the religious orders and life in ordinary callings. It was assumed that the monastic life guided by the evangelical counsels (i.e., the Sermon on the Mount) provided a more certain path to salvation than secular life regulated by the decalog. American Evangelicalism has spawned what may be referred to as "neo-monasticism." Like its medieval counterpart, neo-monasticism gives the impression that religious work is more God-pleasing than other tasks and duties associated with life in the world. According to this mindset, the believer who makes an evangelism call, serves on a congregational committee, or reads a lesson in the church service is performing more spiritually significant work than the Christian mother who tends to her children or the Christian who works with integrity in a factory. For the believer, all work is holy because he or she is holy and righteous through faith in Christ.














What do you think? Does God view all legitimate callings as equal? Or does he hold "spiritual" callings such as that of the evangelist in higher significance?


 

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great question, Mike.

A book I recommend, which answers in the affirmative is, "The Late Great Evangelical Church." The thesis of the book is that modern evangelical Christianity with its pietism and antinomianism has tapped into the gnostic stream of religion.

To answer the question you pose requires, in my opinion, an examination of both the law and the gospel. If, for example, the law of God has a continuining validity today, then that will get at this question. Also, what is the breadth of the gospel? When Jesus says to disciple the nations, how broad is that mandate? Answering these questions will get at the question of whether there are two "kingdoms" that overlap or not.

What are your thoughts?

Blessings,

Joel

Dani said...

I feel very inadequate leaving a comment on your blog but I truly feel that God views all callings with equal importance. I personally believe that the witness of a Christian in his/her everyday environment whether it be at home, university or in the factory is of equal significance as the Christian who stands behind a pulpit or is very active in their church. It would certainly be very unbalanced if all Christians had "spiritual callings" in that sense, for then how would our unsaved family members (i.e children), our fellow students, or co-workers ever hear the gospel? Just my thoughts :)

MJK said...

Hi Joel

You're such a faithful commenter! Thanks for the book recommendation; I'll add it to my wishlist.

I can see that the law question has huge implications. It is rather unsettling to think that if many of us are wrong on its applicability, then we are a wrong on a host of other things.

The 2 kingdom thing is something I've read little about, and am only vaguely familiar with.

My own answer to the question would be something like this:

On the one hand I would argue that every legitimate calling is of eternal significance to God. That is, while the plumber's repair job might only give the pipe another 10 years, it is wrong to try to impress him with the relative insignificance of his work on that basis. Everything done in obedience to God here on earth is of value and significance to God, and our daily work is part of his good purpose for us and for this earth.

On the other hand, special importance does seem to be given the task of proclaiming the gospel in the NT, yet never in a way that diminishes the former. Acts 20 is an example. Vv 17f reflect Paul's calling and commitment to testifying for the Lord. But in vv.34-35 the aspect of working with one's hands and showing practical mercy is so important to him that he makes it what (as far as he was then concerned) could have been his final teaching to the church leaders he was leaving behind.

So I see all work as special, and proclamation work especially so!

Mike

MJK said...

Hi Dani

Thanks for commenting, and no need to feel intimidated!

I think you might be blurring the question a little, so let me put it like this:

A gal works the grocery checkout at Sobey's as usual on Friday (and passes out zero tracts and has zero gospel conversations), and then spends her Saturday evangelizing in her neighborhood (but sells zero groceries). Which day's activities are more significant to God? Or could both activities potentially be of equal value to him?

What do you think?

Mike

Dani said...

Hmmm....well I 100% agree with your earlier statement "Everything done in obedience to God here on earth is of value and significance to God, and our daily work is part of his good purpose for us and for this earth." Therefore based on your given example I still think that they are of equal value. I remember Ross speaking of the value of work for a Christian at Taylorside one year...wish I had those notes with me but I don't! I find this quite confusing because surely if God placed more significance on the evangelism side of things then surely all Christians would want to be going and doing that yet at the same time I'm sure God wants Christians to work as well. I think that even if a day goes by where we are working yet pass out zero tracts and have zero gospel conversations is still a profitable day. Oh I don't know...I'm all muddled up!

Anonymous said...

Brother Mike,

You always have good content on your blog, so I can't resist the urge to participate via commenting. :)

I personally don't think that proof texts per se will resolve the issue. In my view, the issue is more "meta" than that. The issue has more to do with the "general tenor" of Scripture and cumulative evidence.

For example, if the gospel has something to do with a kingdom, what implications does that have for the sacred/secular tension. Is the kingdom of God a civilization? If so, what are the rules and what is the scope of those rules? Etc.

Without a doubt, most things in Acts are focused on evangelism and gospel preaching. But that is to be expected regardless of whether evangelism has extra significance in the Christian life, right? After all, Acts is a selective chronicling of the spread of the gospel immediately following the ascension of Jesus into heaven.

Interesting topic, brother. I enjoy discussing.

Blessings,

Joel

E.K.Davis said...

I concur that American Evangelicalism is pursuing this neo-monasticism with whole hearted abandon.

To me the real issue is, was and is this monastic lifestyle ever Biblical to begin with?

I believe it is paganism with a Christian label at worst, and serious works based salvation at best.

As far as all callings be equal..I would say that presupposes the belief that there is spiritual work vs. secular work. I do not believe that to be the case. Once we are saved, the Holy Spirit is indwelling us. Everything we do, is to be for the Glory of God and is of equal importance. 1 Cor. 10:31

Just found your blog, have really enjoyed it!

Dani said...

To the author of the above comment, I thank you for so capably wording what I have been trying to say all along! Especially "Everything we do, is to be for the Glory of God and is of equal importance." I very much agree!

E.K.Davis said...

Hi Dani

Thanks, but I think you said it just fine!