03/12/2024
One of my ongoing discussions with Laura, my wife, centers on what kind of work is most spiritual. There are times when I feel like writing sermons is definitely more spiritual than, say, taking out the trash. As you can imagine, my arguments for why I should do the former to the neglect of the latter go unheeded.
As I walked down the hallway of our staff offices the other day, I saw a small piece of trash lying directly in my path. In an instant, the thought passed through my mind, Why should I pick up that piece of trash? Is that really my job?
Now, I need to let you know that just as quickly as that thought of hubris entered my mind, so did my mind’s response (probably spoken in the voice of my wife), Of course, it’s your job, O wise preacher! Get over yourself!
According to C. S. Lewis, “Christianity does not exclude any of the ordinary human activities. St. Paul tells people to get on with their jobs” (The Weight of Glory, 54). Paul assumes that Christians can attend dinner parties, even those given by pagans (1 Corinthians 10:23-33). Even Jesus attended a wedding and provided miraculous wine (John 2:1-11).
Throughout Western Civilization, the arts, science, mathematics, literature, and music all flourished with the influence of Christian men and women. Nothing in God’s domain should be dichotomized as sacred or secular. As the famous quote from Abraham Kuyper goes, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
Accordingly, there is no primary difference between the spiritual life and human activities as such. Paul’s counsel is, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).
C. S. Lewis explains that Matthew Arnold was the first who used the English word spiritual in the sense of the German geistlich (religious, spiritual). Lewis calls this a “most dangerous and most anti-Christian error. Let us clear it forever from our minds” (The Weight of Glory, 55).
The work of Beethoven and the work of a janitor are equally spiritual based on the same condition, that they are being offered to God humbly “as to the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7). “A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow. We are members of one body, but differentiated members, each with his own vocation” (The Weight of Glory, 56).
So, did I pick up the piece of trash in the hallway? Yes, and in doing so I was reminded that my wife was right. (No surprise there.) I need to get over myself and stop dichotomizing the spiritual and the secular. All work is spiritual if it’s offered to God humbly as to the Lord.
Whatever you do for a living, do it for the glory of God, and next time … stop and pick up that piece of trash.
