"The Doctrine of Calling" Doug Groothuis

Presbyweb had a link to a blog entry by Doug Groothuis called "The Doctrine of Calling." I have read some of his wife's work but not his. He wrote a book called Truth Decay, which I have but have not read (along with about 1,000 others.) I sense he may not be keen on the whole Emergent thing. Nevertheless, I like what he says in his post. Especially:

"First, Christian calling brooks no separation between the secular and the sacred. All of life is to be lived under the comprehensive Lordship of Christ (Matthew 28:18). One does not don a spiritual self for religious activities and another self for entertainment or one's profession. All of our actions should be unified in obedience to God and for God's glory (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17). Similarly, neither are church-related work nor missions is more spiritual than other professions such as law, business, education, journalism, or politics. The Kingdom of God bears on every dimension of life, and agents of that Kingdom serve as salt and light wherever the Spirit leads them."

I guess now I will have to move his book up the reading list (from about 500 to about 50, maybe *grin*).

Comments

[will spotts]

That's a very Calvinist understanding.

One thing I'd say to this is that people often use that to justify political dominionism (either liberal or conservative). The difference I see is twofold. First, we're not really justified at trying to force others to enact our vision, no matter how righteous we believe it to be. And the church acting as a group is given a certain commission. Other things, while they may be good (in some cases), aren't really a part of that commission.

[Michael Kruse]

I saw a cartoon recently that had a guy standing in front of group. He says, "I've decided we need to have a theocracy. And by the way...I'm Theo."

I think the division between sacred and secular is a consequence of dualism. It distorts the functioning of the body. Dominionism seems to me to be about placing others in the service of God. I think the biblical message is we place ourselves in the service of God and become a magnet to the kingdom.

[will spotts]

That's very well put.

That goes to the heart of the difference.