june 11, 2001jonathan koh1 part 1: case study the need for a theology of work and missions

June 11, 2001 Jonathan Koh 1

Part 1: Case Study

The need for a theology of work and missions


The (not quite)“Historical” Paul...

Once upon a time, there was a man named Paul.

He made tents for a living.The job did not pay well and he had to work long hours.

“For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden…” 1 Cor 5:4


Paul started to think about the work he did,and began to ponder about things that last for all eternity.

He realized that tents that he made wouldone day rot and fall apart... But the souls of men last for eternity!

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down,we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor 5:1


Paul felt very frustrated, because he was only able to serve God “part-time”.

After a hard day of work, he was very tired andwas only able to offer God “left-over” timefor service.

He felt that God deserved more than what he was able to give.


“But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, ...so that I might proclaim [the gospel] among the Gentiles…” Gal 1:4

After seeking the will of God, Paul sensed that God was calling him to preach the gospel.

This was the the highest calling God could give!


So he decided to quit his job in order to serve God as a full-time missionary.

Paul shared this desire with the pastor and church leaders.And he received their endorsement.

“While they [the church] were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me ... and [Paul]for the work to which I have called them.”

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3


Paul wrote prayer letters to the members of his church.Many members pledged to support him financially.

The youth group held garage sales and car washesin order to raise money for Paul’s travelling expenses.

The women’s fellowship organized bake sales andcharity dinners to raise money.

Many people admired Paul’s commitment to God.(Others were secretly relieved that God had called Paulinstead of them!)


After nine pregnant months of fund-raising,Paul finally got the financial support he needed!And the church held a special commissioning service to send Paul off to birth a new missions project.

The missions committee was pleasedthat they were able to send another missionary.

Paul was pleased that he was obeying the call of God on his life.

And the rest of the church members were pleasedthat they could carry on with their lives as usual…


Some ideas borrowed from:“Your Work Matters to God”by Doug Sherman and William HendricksColorado Springs, Colorado USA:1987pp.43-45.

The End.


What is right with this story???

What is wrong with this story???


Things that are right...

1. Paul was committed to follow God.

2. Paul was serious about fulfilling the Great Commission.

3. Paul worked closely with the church leadership.

4. Paul received support of the entire church body.


.

1. Eternal-Temporal HierarchyEternal things >> temporary things.

2. Sacred-Secular HierarchyChristian ministry >> secular work

3. Clergy-Laity Hierarchy Christian ministry (e.g. missions) is to be done by Christian professionals (e.g. full-time missionaries)

Some (False) Presuppositions...


William Carey: "My business is to witness for Christ. I make shoes just to pay my expenses."

William Tyndale"There is no difference between washing dishes and preaching the word of God.”

Williams’ Views of Work...


Greek Views of Work...

Socrates:“The mechanical arts carry a social stigma

and are rightly dishonoured in our cities. …these arts can damage the bodies of those who work at them. … This physical degeneration results also inthe deterioration of the soul.”

Aristotle:“[The life of a craftsman is] devoid of nobility

and hostile to the perfection of character.”


Part 2: Biblical Foundations

Paul the Tentmaker:An example of work and missions


The “Historical Paul” Worked for a Living!

“You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.“ 1 Thess 2:9

“labour and toil” Paul worked hard for a living.

“night and day” Mediterranean work day = day shift, lunch-siesta and night shift. Paul worked full-time.


Leon Morris,"[Paul] had not allowed even the importance of preaching the gospel to prevent him from giving a good witness by earning a living."

Stephen Tollestrup,“Jesus worked as a craftsman with tools and trade, and in commerce with the society around him. In doing so, he sanctified every worthy human enterprise.”

The Gospel of Mark,“Is not this the carpenter?”

The Value of Work and Labour


The Imitation of Paul

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8

and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 2 Thess 3:7-8

Paul worked in order to model lay ministry!


Paul's Means of Support during Missionary Journeys

Paul'sLocation

MissionaryJourney

Tentmaking WealthyPatron

SupportingChurch

Philippi EarlySecond

LydiaActs 16:4

Thessalonica(early AD 50) Middle

Second

Paul, Silas &Timothy1 Thess 2:9;2 Thess 3:7-9

PhilippianchurchPhp 4:16

Corinth(AD 50) Middle

Second

Paul1 Cor 4:11-12;1 Cor 9:4,6

Priscilla &AquilaActs 18:3

Ephesus(AD 53-55)

EarlyThird

PaulActs 20:33-35

Macedonia(AD 55-56) Third

Macedonianchurch2 Cor 11:8-9

Corinth(AD 56)

LateThird

GaiusRom 16:22

Rome PhilemonPhm 22


Greek Philosophers and their Means of Support

ChargingFees

WealthyPatron

Begging Working

SophistsProtagoras ofAbderaGorgias,Hippias,ProdicusAntiphon,EuthydemusEvenus,Isocrates

CynicsDiogenes,Monimus,Crates,Meippus

CynicsDioChrysostom(gardener)

Demetrius ofSunium(porter)

Simon theShoemaker

SocraticsAeschines

Stoics StoicsCleanthes(gardener andmiller)

Platonists Plato &Aristipus(in Dionysius'court inSyracuse)

PlatonistsMenedemusandAsclepiades(millers)

Aristotelians Aristotle(in householdof Philip, Kingof Macedon)


Church Crisis in Corinth (1 Cor 9)

Accusations of Paul’s opponents:

1. True apostle => Supported by church Paul working => Paul not true apostle!

2. Manual labour is degrading. Paul working => Paul is “not spiritual”


Church Crisis in Corinth (1 Cor 9)

Paul’s defense:

1. Paul has right to receive support Paul has right to refuse support! (v1-14)

2. Receiving support is an obstacle to the gospel. Receive support => obligation to patron Paul has obligation to God! (v12-18)

3. Identify with (mostly working class) audience. “All things to all people” (v19-23)

4. Illustrate free nature of the gospel.

but...


Summary of Paul’s Reasons for Working

1. Not to burden churches. (1 Thess 2:9, 2 Thess 3:8)

2. Opponents cannot question Paul’s motives. (1 Thess 2:9)

3. Not under obligation to patron. (1 Cor 9:16-17)

4. Identify with his audience. (1 Cor 19:23)

5. Illustrate the free nature of the gospel. (1 Cor 9:18)

6. Model to imitate. (2 Thess 3:79; 1 Cor 11:1; Acts 20:35)


Part 3: Missiology

Critique of commonly heldviews of Tentmaking


Typical Reasons for Tentmaking

1. Access Strategy to closed countries.

2. Financial Strategy to support missionaries.

Phil Woodward "Tentmakers are Christian witnesses from any nation who because of their skills or experience gain access and maintain themselves in another culture with the primary intention of making disciples for Christ Jesus and, where possible, to establish and strengthen churches."


Lai's Tentmaker Definitions

Category T-1 T-2 T-3 T-4

Primary reasonfor beingoverseas

Work Evangelism andDiscipleship

Evangelism andDiscipleship

Evangelism andDiscipleship

FinancialSupport

Fully dependanton work

Mostlydependant onwork

Part dependanton work,part on church/sponsors

Fully dependanton church/sponsors

Time availablefor Ministry Little time Full time

LanguageFluency Little fluency More fluent

Ministrytraining andexperience

Serve church inhome country

Ministryexperience andCross-culturalskills

Missiologicaltraining withspecializedwork-relatedtraining

Missiologicaltraining

Sent by HomeChurch

Rarely Yes Yes Yes

Accountable toa missionsorganisation

No Loose Yes Yes


Paul vs Traditional Missionary vs Average Layperson

Paul(E-1 evangelism to Jews,E-2 evangelism to Greeks)

Traditional Missionary(E-2 or E-3 evangelism)

Average Layperson(E-1 or E-2 evangelism)

Worked for a living Supported by church Works for a living

Spoke common language ofpeople

Has to learn a new language Speaks common languageof people

Familiar with culture Has to learn new culture Familiar with culture

Greek Septuagint available May have to translate bible Bible available

Preached to Jews and"God-Fearers" atsynagogues

Has to establish a churchwhere none existed before.

Audience may have somefamiliarity withChristianity, may haveChristian friends or mayhave been to church before.


Part 4: Workplace Centered Ministry


1. 99% of church members have to work for a living.

2. 50% of an average person’s waking hours is spent at work.

3. Time with >> Time with colleagues at work spouse or children.

4. Time with >> Time with colleagues at work church members

Time at Work


Learning by Imitation

1. A pastor can model how to pray.

2. A pastor can model how to relate to a spouse.

3. A pastor can model how to raise children.

4. A pastor can model spiritual leadership in a Christian community.

5. A pastor cannot model workplace Christianity.But...

Paul as a tentmaker was able to model lay ministry!


The Challenge...

What is needed in order for the city of Torontoto be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ is not so much more “traditional” full-time Christian workersbut rather more “average” church members whounderstand their call to the workplace,and are trained and equipped to ministerto the people they are in day-to-day contact with.

The laity needs to be mobilized!


Next Steps...

1. Pray

2. Meet with other like-minded Christians.

3. Form relationships with colleagues at work.

(lunch, dinner, outings, etc…)

4. Look for opportunities to serve people.

5. Look for opportunities to pray with people.

6. Spend time with people. Listen.

7. Share life.


Part 5: Feedback

june 11, 2001jonathan koh1 part 1: case study the need for a theology of work and missions

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