Theology of Work

I had high hopes for this book. It started out so well. He described the problem so precisely: "Church on Sunday or church meetings during the week were the only places they expected to meet with God and become themselves the new creatures that they now were. Daily work only got in the way." He goes on to describe how this led him to decide to come up with a theology of work that was all-encompassing. Well, it has been downhill ever since.

<rant mode on>
Yesterday did it. He is critiquing Moltmann's theology of work and says, correctly, "A person simply cannot justify him or herself." But then he goes on to say, "However we need to go on and introduce the doctrine of sanctification, not merely the question of justification. If sanctification rather than justification is in view, then theologically it is less problematic to argue that what a person does (including work), in some qualified way, contributes either positively of negatively to what he or she is or becomes." He goes on in the next page to argue that sanctification is more our part.

STOP! Now, I am a classic Wesleyan and have been accused of believing that I can somehow work my salvation and sanctification out on my own power. But, I don't believe that we can do anything apart from God's empowering presence in us. We are not able to do anything but sin, whether we are justified or not! It is all of God. That is why Paul is continually saying "in Christ" (EN TWi XRISTWi).

I realize that about 85% of the Christians in the U.S. probably act and believe that they can work for their own sanctification. You know what I'm talking about: read your Bible, pray, go to small groups, church groups, program yourself to death, etc. All of which are not bad in and of themselves, but it feeds the mentality that we do the work and God watches us. Bad theology! So along comes this book and actually endorses that view!

People, get it straight. Check out Galatians 3:1-5 (NIV)
"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?"

Of course, if you don't believe God can work miracles, then I guess you have the right to throw out the whole section and do your works sanctification. But, don't call it Christianity!
<rant mode off>

OK, I'm done, I think I'll read a different book now, probably The Gospel of Judas. At least there I know it is gnostic and not Christian theology.