This entry will be a little more “off the cuff” and spontaneous, as I’m having some reflective thoughts about my Christian faith journey lately. Over the past three years, I’ve found myself working at my “tent-making” job absent telework and with a hefty increase in work hours and responsibility. I think this has negatively challenged my devotional time with the Lord and has caused me to contemplate this age-old question about the sacred versus the secular. Namely, is my secular job and life too far removed from my Christian life, leaving me feeling “out of sorts” spiritually?
For the record, I still pray. I still read. I still attend worship services regularly, counsel others, teach, and preach. Yet, I do all of those things differently than I did three years ago—I simply have less time to do them and they either occur less frequently or I feel I prepare for them with less time. By God’s amazing and undeniable grace, I’m still in the faith, trusting in Jesus (praise God!). Also by His grace, I haven’t heard from anyone that the quality of those ministry elements has decreased.
This sacred versus secular tension is commonplace and pastors, theologians, and Christian thought leaders have discussed it ad nauseam. Is the sacred versus secular argument even valid? I mean, I referenced my tent-making job earlier because Paul was a tentmaker and this represented a very secular vocation that supplemented ministry. I see my job the same way since I don’t work for a Christian company doing an explicit Christian ministry. As I pondered the reality of the sacred versus secular, I couldn’t help but think about what the Bible says about it. The argument doesn’t seem to be implied in any of the text, but the guidance seems clear: be Christian at all times and in every area of your life.
- 1 Cor. 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
- Col. 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be any condemnation for Christians or God’s people having a secular vocation. In addition to Paul, we have Daniel and his friends and Lydia:
- Dan. 1:17: “As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (God divinely guided these Israelite youth in Babylonian education).
- Acts 16:14: “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
Lastly, Romans calls the Christian to not conform to this world (Rom. 12:2). That means Christians have divine instruction to go “against the grain” when that “grain” conflicts with the Christian path God has before them. Essentially, Christianity and its expressions are meant to be woven into every aspect of one’s life. While the culture can suppress expressions of faith in the workplace, the wise Christian should pray and seek opportunities to incorporate his faith. Secular jobs cannot stop one from blessing their food before a meal, reading the Bible on lunch breaks, or sharing their faith with colleagues during non-work hours. Moreover, tragedy strikes often enough to allow the believer to pray for others or take prayer requests, thus signaling a faith and hope beyond the grave.
In conclusion, the tension of the sacred-secular feeling is real, but it may be amplified in modern culture because of the pervasive nature of evil in the world (Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:13). One thing is certain, though: God calls His people to live boldly in this present age, serving and representing Him in all areas of life. I need to take more pauses, more opportunities to express my faith (more than I do already) to limit that personal feeling of a divide. The truth of God’s calling for the Christian to be His representative at all times may not easily resolve the sacred-secular difficulty, but it certainly provides candid direction for the Christian—both present and future—who faces this challenging divide.