How should we view the Sabbath?

The big question posed in this week’s Maximizers: How should we view the Sabbath?

Excluding God and people: What do you value most? What do you want more of? The most common answer in the group was”time” – the one thing that many of us would agree as being in seemingly short supply.

What should the Sabbath look like?

It would be a day to cease from activity. Sure, there are things you need to do, such as eating and preparing meals; however, the purpose would be to NOT work.

Not checking and answering email, doing homework, yard work, etc.

“I have to believe that the world will not end if David Dickinson doesn’t work for one day… and so far, it hasn’t!” – David Dickinson

What does the Bible say about the Sabbath?

Pre-conditioned to trust?

We are pre-conditioned to trust a lot of things in society. Think about the food you eat: you are trusting the farmers, the transporters, the stores, the preparation, etc.

What about infrastructure? We trust that traffic lights to function properly. We trust the building we work in to stand day after day. We trust our furniture to hold up. We trust our computers to power up and work as commanded by keystroke and click.

How  important is trust to a business or society?

The distinction of you as an example versus you as a reason

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed the differences between form and function as it relates to how we approach our relationships, both in and out of the workplace.

This past Friday, we continued the conversation by looking at how we love others in respect to form and function; specifically from the nature of Agape and Eros forms of love.

Being & Function

Being & Function – two aspects of who we are (Part 1 of 2)

Who I am will affect how I act… and how I act will affect who I am.

Being	Function
Humans in relationship with God	Humans in relation to the world around them
Humans as beings with responsibility	Humans as they effect the world
Humans as persons individually unique and of infinite value	Humans as the fill interchangeable roles
Humans as dignified ends in and of themselves	Humans as a means to an end
Example: artist, salesperson	Example: laborer, scientist

In the most relate-able sense, areas such as marriage and workplace are areas to see Being and Function at work.

In marriage, we all have functional roles that someone else can do.

Knowledge is power

In the workplace, knowledge certainly is power, as it helps us make sound decisions and minimize risk. It’s hard to quantify having “enough” information… in fact, we always want more. More knowledge grants an advantage, even leverage, in a given situation.

Translation: Knowledge is used as power

The Fall exemplifies the desire for greater knowledge. In fact, Eve was promised not only knowledge, but the power assumed by the knowledge.

The Fall: the slippery slope (Gen 3:1-5)

“… You will be like God, knowing good and evil”

• Satan converts the positive (2:16) into a negative (3:1)
• Even joins in the distortion (3:2-3)
• Satan builds on Eve’s comments (3:4)
• Satan promises them power through knowledge (3:5)

There are lots of ways that knowledge is used as power in the workplace. Sometimes knowledge is used to gain advantage, or leverage, over others. This is when knowledge comes in the form of gossip, or withholding knowledge to protect job security or shield from failure.

A measure of divine Glory

If you’ve been following along and read the The Image of God in Man post, or have been able to attended the Maximizers meetings, you may remember that we identified the Image of God by four primary distinctions:

• Our manifestation of His attributes
• Our ruling as His regents
• Our ability to relate to him and others
• Our investment with glory from Him, by Him, and for believers, to Him

God invests man with a measure of divine Glory

The Image of God in Man

Over the past few weeks, we’ve continued to explore the concept of a Theology of Work with David Dickinson. Recently, we discussed the Image of God in Man; both before and after the fall. Having been created in God’s image, Adam and Eve had relationship with God while in their perfect form.

Even after the sin of man and the wrath of the Great Flood, we remained in God’s image, yet somewhat separated from him because of sin.

Time to get Series-ous

If you read our prior post, you’re may remember that we are setting aside intentional time to pray for our city as a city. Anyone and everyone is invited to join – doesn’t matter how you pray, what church you attend, or what denomination you claim.

Starting this week, we are diving deep into the Theology of Work:

 

 

 

 

 

Join us Friday mornings at 6:30 am.

We’ll keep the coffee warm!