In this text, Dr. Richard Turnbull, looks to the many theological questions surrounding the world of work, such as just what the term “work” encompasses to Christians, since it cannot simply be restricted to paid employment. He goes through several different areas of theological thought on labour including looking at what specific quotes from the bible say about the world of work, whether work is the vocation you take up as a calling from god, and the role of sin and work as punishment and attornment vs a way to improve and contribute. To conclude they take a theological lens to a market designed for enterprise, looking at how much regulation or freedom is right in a broken world, the implications of innovation and creativity as expressions of faith, the benefits of value creation in a non-selfish manner, the growth of knowledge and skills, and finally the potential transformative value of good work.
These complex facets are important and potentially challenging questions for people who wonder what role Christians and theology have in the modern world of work, making this article a must for those who which to reflect and learn more.
Dr. Turnbull is a Church of England clergyman and was the principle of Wycliffe hall, the theological school belonging to Oxford University. He has written several other pieces on Theology and Evangelicalism in various areas of life.
This contribution is part of the research conducted by UNIAPAC, one of the main partners of The Future of Work, Labour after Laudato Si global project.
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