The Christian Concept of Vocation of Lee Hardy’s book entitled The Fabric of This World
Reply To Nana Asare
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
– Colossians 3:22-24 New International Version (NIV) When reflecting on Genesis one, one will notice how God worked when he created the Earth. Hence, when we conduct work, we resemble God. Furthermore, work is not God’s way of punishing us. Moreover, God has blessed us with the ability to work so that we may honor him. Hence, when we obey the authority figures in our lives, we ultimately serve God. As children of God, we have all been given diverse talents and abilities. When we use our gifts, we can experience fulfillment as we serve Christ and share His love with others. This week’s discussion board post will cover the theological evolution of Christian thought relative to work in God’s world and the three Human Resource (HR) practice implications relative to employee engagement/retention and globalization. Hardy’s Theological Evolution of Christian Work in God’s World.
Chapter two, Our Work, God\’s Providence: The Christian Concept of Vocation of Lee Hardy\’s book entitled The Fabric of This World, expands upon the Reformed Christian concept of work as an alternative and the social implications. This chapter\’s focal point is Hardy\’s analysis of Martin Luther\’s perspective and vocation concept. Hardy examines how Luther began to rethink work, God, repentance, and remission of one\’s sins, salvation, and God\’s will for humankind in a general sense. Luther was a monk who had taken himself from the world to gain contemplation. Luther spent years being tormented with the thought of not being pardoned by God of his sins, not knowing whether God has indeed forgiven him. He spent hours self-examining to ensure that he had not forgotten his sins to repent of. Like many others, Luther practiced penance, believing that he would be redeemed for his sinister ways. Additionally, Luther made a pilgrimage to Rome, yearning to have a spiritual experience; Luther drags himself up the Scala Sancta (holy stairs). Luther recited the Lord\’s prayer, kissing each step he made to plead for the soul of his deceased grandfather Lindeman Luther to be released from purgatory. This was customary in the Catholic Church to have one\’s family member released from purgatory. Heck (2017) states which were the steps that led up to the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ stood on during his Passion on his way to trial. During, this act Luther had an epiphany that altered his way of thinking about how salvation, repentance, and remission of one\’s sins worked. Metaxas (2017) state part of Luther’s process began with understanding his role as a seeker of truth and how that role could conceivably lead him to question what was thought of as received and therefore unquestionable truth (p.50). Moreover, faith in God and God\’s mercy worked, which did not require man to isolate themselves from the rest of the world into complete solitude—not to work or allowing the fruition of God\’s calling upon one\’s life. Hence, causing individuals to be resentful towards gaining salvation and accepting God\’s unconditional love. In all their doing of gaining salvation, God was not in it; it was more of an obsession of man, their actions were more idolized, more so than the faith in God\’s mercy alone. When one carefully analysis God\’s characteristics, one will notice that God is merciful, God is love, God is compassionate, and God is kind. It dawned on Luther; hence he stopped climbing the stairs because he heard a voice within say, \”The just shall live by faith.\” Luther rose in amazement from the steps and began to feel personal horror and shame (Heck, 2017). Because he realized all the mentions/ acts of gaining salvation from God that he had been performing were not the way of God and that there was no relationship formed with God, which is based upon faith and trust in God. Hardy (1990) states that the kingdom of heaven belongs to our relationship to God, which is based upon faith; to the kingdom of earth belongs our relationship to our neighbor, which is to be based upon love (p. 46). Moreover, Luther examines the social place/ station, which Luther has indicated that our vacation comes to us through our station. Luther also states that God himself has instituted the order of stations in the earthly kingdom as his way of seeing that the needs of humanity are met on a day-to-day basis. Because God has filled the earth with resources and potentials, God has decided to continue his creative activities by man\’s hands. Hence, the real motivation for our actions in the world ought to be our neighbor\’s good, not our own holiness (Hardy, 1990, p. 50). Furthermore, when we serve our neighbor, we are serving God, because our love of God and our love of our neighbor cannot be separated (Hardy, 1990, p. 54). Additionally, Hardy (1990) states although we were created with the same basic needs, we were not created with the same talents and abilities (p. 60). Nevertheless, no one can do all things equally well. According to Veith Jr. (2002), the author of God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life, quotes Luther, vocations are a \”mask from God. That is, God hides in the workplace, the family, the church, and the seemingly secular society (Veith Jr., 2002). Hence, we all must do our diligence within this earthly kingdom and man our stations.The Three Human Resource (HR) Practice ImplicationsWhen assessing the theory of work and God\’s creation of humans to see his works come into fruition to serve our neighbors with love and compassion, we can view God as the CEO and head of this earthly kingdom\’s human resources department. God has created us all. Hence, he knows our aptitudes and abilities better than we do ourselves. Jeremiah 1:5 New International Version (NIV) state before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5 New International Version, 2020). Hence, we all are born with unique gifts that will aid in God\’s master plan of the functionality of the Earthly kingdom\’s full operation. Hardy (1990), we are beneficial to human society by the works of that special occupation in which we are to be employed, according to God\’s order (p. 61). As Martin Luther has rendered, God has joined us together and united us in one body, because he wants each to employ himself for his neighbor (p.63). Furthermore, the three human resources practice implications relative to employee engagement that correlates to Luther\’s theory of work would be as follows: (a) individual workers and organizational relationship, (b) employee absenteeism, and (c) retaining talent. Valentine (2020) states managers should get to know each employee as an individual who has unique talents and motivations (p. 156). God knows us individually on a personal level. Hence, he knows how to positively to organizational relationships so that we all can contribute positively to organizational objectives and outcomes. Moreover, God has outlined expectations of us regarding our stations. The expectations are to serve others through our vocations so that others benefit, feel the love of God and have their needs met by God. In return, we gain a relationship with God, fulfillment, and our great reward when we get to the heavenly kingdom. Additionally, when working in their calling, they will receive job satisfaction and be committed to their station. Hence, employee engagement will be extraordinary. Organizational citizenship behavior will be exceptional because employees will go behind their duties to serve others. When an individual is placed in the wrong station, they often time absent and are not working/walking in their full potential, which God has called them to be. Valentine (2020), many employees see no real concern about being absent or late to work because they feel that they are \”entitled\” to some time off (p.164). Nevertheless, God knows all and sees all if we do not fulfill our purpose. Jonah was a prime example when he tried to run away from the calling God called him to fulfill, giving the Jews a message of salvation. Jonah runs and, in turn, was swallowed by a whale. Furthermore, an organization will have individuals reprimanded for not abiding by organizational policies and regulations. God will chastise his children out of love. Hence, obedience is better than sacrifice. An organization\’s culture plays a critical factor in employee retention. Hence, causing employee loyalty. \”Talent retention is defined as general propensity of talented employees to continue with their organization for certain specific talent management practices, like employee engagement, empowerment, career development opportunities, competitive compensation, and rewards, etc.\” (Bhattacharyya, 2015, p. 119). According to Pandita et al. (2018), human capital has been established as the most important asset for any organization. (p.185). Hence, humankind is essential in the creation and work of God.
References
Bhattacharyya, D. K. (2015). The magnetic organization: Attracting and retaining the best talent. 1-193. Retrieved from https://ebookcentralproquestcom.ezproxy.liberty.edu/lib/liberty/reader.action?docID=5770090Colossians 3:22-24 New International Version. (2020). Retrieved January 2021, from Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A22- 24&version=NIV
Hardy, L. (1990). Our Work, God\’s providence: The Christian Concept of Vocation. In L. Hardy, The Fabric of This World (pp. 44-78). Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Heck, C. (2017, January 6). Martin Luther: His Trip to Rome (1510). Retrieved January 2021, from Worldly Saints: https://worldlysaints.wordpress.com/2017/01/06/martin-luther-histrip-to-rome-1510/ (Links to an external site.)Jeremiah 1:5 New International Version. (2020). Retrieved January 2021, from Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%201%3A5&version=NIV (Links to an external site.)
Metaxas, E. (2017). The Great Change. In E. Metaxas, Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World (pp. 50-66). New York, New York: Penguin Books.Pandita, D., & Ray, S. (2018). Talent management and employee engagement – a meta-analysis of their impact on talent retention. Industrial and Commercial Training, 50(4), 185-199. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/2036686429? pq-origsite=summon
Veith Jr., G. E. (2002). God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life. Focal Point
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