Theology of Work

Definition and Meaning

The theology of work is a field of theology that seeks to understand human work and labor from the perspective of faith; it is also called "faith and work." It deals chiefly with questions such as the following:

• What meaning does work have before God?
• How is life in the workplace, outside the church, connected with faith?
• How should workers' rights and fair compensation be understood?

Broadly speaking, it is treated as a branch of Christian ethics.

Biblical and Historical Background

Scripture portrays work as a task given to humanity even before the Fall. God placed man in the Garden of Eden "to dress it and to keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Many interpreters read this verse in connection with the cultural mandate, by which humanity was entrusted with cultivating and ruling the world. After the Fall, sweat and toil came to accompany labor (Genesis 3:17-19). In the New Testament, Paul said that he had supplied his own needs by working with his own hands (Acts 20:34-35), and he warned against idleness: "if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

In the Middle Ages, the monastic tradition valued prayer and work alike. The spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict is often summarized in the phrase "pray and work" (ora et labora). During this period, however, there was also a tendency to regard the clerical vocation as higher than secular occupations.

During the Reformation, Martin Luther taught that the work of a farmer or a craftsman could also be a calling from God, that is, a vocation. John Calvin and the Puritan tradition likewise emphasized diligence in one's occupation as part of the life of faith. In the twentieth century, against the backdrop of industrialization and labor issues, discussion turned to workers' rights and social structures.

Practice in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, faith groups that meet in the workplace, such as workplace Christian fellowships and workplace mission societies, are common. Sermons and Christian education also frequently address vocational calling and work ethics. Organizations such as the Korea Christian Businessmen's Committee emphasize the faith of businesspeople and ethics in management.

The emphasis varies according to theological orientation.

• Evangelical circles: Generally emphasize a personal sense of calling, honest conduct in the workplace, and evangelism in the workplace.
• Some denominations and organizations of ecumenical orientation: Through industrial mission in the 1960s and 1970s, they entered workplaces and became involved in issues of workers' human rights and working conditions. These activities reportedly brought them into conflict at times with the government of the day.

Today there is also ongoing discussion, in connection with bivocational ministry, about how to regard pastors' work to earn a living.