Helen Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Biola University, discusses the connection between faith and work. They explore the importance of connecting one's faith with their professional lives and the significance of work reflecting God's work. They also delve into the transformative power of the workplace in shaping individuals spiritually. The podcast concludes with an introduction to the Work Exchange curriculum, which helps churches integrate faith and work.
Connecting faith and work goes beyond earning a paycheck and involves understanding God's design for our work and working unto the Lord.
Regardless of the profession or sphere, all work provides value for oneself and others, challenging the notion that only ministry activities within the church generate spiritual value.
Deep dives
The Importance of Connecting Faith and Work
Connecting faith and work goes beyond just earning a paycheck. It is about understanding God's design for our work and working unto the Lord. This involves dispelling the lies we believe about work and embracing the truth of Scripture. The guest, Helen Mitchell, shares her passion for connecting faith and work, emphasizing that it is God's heart and purpose for Christians on Earth. She highlights the need for Christians to bring redemption to the marketplace and reveals that Jesus is coming back for a church that actively lives out their faith at work. Mitchell's personal journey and experiences have fueled her compassion for this mission.
The Impactful Role of Faith in Work
Helen Mitchell discusses the significant impact that faith can have in the workplace. She shares her own background, transitioning from a successful career in business to a calling centered around faith at work. Mitchell emphasizes that regardless of the profession or sphere, all work provides value for oneself and others. This concept of work as service to Christ challenges the notion that only ministry activities within the church generate spiritual value. Mitchell encourages individuals to see their work as an opportunity to be a light and bring solutions to society's problems. She stresses the importance of excellence, prayer, and practicing biblical values in the workplace.
Biblical Perspectives on Faith and Work
The conversation delves into biblical passages that shed light on the connection between faith and work. Genesis 1 is highlighted as the starting point, where God created humans to rule and reign in the earth, contributing to administration and management. Ephesians 2:10 emphasizes that humans are God's masterpiece, called to do good works, which encompasses employment and anything done by hand. Matthew 5:16 further encourages believers to let their light shine through their good works. Mitchell underscores how Scripture informs and shapes how individuals show up in their respective vocations, and that their work is part of God's work.
Implications of Connecting Faith and Work
The podcast explores the implications of connecting faith and work for individuals' spiritual growth and the flourishing of communities. It is emphasized that the workplace, where people spend a significant portion of their time, can serve as a primary crucible for spiritual formation. Understanding the value and purpose of work leads to a mindset shift in how individuals approach their jobs and interactions in the workplace. Recognizing work as a place of service to Christ and an opportunity to bring kingdom values can transform one's perspective and impact their character, decision-making, and behavior in a job. The conversation stresses the need for believers to be intentional, prayerful, and proactive in living out their faith at work to influence, solve problems, and contribute to society's betterment.
What’s is God’s design for our work? Is it more than simply a paycheck? What does it mean to work unto the Lord? What are the lies about work that we’ve believed and how can we exchange them for the truth of Scripture about work? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest Helen Mitchell, author of The Work Exchange.
Helen Mitchell is Assistant Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the Crowell School of Business at Biola University. She also directs the Talbot Center for Faith, Work and Economics.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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