The more theological section on Our Problems with Work is
at points a more problematic read. This is, in part, because of the difference
in style which can be seen in some of the writing. This second section of the
book has the feel of a set of lecture or sermon notes which are slotted in
here, but which have not been specifically produced for this purpose. It is
also less nuanced than other parts of the book which seek to take a more
complex approach to both theology and contemporary society.
Is
it worth reading?
Yes, because if you want to start thinking about how
faith and work relate to each other and about the ethics around our attitudes
to work how that shapes our education system it provides a lot of helpful
material. It also goes back to the early reformers, particularly Calvin and
Luther, and reflects on their writings. In doing so one might argue that it
seeks to restate what the 'Protestant Ethic' and indeed the 'Spirit of
Capitalism' should look like for us today, as Christians in the digital age.
It is also worth reading because Keller and the Redeemer
brand, (because that what the book clearly identifies it is in its description - although it seeks to remove the language of the marketplace from the church), provide an interesting
insight into a particular type of evangelical church which is emerging which is
both similar to and distinct from the more reformed and conservative churches
which have largely dominated the evangelical right. The similarities come in
the their use of Augustine, Luther and Calvin as the main theological
influences and their understanding of sin and the fall. These are most clearly
reflected in the second part of the book. Yet in the third part they make it
clear they have no time for those who have sought to engage in fundamentalism
and culture wars and seek to isolate themselves into a Christian ghetto to give
protection from the polluting influence of the world. Rather in this part of
the book they have more in common with the more theologically radical
progressive evangelicals.
Below is a You Tube clip of a lecture Alsdorf has given explaining Redeemer and their approach.
Can
it easily be applied?
On one level yes. The principals within the book about
how to engage in a more holistic and Christian approach to work can be
understood and applied. For example the importance of taking a Sabbath, (which
is something Charlotte Norton has recently blogged about very articulately), is
well discussed and theoretically easy to apply.
There is, however, only limited practical advice given on
what application may look like and whilst seeking to be an inclusive book most
of the examples focus on industries like finance. This is unsurprising bearing
in mind Redeemer's Manhattan base and the recognition that this is one of the
sectors which many young professionals find themselves working in. Whilst
appearing a drawback this is not necessarily a problem. What it encourages the
reader to do is either individually or more helpfully working with others in
similar occupations is to work through what being a Christian in their specific
industry and context would look like.
Are
there any shortcomings with this book?
A few, some of which were things I found niggles and some
were more fundamental.
The first niggle I had was with the front cover and the
acknowledgement of authorship. This book was by Timothy Keller and Katherine
Leary Alsdorf who assisted him with the book. It may be to reflect different
levels of contribution that Alsdorf's name will be smaller but the size of font
with her name was tiny. This is a problem for me because as somebody who has read
reports such as Guest, Sharma and Song's report on Gender and CareerProgression in Theology and Religious Studies and Maggi Dawn's post on "There are no women on my theology bookshelf" I understand the importance of female role models and the
visibility of women's involvement in work such as this.
The second niggle I had was with some of the language. It
was a book which was clearly seeking to be accessible and in large part was but
words such as sin and grace were used with an implicit understanding that the
reader would understand what these meant. Whilst I don't think these parts of
the text should have been dumbed down and acknowledging the majority of the
reader would be Christian, American and familiar with these terms, I still
think that there were assumptions about biblical literacy being made which are
problematic.
One big problem I had with the book was the way in which
the gospel and Christianity as narratives were put forward as different to
other philosophical and economic approaches without any acknowledgement of how
Christianity and our interpretation of the bible is shaped in part by our
understandings of those other stories and approaches. This was particularly
relevant to a discussion of The Gospel and Other Worldviews in chapter nine, A
New Story for Work which sought to position the gospel and faith as something
unique and isolated which had one interpretation. Reading this book it was
clear that there was an interplay going on between Functionalist sociological
understandings of the world and broadly reformed evangelical theological
understandings of The Word. Now, don't get me wrong I am not saying these
interpretations are wrong but I am saying they are particular understandings
and readings. To say there is one Christian reading and approach is I think, on
one level, problematic.
Related to this problem was the subtext of some of the
examples used in the first part of the book which were seeking to underline and
promote a particular reading of Genesis and thus to feed in to non-related
debates going on within and beyond the church. Pages 87-88 underlined the basic
sub-text being promoted when it said, "Genesis 3 shows how sin warps every
part of our nature, every aspect of human living. It begins by distorting the
areas of sex, gender, love and marriage."
The most problematic thing for me though was how the very
real problems people face of not being able to find work, or finding
unfulfilling work or having to work several jobs for low wages to make ends
meet were not given practical discussion. They were referred to and it was,
rightly, acknowledged that they are one product of us living in a sinful world.
However, there was no practical advice to given to help those living in this
reality.
For me it would have been useful if there had been
additional material on our role as consumers, purchasing goods and services and
the impact we have upon other people's work. A chapter on a Christian approach
to economics and a discussion of our approaches to taxation and wages may also
have been one positive area which could have been looked at.
Final
conclusions
Whilst I have underlined some of the things which for me
were short comings in this book I did think it was a useful book. I doubt
anybody could read it without being challenged in some way and that is always a
good thing. It also provides some sound thinking and is clearly based on an
excellent understanding of theology, sociology, philosophy and cultural
studies. It is a book which seeks to develop practical discipleship and to
motivate people to go back to the gospel in developing a holistic approach to
life, and work within that. Most of the book is written in a clear,
contemporary style which is easy and enjoyable to read. Thus, I would recommend
it to anybody BUT I would say if you expect it to provide you with easy answers
you may be disappointed.
ISBN: 978-1-444-70260-6
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