Ep.045: Jordan Raynor on the sacredness of work.
Is your work good, or is it God's work?
You have probably wrestled with this question before. If so, you may need to sit down for this episode because Jordan Raynor, the author of The Sacredness of Secular Work, is on the MercyCast! Jordan sits down with me to discuss the sacredness of secular work and the importance of embracing one's vocation. He challenges the notion of a sacred-secular divide and emphasizes that all work has intrinsic value to God. Together, we explore the cultural mandate and the first commission given to humanity, highlighting the significance of creating culture and making the world more useful for others, with the added bonus of a passionate conversation about "mere" Christians and their impact on sharing the gospel. If you have a job or have ever thought about having a job, this episode is for you.
Highlights and takeaways from the conversation:
All work has intrinsic value to God and can be a means of worship.
There is no sacred-secular divide; all aspects of life, including secular work, can be sacred.
The cultural mandate, the first commission given to humanity, highlights the importance of creating culture and making the world more useful for others.
Mere Christians, who are not religious professionals, have significantly spread the gospel throughout history.
Understanding God's plan for earthly life and the hope of heaven on earth can give meaning and purpose to our vocation. Everything will be healed and restored in the new earth, and believers will be lavished with love and grace.
Every believer has a dual vocation: making culture and making disciples.
All aspects of work, both material and spiritual, can matter in the grand scheme of eternity.
Believers are called to submit their work to Jesus as King and steward it in line with His commands.
Listen to the full episode:
Want more from Jordan Raynor? Find everything from his books to his podcasts at his website, Jordanraynor.com. Buy his newest book, The Sacredness of Secular Work, for pre-order now and purchase on January 30th. Follow Jordan on Twitter and Instagram. Also, if you want further resources on the doctrine of vocation, check out Michael Berg’s book, which I mentioned during the episode, Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing.
Thanks for listening. We want to hear from you!
Email us at info@mercycast.com.
For more conversations like this one, check out my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human trafficking: