Reflections of a brain-dead sloth on the Protestant work ethic, and its interrelationship with the \u201cspirit of Capitalism.\u201d [1] I sit in the silence of my home now that the stalwart construction workers of the past two weeks have ceased their pounding. In an economic season of labor shortages and supply chain issues, the timely workers supplying my needs blessed me with the \u201cprovidence\u201d [2] timely, quality products. Although, much more expensive than I could have imagined. What contributed to their quality work? Was it the influence of their values and beliefs that rooted in some form of faith? In the current market, they could produce a lesser quality product and not have it effect their amount of work. Are they driven by their own desires to consume? Do they experience a since of satisfaction for a job well done or is it just the reward of the paycheck? Those who do live a life of faith, how does that impact their perception of assurance,[3] if at all? What about me? I ramble around my house, read, write, ponder great thoughts, I hope. Am I working? Is what I am doing really of significant value? Am I doing enough to earn my keep? Why do I struggle? I know that my relationship with my Creator is secure. But the unspoken pressure of church leaders and supporters to perform or produce something from the approved list of evangelical tasks, hangs like a cloud in the back of my mind. Accountability is important but I am not so sure this is the same thing.
Dr. Jason Clark debates in \u201cEvangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,\u201d [4] the historical evolution of the Christian faith values and beliefs that formed Protestant and Puritan expression to Capitalism and consumeristic society that influences the church today. At the center of this discussion is Max Weber\u2019s The Protestant Ethic and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of Capitalism.[5] Weber, a \u201cGerman sociologist and historian\u201d [6] used his expertise to write the debated standard of the development of Christian ethics, the interrelations of Christianity and Capitalism, and the Christian work ethic. While Weber\u2019s work is not exhaustive it has stood the test of time and extensive debate. Dr. Clark further explores the strengths and weaknesses of Weber\u2019s arguments on assurance, anxiety and the Protestant work ethic.
Clark explains how Luther\u2019s position on everyday life being just as holy as the life of clergy. The Christian has a moral obligation to live a life of moral excellence within their daily duties. [8] This one thought led this brain-dead sloth down some rabbit trails, one of which was on the possible impacts this one idea. The first trail was that our work is as holy as spiritual practices, and that God challenges us to complete it to a standard of excellence (Colossians 3:23). [9] Although, much of Protestantism believes this, do I as a leader behave in such a way that communicates to the people, I serve that I see their work and daily duties as holy? Do I celebrate daily duties done with integrity and in holiness to the same degree that I celebrate and encourage the approved spiritual practices?
The second rabbit trail was the sign over Auschwitz I, that reads “Arbeit Macht Frei”, [10] work makes you free. The deceptiveness of this sign plays out every day, as we somehow feel the need to work harder and harder, in hopes of being free from a financial burden or to obtain that one item that will bring happiness. I do not believe we have signs over our doors, but I sense that this concept is written in our subconscious. Is this a contributing factor to our need to be right, correct or the perfectionistic mentality? Somewhere in the evolution of Protestantism the \u201cmonastic aesthetic\u201d [11] no longer influences us as it once did. We produce so that we can consume and often consume more than we produce, only adding to our anxiety.
____________________________
[1] Max Weber, Peter Baehr, and Gordon C. Wells, The Protestant Ethic and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of Capitalism and Other Writings, Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics (New York: Penguin Books, 2002).
[2] Jason Paul Clark, \u201cEvangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship\u201d (Faculty Publications – Portland Seminary, 2018), 108, https:\/\/ digitalcommons.georgefox.edu\/gfes\/132.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Clark, \u201cEvangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship.\u201d
[5] Weber, Baehr, and Wells, The Protestant Ethic and the \u201cSpirit\u201d of Capitalism and Other Writings.
[6] Ibid, iii.
[7] Clark, \u201cEvangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,\u201d 77.
[8] Ibid., 80.
[9] Richard Sasanow, The NIV Study Bible\/10th Anniversary Edition (Place of publication not identified: Zondervan, 1995), 1819.
[10] Jennifer Rosenberg, \u201cArbeit Macht Frei Sign at Entrance of Auschwitz I,\u201d Thought Co. (blog), November 5, 2019, https:\/\/www.thoughtco.com\/arbeit-macht-frei-auschwitz-entrance-sign-4082356.
[11] Clark, \u201cEvangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,\u201d 95.
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