No Higher Calling

Week 20

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God." --I Corinthians 10:31

A Worldly Religion

"Keep his mind on the inner life . . .
Keep his mind off the most elementary duties
by directing it to the most advanced and spiritual ones.
Aggravate that most useful human characteristic,
the horror and neglect of the obvious."
The Devil's counsel in C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters

One of the most powerful dimensions of Christian faith, as well as one of its most difficult in application is the principle that our faith is to touch every dimension of human existence. Christian faith is not, as many religions, a matter chiefly of getting certain ceremonies and rituals right, or perhaps observing "religious" duties. Nor is it a matter of finding and cultivating the "spiritual side" of our being and suppressing the ordinary or natural. It is instead surrendering and committing our whole being to His Lordship, so that all we do honors God and is open to His redemption and sanctification.

This, in a way, makes it much more difficult for us. We cannot simply find time for the ceremonies, or nurture some compartment of life, as if our faith were a hobby or skill to which we simply had to pay more attention. Rather, it is everything we do. It is the Lord's Supper, but it is also getting along with our neighbor. It is hearing the Word, but it is also cleaning the house.

For lawyers, this truth is frightening and encouraging. It is frightening because it means the practice of law is part of the dimensions of giving glory to God. Dealing with clients, billing them, counseling them, listening -- all of that is to redeemed, renewed. It all comes under God's scrutiny, and our spiritual calling. We aren't allowed to be sloppy, callous and ethically shady in our dealings with clients, opposing attorneys and courts while compensating with extra piety at church or Bible study. "All" is to be to the glory of God. So our liability and duty is sweeping -- endless -- persistent. There aren't two sets of accounting books -- one for "spiritual" things and one for "legal." It is an awesome responsibility -- to bring glory to God in the law office. In church we know how -- we have songs and scriptures, rituals and postures. But in the law office, these "aides" are not so apparent. In the office we have simply ourselves -- our time, personality, energy, integrity, honesty, praise, compassion and love to offer. That's, of course, powerful stuff to offer God.

But the wonderful aspect of this sweeping call of God into the most mundane dimensions of our life including drafting briefs and filing claims is that it offers the potential for the wonderful redemption of what can seem so meaningless or routine into an aspect of our worship. When we are tired of the routines and wonder about the ultimate value of it all -- then we ought to be renewed when we are reminded that this too is done unto the Lord. He cares and is present with us as much here in the office or court room, as in the cathedral. His incarnation and atonement reaches to the law practice. I "worship," and I "glorify" when I honor Him in the most ordinary activities of life. I am freed from the schizophrenia of compartmentalizing my life. I am a whole person before the Lord -- and all I do -- "ALL" is offered before the Lord.

"Into these monotonous deeds of everyday life
I am to put in from day to day not only my
most eager interest, my strictest conscientiousness,
but God's power and God's love.
God is to continue to create,
Christ continue to redeem,
through my daily work." -- Martin Luther

Lynn Buzzard
USA