Does work matter? What’s the purpose behind it anyway? These are just a couple of the questions we fellows are wrestling with as we get started with the program as a whole and especially in our internships. We all work Tuesday through Thursday in varying roles and sectors around the D.C. area. As a part-time intern, I personally wonder how much of an impact I can really make in the workplace. Fortunately for me, and the rest of Season 14, the first session of “The Kingdom Seminar”, taught by Professor Bill Fullilove, began to illuminate the foundations of a Biblical understanding of work.
The opening chapters of the Bible talk about work. God works through his Word to create the heavens and the earth and then he forms what had no form and fills what was void. There is no suggestion of struggle or opposition; he speaks and it happens. All of this is good according to God, but only after the sixth day of creation did he say, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). What happens between the end of day five and day six is ground-breaking for humanity (literally). “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). What could be so very good about mankind? It’s simple (but not really), we are created in the image of God.
There are too many implications to explore in a short blog post, but some are highly relevant to the discussion of work. The human race was called by God to fill the earth and subdue it. God rules and cares for all of creation and, as beings created in his image, we are called to have loving dominion over the earth and to work in service to him. Before the rebellion of man, work was good. After the rebellion of man, work is still good but also broken. It is broken because it is under the curse and we no longer work in service to God alone. And yet, God still uses our work to benefit the world, even the work of a part-time intern.
It is the business of the Church to recognize that the secular vocation, as such, is sacred - Dorothy Sayers, Why Work?
Whether we are policy makers, sanitation workers, engineers, church staff, teachers, students, interns, etc. all of us in the Body of Christ ultimately have the exact same vocation: to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…” (Genesis 1:28). The Kingdom of God is the ultimate fulfillment of this in Christ and we get to take part! As images of Christ, we are freed to be his disciples in the workplace as he furthers his Kingdom using our efforts.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10
Pictures from the Week
First day of the Kingdom Seminar with Professor Fullilove
Some fellows on the job. Shoutout to Jenny and Hunter (right) for delivering everyone cookies on the first day of work!
Become A Capital Fellow in 2021-22
We are now receiving applications for Season 15 of the Capital Fellows program!
The next season runs from late August 2021 through mid-May of 2022. If you are a college senior or recent college graduate, we would love to hear from you! If you know someone that should consider being a fellow, please send them our way.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
The Capital Fellows year is amazing, but challenging. It is a year to go deep with the Lord in questions about identity and purpose.
Please pray for the fellows as they begin the program year - class, work, service responsibilities.
Please pray that God would weave them together into a community that loves and supports one another.
Please pray for our host families as they adapt to a new person joining their household this year.
Want to pray for the Capital Fellows throughout the year? Download this handy prayer guide for your phone or tablet.
Benefits of The Fellows Initiative
You probably already know that Capital Fellows is one of 30 fellows programs in The Fellows Initiative network. But, did you know that the sponsors of TFI offer great benefits to Capital Fellows alumni? For example, Reformed Theological Seminary offers a 33% tuition discount for 5 years. You can learn more about TFI's sponsors by clicking here.
If you know of a graduate school, seminary, employer, or other organization that would be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact TFI by clicking here. Thanks!
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