Most of us do not realise that we live dualistic lives, that we often separate out things in our lives. We make distinctions between work and leisure, and yet we often work hard at our leisure and some people really enjoy their work. However, a really big distinction we make is between our work and our faith. Work is public, faith is private; work is to do with the outer me, faith is to do with the inner me.
This dualism originated with the Greek philosophers: they set up distinctions that still influence us today, especially the separation of spirit from the flesh. The Greeks saw the spirit as divine, but the flesh as dirty and impure. Unfortunately that sort of distinction has crept into our churches, so we make certain things sacred and other things secular. Sunday is special, but the rest of the week is ordinary. Ministry is important, but our everyday jobs are secular, and less important.
Graham Hooper worked for more than 20 years in executive roles with a global infrastructure company, and the whole time worked hard to integrate his Christian faith with his secular work. He saw the divisions that the church seemed to be teaching, and found it unhelpful. He has written this book: Undivided to help others to live more integrated lives.
Hooper sets out a number of strategies for closing the gap between our faith and our everyday lives:
- By accepting that we are changed human beings, transformed by the Gospel, and undergoing a process of ongoing change.
- By trying to make a difference wherever we are placed, seeking to be salt and light.
- By growing through tough times, recovering from failure and surviving tests to our faith.
- By keeping our eyes on the prize, having an eternal perspective.
The book is full of stories, reflections, Bible verses, and quotes. It is full of wisdom from a man who has experienced many jobs, many countries, and always strived to be authentic in his faith, both in character and action.
One key point is his warning not to confuse what we do with who we are. This is wise advice whether we are a CEO, a cubicle rat, or a pastor of a church. He points to the Gospel as liberating us from valuing ourselves by what we achieve or what we own. “God, who has made us, has set the value of our life. He has shown us how much we are worth by giving us his Son [Jesus] for us.” So, whatever work we have does not define “who” we are; God has placed us there as stewards, for a while.
Hooper puts a lot of welcome emphasis on our integrity in relationships as a key element of living undivided lives. “Christians are salt and light as they reflect God’s character into the world, as they form faithful loving relationships, as they experience God’s recreative power.”
He points out that God is in the business of rebuilding and restoring, and calls us to join him in that task, whether it is by resisting temptations at work, praying in all things, caring for others, providing opportunities, spreading laughter, teaching and training, welcoming and providing hospitality, standing against injustice, bringing order to chaos, making ugly beautiful, affirming truth in all its forms.
I found that the book felt like a set of homilies, rather than a consistent essay on the issues; and for that reason may be best seen as a devotional book. In that context, it is a book that nourishes as it sets out to challenge our half-hearted faith, as we withhold areas of our life from God’s scrutiny, as we continue in broken relationships; and seeks to pray in the words of Psalm 86:11:
Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
KARA MARTIN is the Associate Dean of the Marketplace Institute, Ridley Melbourne, has been a lecturer with School of Christian Studies, and Wesley Institute and is an avid reader and book group attendee. Kara does book reviews for Hope 103.2’s Open House.
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