Work - Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians

vs 4:28

I wonder if this means that, while stealing, the person only had enough to feed themselves? I guess that's probably true.

Paul here could be talking to a specific person. In any case, he makes it clear that stealing is not a plausible occupation for a Christian. Interestingly, he says that work instead must be useful. Stealing is not really productive. But work should also provide such that you have something to share with those in need. Now I will point out that I don't think Paul is saying that workers should be paid enough so that they can give charity and still be comfortable. I think instead he is saying that anything beyond bare subsistence means that you will be able to share, perhaps sacrificially, with those who are worse off than you.

Col 3:17,23

These verses are really at the crux of the discussion about work in the New Testament, and even then they are not specifically about work. Sure, there are other verses that talk about work, servants, masters and so on. But these verses are really two of few that encompass work in a greater role - they take work, and put it into the context of the Kingdom, saying that any work you do (and anything else you do) comes from God (so be thankful), and is part of service to God (so do it well).

1 Thess 4:11

I've tussled with this verse before. Refer to here if you want to read that again. Basically, the verse says don't work yourself to death, to keep your affairs (if "mind your own business" is literal, then it's a shame for anyone working as a wageslave, eh?) and use what you've got to be productive.

These actually sound like good premises for practical statements about Christian work ethics. Don't live and die for work. Make sure you manage your affairs. Be productive with what you've been given. I don't know that I'd build a theology of workplace giftings on my dodgy translation of cheir, but I won't discount it either.

2 Thess 3:10

So do we here have a theology of smashing the welfare state? If we do, then ditch pensions, too, by the way. Slaughter the infirm, the disabled, and those on life support. Because if they are not working, they shouldn't eat! Moltmann made this point very well (some scholar). This verse has to be read in its context. Paul doesn't want people to to be lazy, or idle. He wants to use lack of food as a stimulant to get them back to work. We are, of course, talking about a marketplace where there was hardly ever large-scale unemployment.

Capitalism has made human resources just another tool in the market, and so they now fluctuate. So what, then, for the modern marketplace? It's a good question. I guess we have to continue to apply principles, but not specific rules to the period. So don't be idle. But don't starve sick people either. Make sure that, even if you're unemployed, you're working at something.

What of negative reinforcement? Starving healthy people to force them to find work? I wonder. It's like the arguments for beating your children because the Bible says you can. Bible commands it - must beat children! vs principle of raising children to be well disciplined, but you can use modern, non-stick methods.

Here's a bit of philosophising for you. Starving people is wrong, just like violence. So any method by which we can minimise these things is a positive. Sure, they may work as tools to achieve an end, and they may have been culturally acceptable at some stage. But surely, achieving the end without using questionable means would be in God's will? Perhaps starving/beating is a last resort? Difficult question. But I guess the Bible is prescriptive of a bunch of actions we don't do - we take their principles and re-apply them. Why not with these things?