Living Out Our Callings in the Workplace

Richard Bliese, Academic Dean at Luther Seminary, kicked off this year's Mid-Winter Convocation, Living Out Our Callings in the Workplace . Here are a few excerpts from his first presentation, "Living Ambidextrously in the Real World":

"the decisive mistake of monasticism was not that it followed the path of strict discipleship and mission. Rather, the mistake was that monasticism essentially distanced regular Christians from the notions of discipleship and mission, thus permitting these twin concepts to become the extraordinary achievement of only a few 'religious' people."

"This two-worlds thinking. . . divides Christian groups into two categories: the 'premium' disciples and the 'regular' Christians from whom little by way of discipleship and mission is expected."

"Real mission work becomes the reserved domain of the new monastics, that is, the clergy and their few faithful friends with whom some of the ministry is shared."

"[But] God is at work in the world with two hands."

"The role of mission has been taken away from the monastery, away from all special "mission agencies," and given back to the baptized believer to be carried out daily in the real world."