This is part one of a 7-part series on the sacred/secular divide.
There is a hideous lie roaming throughout Christian circles, deceiving us into to thinking that some people, activities, and occupations are more important or “spiritual” than others. The “Sacred/Secular divide” is a monstrously destructive force and has run its course. It is time to call this lie to the carpet.
We often refer to things as “sacred” when we believe they pertain to God. Likewise, the term “secular” refers to things that do not pertain to God. The sacred/secular divide could be defined as a view of life whereby certain activities (and perhaps people and places) are set apart to the LORD and others are not. We will talk about where it came from later, and I think the reader will discover what is so wrong with is as we go along.
Dallas Willard said,
“There is truly no division between sacred and secular except what we have created. And that is why the division of legitimate roles and functions of human life into the sacred and the secular does incalculable damage to our individual lives and to the cause of Christ. Holy people must stop going into ‘church work’ as their natural course of action and take up holy orders in farming, law, education, banking and journalism with the same zeal previously given to evangelism or to pastoral and missionary work.” (Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines)
What is the Sacred/Secular divide, where did it come from, and what is so wrong with it? I’m glad you asked! We will start next week with the beginning and dive in head first.
Greg is the President of OPEN USA. He used his education to work as a tentmaker in the Middle East for 8.5 years seeking to plant a church amongst a least-reached people group. Currently back in the USA with his wife and children, they aim to return to finish what the LORD used them to start.
To learn more about B4T, read Business for Transformation by Patrick Lai.