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"In the world" or "Whole-life worship"

At church on Sunday afternoons we have what used to be called a "catechism class". We call it "Newcomers and others". It is an opportunity to teach the basics of the Christian faith to those considering baptism or church membership. 

But what are "the basics" when it comes to Christian living? 

One of the basics particularly emphasised in my Christian tradition, i.e. Reformed and Evangelical Protestant Christianity, is the conviction that the Christian life is to be lived "out there in the world" and not withdrawing into a cloistered religious bubble. A similar emphasis may be found in Roman Catholic thinking, and in the Eastern Orthodox concept of the "liturgy after the liturgy". 

But where does that conviction come from in Scripture and in church history? 

In terms of the Biblical basis, there are several threads of Biblical revelation that undergird this conviction: 
  • The Old Testament prophetic teaching that God desires contrition and obedience more than ceremonial offerings (e.g. Hosea 6:6) 
  • The Lord's teaching about being "salt and light" in the world 
  • Paul's teaching to Christian slaves, encouraging them to work "as to the Lord", i..e the notion of a secular (i.e. non-religious/non-monastic) calling (eg Colossians 3, 1 Corinthians 7) 
  • Paul's exhortation to do *everything* for the glory of God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to Christ (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17)
  • Jesus' prayer in John 17, specifically not praying that the disciples would be taken out of the world 
  • The priesthood of all believers, which applies the language of temple worship and animal sacrifice to the matter of everyday Christian living (1 Peter 2:9, Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15f; Philippians 2) 
  • The reality of the church as the body of Christ includes the truth that our bodies are to be "offered" to God in obedience to his commands, and not complicit in sin (1 Cor 6:15).   
The rediscovery of this thread in the Christian worldview is associated with the Protestant Reformation of 16th century. Largely, the Protestant reformation distanced itself from a division between the clergy and the laity, and also from monasticism. The teaching on the "priesthood of all believers" led to a strong affirmation of "secular callings", i.e. Christians glorifying God in everyday life rather than in pursuing ordination or monastic vows. 

These emphases may be found in works by Luther such as "Address to the Christian Nobility," and, "Freedom of the Christian." The 17th century Luther Pietists, besides their emphasis on inner experience, expected Christian faith to bear fruit of good works. Later Puritan thought developed this theme in great detail, for example in the "Directory". Likewise, in Dutch Reformed thought every area of life was to be devoted to God's glory. 

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