Reflections
A FOUNDATIONS DISCUSSION PAPER
By Pete Hammond
The work of InterVarsity's Marketplace concentrates on a few central themes that make up the foundation of the ministry-of-daily-life of all of God's people. We see these as areas needing our attention to affirm this vision, recover the ministry of all believers, and empower every believer in work and family life. These form the basis for our teaching, training and mobilizing. Out of this set of convictions we design our products, consulting, programming and services.
We believe that the scriptures invite all God's people to study and affirm the following:
- The Lordship of Christ over all of life, provider of salvation, and model to each of us.
- The pervasive and powerful nature of evil and sin impacting every person and system in creation. Each is damaged but not ruined.
- The calling or vocation that every believer has to serve Christ in all spheres of life - personal, family, community and work. All the baptized are called.
- The divine nature of work, both before and after the fall, as well as in eternity. It is not a result of the fall or the curse. This includes stewardship of the earth.
- The nature of the church as the body of Christ serving God in both its gathered (ecclesia) and scattered (diaspora) rhythms. It is not a building or a place but a movement of people.
- The divine design of family as the foundational unit of life and society. This is the second way in which the image of God is manifested (work is the other).
- The eternal value of every person and the significance of their gender, ethnicity, work, temperament, gifting, age, and nationality. Every person is cherished by God.
- The stewardship of money and possessions, and their potential for good or evil.
- The call to every believer to witness to the good news of the Gospel which is to be practiced by all believers, everywhere, all the time. And it is both word and deed.
- The authority of the Bible as the primary revelation of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit to guide every follower of Christ. We seek to continually learn from the Scriptures in these areas while we serve others.
Pete Hammond is a PCUSA elder, a veteran InterVarsity staff member who directs the Marketplace® Division, and is the creative developer, team leader and chief contributor to the Word in Life Study Bible. He and his wife, Shirley, live in Madison, WI., and commute to Chicago regularly to see their five grandchildren.
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