Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Blue or White Collar Jesus?

I was driving in the car the other day and heard a discussion about blue collar workers and white collar workers. I had never really thought about it before but when we study the life of Jesus where would he fall, blue or white collar?

To answer this question we really need to understand what is meant by the term blue collar and white collar. A white collar worker is a person who is in the work force in the role of management or administration. Blue collar workers would be more manual labor. White collar workers would have more of a formal education. Blue collar would be more skilled labor.

So, what would Jesus be, white collar or blue collar? Without any formal education Jesus worked a trade as a carpenter. In religious circles he was far from the upper management team. He was more of a common worker within his Father's line of work. He did not tell people what they were to do while sitting back and watching to see if the tasks were carried out. He worked on the ground level showing people how to serve at a very high level.

I would say Jesus was more of a blue collar worker in the business of the Father. On the other hand, the religious leaders were carrying themselves as upper management. They touted their formal education and made those who were a part of the organization walk a narrow path.

This very easily carries over to today and the church. We have become a movement made up of mostly white collar workers. We come together and worship touting our formal church education. We look down on those who have not had the same church background as ourselves. We do this even though Jesus taught us to live as blue collar workers in His kingdom.

Jesus lived as a labor worker in the kingdom. If Jesus lived that way shouldn't we? Or do we like the status of being a white collar Christian with all its perks?

If Jesus worked in the kingdom as a blue collar worker, that is good enough for me. It is time we stop touting our formal church education and start to do the labor required to build His kingdom. Even if we have to get our hands dirty.

Any thoughts?

1 comment:

Russ said...

A lot of times it is hard to break out of the "routine" of church and do hand's on missional work. We almost need a daily kick in the pants to step out of our own little world to actually seek out those people who are hurting.