Labor Day: The Dignity of Human Work is Rooted in the Dignity of the Human Person

Catholic Online ^ | 9/1/12 | Deacon Keith Fournier

[tcg]

On this Labor Day weekend we take a break from our "jobs" to honor work and workers. It is a unique secular holiday with profound Christian potential. Most of us will have a day off during which we will gather for late summer cookouts and celebrations. It is a time that we get to sleep in a bit later than usual and relax from what is so often a frenzied pace in our contemporary pattern of life.

For many parents, Labor Day weekend marks a transition from the hectic pace of the summer to the new hectic pace of the school year. For students and teachers, it is also a portal into the new school year when we begin the work of education, a word whose Latin root reveals its depth. Through it we are drawn out into a fuller way of life and capacitated to live differently.

For Christians, Labor Day can - and should - be about much more. It invites us to examine how we view our own labor in the light of what the Church proclaims about the dignity of all human work, no matter what kind, precisely because it is done by human persons who are created in the Image and Likeness of God...

We live in an age that has lost sight of the true dignity of work - because we have lost sight of the dignity of the worker. This loss is one more bad fruit of the rupture which was wrought by sin...

[tcg]

To grasp the truth that dignity of all human labor derives from the dignity of the human person who engages in it requires what St Paul rightly called a renewal of the mind (See, Romans 12:2).

Labor Day invites us to examine how we view our own labor in the light of what the Church proclaims about the dignity of all human work, no matter what kind, precisely because it is done by human persons who are created in the Image and Likeness of God. A Catholic vision of work views it in light of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The entirety of our human experience was assumed by Jesus, including our labor, our human work. The Son of God worked. He was in communion with the Father and His work was joined to the Father's work. That is the same relationship we now have with the Father through our Baptism into Christ.

[Dutchboy88]

"To grasp the truth that dignity of all human labor derives from the dignity of the human person who engages in it requires what St Paul rightly called a renewal of the mind (See, Romans 12:2)."

To extol Labor Day as some kind of expression of biblical theology is to miss Paul's argument altogether. Work is here because there is a curse upon the universe as a result of God's ongoing reminder of our brokeness. Sin is why we labor, not dignity.

That it is possible to work with our hands, lead a quiet life and not be in any need (Thess.), is simply a suitable response while we await our final redemption. We ought to be saying of Labor Day, here is the reminder that Jesus needs to rescue us from ourselves. It is not a "renewal of the mind". Spend some learning hermeneutics, not tradition.

[donna]

Very interesting. What do you think of this?

Puritan Work Ethic:
“The Puritans declared the sanctity of all honorable work. In so doing, they rejected a centuries-old division of callings into “sacred” and “secular”… This Puritan rejection of the dichotomy between sacred and secular work has far-reaching implications. It judges every honorable job to be of intrinsic value, and integrates every vocation with a Christian’s spiritual life. It makes every job consequential by regarding it as the arena for glorifying and obeying God and for expressing love (through service) to a neighbor.”
Puritan Work Ethic: the Dignity of Life’s Labors
Christianity Today, October 1979, p. 15

[Salvation]

There are other kinds of work -- such as keeping your faith alive and pure. Or do you prefer sloth?

The 7 Capital Sins and their Contrary Virtues

The 7 Capital Sins and their Contrary Virtues

Capital Sin	Definition	Contrary Virtue
Pride	Unrestrained appreciation of our own worth	Humility
Greed	Immoderate desire for earthly goods	Liberality
Lust	Hankering for impure pleasures	Chastity
Anger	Inordinate desire for revenge	Meekness
Gluttony	Unrestrained use of food and drink	Temperance
Envy	Sorrow over another's good fortune	Brotherly Love
Sloth	Laxity in keeping the Faith and the practice of virtue	Diligence

Note:
The 7 Capital Sins, also known as "The 7 Deadly Sins," are those sins that give rise to other sins. They were first enumerated by Pope St. Gregory the Great in "Moralia in Job."

[Dutchboy88]

"Very interesting. What do you think of this?

Puritan Work Ethic:"

The great contribution of the Puritan's position was that the commonly held view that "ministry" work was holy and "worldly" work was tainted was not true. Unfortunately, the former view had morphed into a "clergy" and a "parishoners" world (ala Roman Catholic and current day Evangelical). There is no such distinction in the NT Scriptures. We are all a royal priesthood. Paul worked as a tent maker and taught the Gospel.

But, the Puritans, like some of the Amish & Mennonites, continued their notion beyong and elevated work as "fitting one for heaven". This is to miss the picture described by Paul.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futulity, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." Rom. 8:18ff

Here is Paul's view of the origin of work and its reminder. Read the curse on the earth in Gen. 3:17ff. To glorify it any further is to forget its real purpose.

[Dutchboy88]

The Roman Catholic “church” has built its world around works that “it alone” approves. In this darkened world of Rome, even grace is induced by works. Notice where you got these so-called “Capital Sins”...not from the Scriptures. The error of this theology speaks for itself.

“As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter my rest.” We call you out into the marvelous light of Jesus, alone...if you are permitted.

[donna]

elevated work as "fitting one for heaven"

Yes, I see what you're saying. Work doesn't do that, and I knew that.

I always like a direct clearly stated thought because then when I go to apply it to my life I don't get confused and drift off course.

This will make my personal work easier for me because it is always joyful to understand and obey God.

[Salvation]

Our Lord talked about all of these sins from the Scriptures. LOL!

[Salvation]

Do you have James in your Bible? He talks a lot about work.

[Salvation]

Tony Warren

What are the Seven Deadly Sins,
and is this Biblical?
-by Tony Warren

    Actually, there is no Biblical list of seven deadly sins, for God has made it abundantly clear throughout scripture that all and any sins (transgressions of God's Law) are deadly and will result in our damnation.

Romans 6:23

• "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

James 2:10

• "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Every sin or transgression of God's law is deadly because the penalty for any one of these sins is death. And so to call only seven sins deadly is really a misnomer. That is precisely why no one could become Saved by his own righteousness, or without Christ's payment for each and every one of their transgressions. Because any little (in man's eyes) sin which was left unpaid, would result in the judgment of death (Ezekiel 18:4).

The phrase 'Seven Deadly Sins' is a part of Roman Catholic folklore and church tradition where some sins which they personally deemed as ruin to spiritual progress, was labled deadly or capital, but this teaching has no foundation in the scriptures. The list consisted of the following:

1. Pride 2. Avarice (Greed) 3. Envy 4. Wrath 5. Lust 6. Gluttony 7. Sloth

These particular sins are nowhere listed as a group, for they are as every other sin, and are warned against throughout the scripture in many different ways. God does not single these out as deadly above all others. In other words, the sin of pride is no more deadly than the sin of not loving God with all thy heart and soul. The sin of wrath or anger is no more deadly than the sin of disobedience to any of God's commands. They are all deadly transgressions, and so to list seven as deadly 'as if' the other sins are not, does a terrible disservice to the Holiness and justice of God. It is written that the wages of sin is death, not that the wages of these seven sins is.

Nevertheless, these sins are some of the more popular sins which man has much difficulty in overcoming, and so we will take a brief look at them in order to understand how they war against the Spirit, and how we may overcome them in Christ.

1. PRIDE: This is the unwillingness to look at one's faults honestly, or of esteeming ourselves greatly based on an excessive consciousness of abilities or worth. This is vanity, and is often euphemistically called, 'self respect.'

Proverbs 16:18

• "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

This is the root cause of many other sins. The Godly virtue which this transgression wars against is Christian humility and a contrite spirit (Matthew. 5:5, Proverbs 16:19), where man has a spiritual aversion to being subject to God or His laws. It is a hindrance to the Christian's recognition of the Sovereignty and Grace of God. To combat this sin, we should strive to see ourselves as the sinners that we really are, and not to compare ourselves to others, that we might appear to ourselves better or more righteous.

2. AVARICE: This is simply Greed. This sin is the inordinate love of possessions and desire for either material wealth, or to gain more than one needs.

Proverbs 15:27

• "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian charity (Matthew 10:21, Acts 20:35), and usually ignores the spiritual in favor of the temporal. To combat this sin we should seek to understand that generosity means sacrifice, and letting others to receive credit or praise. To give wanting nothing in return, is the true charity which combats greed.

3. ENVY: This sin is that of jealousy or perverted love because it is the love and desire to own what belongs to someone else (exodus 20:17). This transgression is the discontentment over another's superiority over us in possessions or some good fortune. Envy is the resentment of the good others will or have received.

Matthew 27:17

• "Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
• For he knew that for envy they had delivered him."

Proverbs 23:17

• "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian contentment (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:11) and true loving of our neighbor as ourselves. We combat this sin by being noble and honestly joy over our neighbor's good fortune, as if it were our own. That is loving our neighbor as ourselves (James 2:8) and being meek in spirit.

4. WRATH: This is the transgression of anger or strong exasperation in rage at something or someone. It is often the result of our impatience or of having our pride hurt.

James 1:20

• "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

Colossians 3:8

• "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian Love and patience (Hosea 14:4, Luke 6:36) in dealing with the faults of others. We combat this sin by reigning in the passion of the flesh, not neglecting charity and love, and being patient where we show kindness and compassion to others, forgiving their transgressions seven times seventy.

5. LUST: This is the sin of having an inordinate and intense longing or appetite for something such as money, or sexual cravings. It is often manifested in a self-destructive drive for some pleasure regardless of it's value, merit, or legality.

Matthew 5:28

• "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

1st John 2:16

• "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian self control. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Galatians 6:7-8, 1st Corinthians 9:27), and so to combat this sin we should seek to remove from our realm or sight all temptations or snares which we might fall into because of our weakness.

6. GLUTTONY: This sin manifested in someone who indulges himself excessively in eating or drinking.

Proverbs 23:21

• Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
• For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian moderation (Philippians 4:5) and sound judgment. We can combat the sin of gluttony by temperance in accepting the natural limits of pleasures and by praying for strength to reduce our desire to eat. We should learn to quit eating before we are feeling stuffed or full.

7. SLOTH: This sin is the inclination to being lazy or to abhor the work ethic. Man is to provide for himself and his household, and being idle is a contradiction to this command of God.

Proverbs 19:15

• "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger."

Ecclesiastes 10:18

• "By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."

The Godly virtue which this sin wars against is Christian zeal and Work (1st Corinthians 15:58, 2nd Timothy 4:5) ethic. We can combat this sin by repentance and in praying to God for an ardent and energetic interest or desire to respond to God's commands against our disdain for physical exertion.

And so we see from the scriptures that these so called 'seven deadly sins' are simply a small part of an extensive collection of sins or transgressions of God's law, the breaking of any of which will cause death.

1st Corinthians 15:56-57

• "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
• But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The true Christian who has been born from above need not fear any of the myriad of sins, all of which will bring the wages of death, for we have the victory over them through our Lord Christ Jesus. God gave the ten commandments encapsulating the 'whole law' not the seven deadly sins. And the true believer should understand that unless Christ has been the propitiation for all of our sins from the least to the greatest, then we will see death as the wages of such sins. But if Christ has washed all our sins away, then no sin is deadly to us.

Romans 8:1

• "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

[Dutchboy88]

"I always like a direct clearly stated thought because then when I go to apply it to my life I don't get confused and drift off course.

This will make my personal work easier for me because it is always joyful to understand and obey God."

No question, God has told us to labor to overcome the curse on the land. Glad to hear you are putting your work in a good perspective. Stay close to your Bible and let the "religionists" have their traditions.

[Dutchboy88]

"Actually, there is no Biblical list of seven deadly sins

part of Roman Catholic folklore"

These two phrases tell us all we need to know...thanks.

[Salvation]

So are you saying you don't believe the Bible? I thought you sola scriptura guys did. Guess I was wrong.

Here is an example of Christ's own worods from the Gospel of Mark: Can you find the capital sins in it?

Gospel Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
--For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. --
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
"Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"
He responded,
"Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition."

He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
"Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.

"From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile."

[Dutchboy88]

Yes, I believe the Bible is the Word of God. The same Bible your organization suppressed for those many years.

It is so Roman Catholic to make a list of sins. And it belies the gross misunderstanding your group holds of the Gospel. If you think that these are the only sins, or that these are the worst (indicated by “capital”), then read the list Paul compiled in the letter to the Romans. There even “disobedience to parents” is included with murder.

Someday, I hope that you might be able to capture the picture of the Gospel painted throughout the NT. Not that born of tradition from Rome, but the real Gospel in the Bible. Paul decoded it for us, but Rome (along with the Judaizers) has misrepresented it for many, many years. You and I were dead in our trespasses and sin. If you are among the elect, then Christ has adopted you, made you alive, forgiven your sins and wrapped you in His holiness. He is not ashamed to call you “sister”. But, Rome does not factor into this grace. I pray you escape their clutches.