Bible Studies | Christian Living | Life in Christ
The Latin etymology is seen, for example, in the Spanish, mundo, "world." We think of the "mundane" as the daily activities of life on planet earth; the petty, common things we do.
The New Testament
--A new thing transpired in which, no longer could one go to the temple to find God (the disciples in Jerusalem, looking at the temple, and the woman at the well)
--the woman at the well in particular was told how exactly one ought to worship God
--"Like this? Was it here, or there or at this time or at that time? Was it wearing this, with these particular preparations, etc, etc? In this mount or in that mount, with these people or with those people?"
NO. But rather in spirit and in truth. That means with the right attitude and UNDERSTANDING and with God's spirit (and an acknowledgement of who and what we are), when it's time to worship and serve God.
The who we are is entirely significant
--TEMPLE,
-- You are the temple, you don't go to the temple, you are a living stone wherever you are and with whomever. The spirit of God dwells in you. Walk in the spirit, not according to the flesh. Does this mean you have to be doing a "spiritual activity"? No, because, one could just as easily do a spiritual event in the flesh--with anger, malice, jealousy, envy, deceit, etc. (not just time at the temple, just when praying in the "inner vs. outer" court, doing this or that, but New Testament reality of carrying about the temple of the lord at all times)
--Martha and Mary is a lesson, but there is a time to do the mundane. Notice the fact that Martha complained about what she was doing, maybe in addition to that she was so busy. But mundane examples: (Jesus did for 30 years?), the disciples did some fishing, and probably a lot of eating and walking, and just hanging out, shopping at the grocery store, traveling, etc. and what about the fact that...
HOW MUCH OF THE WORLD HAS THE OPTION TO WORK LESS THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK, AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE IN A SERVITUDE SLAVE POSITION?
Again, Paul spent some time making tents, and Paul said if you don't work you can't eat. Considering the potential grace or spiritual opportunities to testify by word and deed in work, being a neighbor, at school, in homeschool, child rearing, spousehood etc...
1 CORINTIANS 10:31 (Considering context from chapter 5 onward): "Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God," whether you eat or drink.
--Now this verse has gotten ripped out of context too many times and applied to all kinds of excesses, but I think there is something in this verse relevant to the present topic. The context is essentially about food sacrificed to idols, and the effect upon the idolaters and the believers, and the new believers.
--The verse itself applies to the nature of how worldly affairs (obtaining of food at the market ("shambles"), and also being invited to an idolatrous unbeliever's house for dinner), while being potentially hazardous, don't have to be, but rather can be done by God's spirit (with thanksgiving) and can thus glorify God. It does say, "whatsoever you do, do all...," not just pertaining to food sacrificed to idols.
--If you are walking close with God as the temple of God, you can glorify God in these mundane, even potentially hazardous affairs.
There is also something in this passage to the effect of us having liberty to do this or that (not constrained by the Law of Moses, but constrained by the law of Christ, cf. 1 Cor. 9:21). Somethings lawful, but not expedient, each needs to judge for himself that which is or is not of faith (1 Cor. 10:23, Rornans 14:23)
There are people who have forsaken seemingly mundane things to "pursue" God. Families, spouses, children, also parents, and jobs (in some case may have been good and right, but also cases when it was wrong, uncharitably and unnecessarily). While certainly the distraction of worldly affairs is so prevalent, and needs to be forsaken, there is an idea of, while being called (invited to the kingdom) in a particular state to remain there until otherwise notified by God.
1 Corinthians 7 (1 Cor. 5 starts with a specific scenario and how Paul councils how to work out the faith, then onto general things how to walk in various activities: 6, court; 7, marriage and other things; onto 8, food for idols; 10, more about idols--all sprinkled with admonitions to walk in a holy, undefiled way as the temple of God.)
--In the context of marriage, it is the case that you don't know whether you will save your unbelieving spouse (vs. 16), and thus: vs. 17, "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches."
There is an individual nature here conveyed. (As an aside: it goes without saying there is an obvious danger of individualism, lone ranger attitude, for we are a body and need the checks and balances of one another, and supply and help of each other. No loner mentalities. Also the nature of older younger, submitting, order.)
But nonetheless, each individual needs to hear from God (Gal 2:20, the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me, the personal nature of our salvation, working it out, cf. Php. 2:12-13). There may be something in your particular estate that you may have to deal with on a personal level that God may have you in, to do a particular thing it maybe to exemplify the faith in a mundane situation. Examples in 1 Cor. 7
--in marriage,--in being a Jew or not a Jew
--in being a slave or free (prefer the latter)
And also in other places...
--in being a eunuch of some degree (let him who can receive it, receive it)
--Early church's example of allowing converted soldiers to remain in Roman military insomuch as they were not required to use violence. Also sense of early church, "we're no different," in dress, in occupation, in normal mundane life.
There is some sense here of the spiritually preferable situation. Marriage, as an example: to be single is a higher calling in general, but there is a holy, sanctified way to be married.
The thing to diligently watch for: Keep in mind our business, busyness doesn't become an idol that provides our peace and comfort and occupies our minds. (Considering motives and intent--GOD KNOWS)
But we should be able to have peace no matter what we are doing--that is, if we are doing what is right--or something might be wrong with our conception of God, the notion that we can only be spiritual if we're doing spiritual things. Scripturally, there are few who are actually supported for work in the gospel in 1 Corinthians 9.
Other related thoughts:Jesus said let the dead bury the dead, yet He went to Lazarus, and of course glorified God in that event
In group dynamics, what is sanctified, why people fall when they leave. While in, the mundane is sanctified, while out of the group, it no longer seems sanctified. What is our basis for such thinking?
Concept of work versus play. "I'm at work now, and then I play," versus being always employed by the king for the building of His glory.
Keith Daniel: almost gave up his mundane job, held on and prayed--boss and others got saved or touched by God.
I'll read the Bible every day.
My own experience this week: got busy, stressed, and let mean and foolish thoughts and words and temptations come ... but to do all this busyness and errands and the mundane--with a good, humble, peace-filled attitude. These little things spread greatness.
There is a saying in a country western song, which I think we can appreciate nevertheless, "If you're going through hell, don't slow down, just keep on truck'n."