Worldview of Leisure

[ITS]

To apply this material, summarize a biblical worldview of leisure.

[Collins Kung]

Worldview of leisure
The word "leisure" is defined as freedom provided by the cessation of activities; especially: time free from work or duties in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In Chinese culture, the word "leisure" almost always carries a connotation of laziness as opposed to hardworking. Therefore, when we say someone is having leisure, we imply that someone is idling in a non-productive way. Leisure then is considered something undesirable or even evil. This kind of concept is quite common in many old Chinese pastors (pre-boomers) as reflected in their sermons and teaching. They consider the best way to serve God is to spend all the time in ministry, in the church seven days a week, even with the sacrifice of family life. In this way, a pastor who plays golf is unacceptable. He will be considered as loving the world and not doing God's will. He is not spiritual. This kind of worldview is quite common in the old generation as a result of dualism (see Wolters' Creation Regained). As we analyze from the structure and direction method, we see that leisure is something structurally good. God knows that we need to rest and to refresh in order to serve Him again.

[akridgeg]

We are taught in the Ten Words that we should remember the sabbath. We have been taught this primarily from a negative context - prohibition against activity. What we have actually learned is that God created a break from work. He established a precedent during Creation - He created for six days and then rested. This time of rest, ordained by God, is a sign of His covenant with us. There is no prohibition against leisure but it is the same as everything in a believer's life - it has to be in balance.

[Collins Kung]

We are taught in the Ten Words that we should remember the sabbath. We have been taught this primarily from a negative context - prohibition against activity. What we have actually learned is that God created a break from work. He established a precedent during Creation - He created for six days and then rested. This time of rest, ordained by God, is a sign of His covenant with us. There is no prohibition against leisure but it is the same as everything in a believer's life - it has to be in balance.


I agree with you that we have to strike a balance life.

Collins Kung

[Christine]

akridgeg,
I agree that God ordained a day of rest with Creation. The commmand to keep the Sabbath holy was given as part of the covenant so that there could be enforcement of this rest. Yet, I am uncertain that the Sabbath can be equivocated with a 'biblical worldview of leisure.'
If leisure is defined as 'a time when work is not being done', does that mean that while a family sits down to a meal together or has an evening to relax they are experiencing leisure? What about when traveling companions were walking together in Biblical narratives? I believe that God gave guidelines for instruction of Torah and discretion of the use of leisure. Even Jesus taught during travel, at meals, and when seated for a rest.

[mcrafts]

WOW! This question could not have come at a better time. It is Friday. It is the day after Thanksgiving. I am sitting at my desk in the classroom where I teach and am flooded with stuff to do. My theology of leisure and my "work ethic" seem to be in conflict. I believe we develop both these from the creation account. We are to understand that God has created us to join Him in creation activity. We are to "civilize" the creation, we are subdue, and to have dominion. He has called us to be vice-regents. But we also see that on the seventh day there was a change of activity. It was not that God needed rest for He is omnipotent but He was setting a model for us to follow. Our activity was be refocused and reorientation. I think God wants us to live balanced lives. I find it hard right now to live a balanced live. I find that we must live lives that enjoy beauty, entertainment, and quality. When we are consumed with "doing" we miss this gift. I know that as we rush from activity to activity we miss God's best found in His creation. He has created Sabbath to call us back to Him and to the goodness found in Creation. I am not saying that work is not good but life must be balanced. I know that I must take this theology into the Christmas season. May I ever be mindful of Shabbat in the Holiday!

[mcrafts]

akridgeg,
I agree that God ordained a day of rest with Creation. The commmand to keep the Sabbath holy was given as part of the covenant so that there could be enforcement of this rest. Yet, I am uncertain that the Sabbath can be equivocated with a 'biblical worldview of leisure.'
If leisure is defined as 'a time when work is not being done', does that mean that while a family sits down to a meal together or has an evening to relax they are experiencing leisure? What about when traveling companions were walking together in Biblical narratives? I believe that God gave guidelines for instruction of Torah and discretion of the use of leisure. Even Jesus taught during travel, at meals, and when seated for a rest.
I am sure if the absence of teaching indicates a "Sabbath rest". This is not what is meant here I think. I see this as simply allowing truth to flow from our lives into the lives of others. I think that we are so often "western" in our approach to life. We see the "to do list". We embrace the "time is money mentality". What if America truly adopted a theology of leisure?

[chad hill]

To apply this material, summarize a biblical worldview of leisure.

Work is clearly part of the creation ordinances. It is something we were to do pre-Fall. With some of the jobs I've had, I have often wondered if work was a consequence of sin - a curse on man. It is not. We are to cultivate the earth. However, our first full day as a creature was a day of rest. God rested. I believe the principle of setting aside a day to recreate is still valid. A day to do something different than the other six. What about the other days? We are not to work 24 hours a day. There are times of rest/leisure. Time is something we have to use wisely. Our leisure should bring glory to God just as every other aspect of life. We are to enjoy the created environment that we are meant for. Christian liberty comes into play here. Our leisure should be fitting and edifying. It is easy to be caught up in the pleasure of leisure and allow it to become an intrinsic value that leads our time and energy. Some work too much and others play too much. There needs to be balance.

[chad hill]

WOW! This question could not have come at a better time. It is Friday. It is the day after Thanksgiving. I am sitting at my desk in the classroom where I teach and am flooded with stuff to do. My theology of leisure and my "work ethic" seem to be in conflict. I believe we develop both these from the creation account. We are to understand that God has created us to join Him in creation activity. We are to "civilize" the creation, we are subdue, and to have dominion. He has called us to be vice-regents. But we also see that on the seventh day there was a change of activity. It was not that God needed rest for He is omnipotent but He was setting a model for us to follow. Our activity was be refocused and reorientation. I think God wants us to live balanced lives. I find it hard right now to live a balanced live. I find that we must live lives that enjoy beauty, entertainment, and quality. When we are consumed with "doing" we miss this gift. I know that as we rush from activity to activity we miss God's best found in His creation. He has created Sabbath to call us back to Him and to the goodness found in Creation. I am not saying that work is not good but life must be balanced. I know that I must take this theology into the Christmas season. May I ever be mindful of Shabbat in the Holiday!


I understand your call for balance. It is easy to get busy. It can be easy to spend too much time in leisure activities. I know people that have a hard time keeping jobs because they enjoy their leisure too much and others who are work-aholics. I think it is important to find that balance. Ministry can pull us in many directions. We need to take time to recreate and set an example for those that are watching.

[erdmann23]

We are taught in the Ten Words that we should remember the sabbath. We have been taught this primarily from a negative context - prohibition against activity. What we have actually learned is that God created a break from work. He established a precedent during Creation - He created for six days and then rested. This time of rest, ordained by God, is a sign of His covenant with us. There is no prohibition against leisure but it is the same as everything in a believer's life - it has to be in balance.

I don’t believe that we can link leisure with the Sabbath. When we look back at the creation story in Genesis 1, we try to find the creation ordinance that we can categorize leisure into and then we define leisure in terms of that creation ordinance. I guess most people would put leisure in the category of the creation ordinance of the Sabbath. While I can somewhat see their reasoning, I do not know if I fully agree. God set it up so that we would work six days and then rest for one day. But my question is this: Does anybody work the entire 16 hours (other 8 hours for sleep) of a work day? It isn’t possible. Everybody has time in their day where they are not working or engaging in some sort of a leisurely activity. My point is this: I don’t think the Sabbath is the only time we do leisure. Leisure has some part in every day we live. On the six days of work, our main focus and chunk of time is committed to work, but we also must have time for leisure or else we would get burnt out. I also don’t think we can define the Sabbath as one full day of leisure. I believe leisure is a part of the structure of creation on everyday, but we must keep it in balance with our main priorities of work and rest.

[erdmann23]

Leisure is a part of God’s created order. Though we do not see leisure directly spelled out in Genesis 1, we know as humans that leisure is a part of structure and culture today. Leisure is structurally good. The problem is that leisure has been affected by sin and many people and cultures see leisure as bad. Though leisure can be used in a sinful way, I believe leisure can be redeemed by Christ and we can use leisure in the way God has intended. Our leisure must be honoring to God. Leisure is a time where we can take a break from the day of work or rest and enjoy the creation. God wants us to play and use our leisure to give thanks to Him. But it is important that leisure does not become the main focus or our day, which is to steward the earth(work) and break from work of the weak to re-focus(Sabbath). Leisure is like a Christian liberty. We must always be asking; Is this leisure activity fitting for me? Is it edifying to me and those around me? Am I neglecting my family, work, or my Lord by engaging in it?

[Pappy7]

Leisure is a part of God’s created order. Though we do not see leisure directly spelled out in Genesis 1, we know as humans that leisure is a part of structure and culture today. Leisure is structurally good. The problem is that leisure has been affected by sin and many people and cultures see leisure as bad. Though leisure can be used in a sinful way, I believe leisure can be redeemed by Christ and we can use leisure in the way God has intended. Our leisure must be honoring to God. Leisure is a time where we can take a break from the day of work or rest and enjoy the creation. God wants us to play and use our leisure to give thanks to Him. But it is important that leisure does not become the main focus or our day, which is to steward the earth(work) and break from work of the weak to re-focus(Sabbath). Leisure is like a Christian liberty. We must always be asking; Is this leisure activity fitting for me? Is it edifying to me and those around me? Am I neglecting my family, work, or my Lord by engaging in it?

The worldview of leisure is greatly influenced by culture, country and religious beliefs. What someone in the US would view as leisure, others would see laziness. While traveling for missions, I observed many forms and discriptions of leisure. In some cultures, afternoon breaks are not uncommon which cover 1 to 3 hours - unheard of in the US. Within the culture of several Africian countries, the time following a noon meal is for relaxation. I think there is a vast difference between leisure and rest in the mind of most Americans.
While it is true that the 7th day was created for rest - I'm of the opinion that leisure was not on the menu. Man has easily adapted to the philosophy of less work and more play. The concept of leisure of the typical middle income family is parents transporting children to practice, games or the home of friends. "Leisure" is not a concept of family time but "my" time.
When time is taken to reflect on Scripture, one is able to see how far from His original plan we have drifted. Homage is paid on a Sunday morning (birefly) and then its time for ME. "Rest", I believe was initiated in creation so that the created would not forget the Creator. Full schedules, overtime, "keeping up with the Jones'" have filled our lives. We have bought into the worldview that more is never enough!
The worldview of many has drifted from a "work ethic" to a "leisure ethic" directly affect by what can be accumulated. His word's remind us that all who are weary and heavy laden can find rest in Him.

[Schmiedc]

A worldview of leisure is certainly a non-Christian worldview.

What is ultimately real is not God but leisure. Knowledge is based on our own sensory perception and not revelation from God. Our sense of obligation is to pursue leisure. Our values are all leisure driven. Our motivation is leisure.

If this sounds unrewarding and not fulfilling you are correct. This type of lifestyle leads no where. No sense of purpose is possible. What a wasted life would result from a worldview of leisure.

[Schmiedc]

Leisure does have its proper place. After all God did rest on the 7th day but not because He was tired. He rested to sanctify the holiness of the Sabbath day of rest.

It is all about balance and priorities. In our value set we have many values. Things like praying, witnessing, Bible reading, and yes even leisure have a place in our value set. The main question is what should be our priorities and how will we decide what to do when.

Too much leisure is obviously wrong use of the talents God has given us. However, no leisure leads to burn-out and total ineffectiveness. The right worldview incorporates some leisure but in the right time and place!