Service or Volunteerism?

Good article and I have been thinking about this topic for a while. I volunteered at a community center for arond 7 years. But around halfway through I become a paid worker. Then I went back to volunteering.

So I have experienced the full spectrum of being a volunteer to transitioning to paid work for virtually the same role. But there were others who did volunteering that also saved money for the center.

Back then I wanted more meaning in life and stopped work because of a disability. But I could still work up to a point. I had businesses and went for the prestigue of money and status in the business world and it nearly killed me.

The nature of community and care work is one where people tend to do more unpaid work. Even as paid workers doing extra time for clients. Going to awareness and fund raising events.

But what I have found in recent years is that community support is like a social economy. Its now a well paid industry. Or doing unpaid work is like a social credit you earn for higher status as a person. Or a business earns social credits for helping the community. In an age of social media this is the perfect platform for virtue signalling.

Christ mentions that if we seek rewards in this world for our good works then this is all we will recieve. Which will mean nothing and fade away. That we should go about helping others quietly and even in secret as its for God who sees all our deeds.

I meet other Christians who go about helping others and no one would know. They are never in the limelight and they don't speak of their work to others. Its not done because it fills the boredom or gets them brownie points for being a good person. They do it as a sacrifice for God.

Matthias said:

“Many Christians use the words ‘service’ and ’volunteering’ as if they were interchangeable, but the difference between them quietly shapes how believers think about calling, ministry, and identity in the church. …”

(J. Warner Wallace, “Service Or Volunteerism? Why The Difference Matters For Every Christian”)

Service or Volunteerism? Why the Difference Matters for Every Christian | Cold Case Christianity

Many Christians use the words “service” and “volunteering” as if they were interchangeable, but the difference between them quietly shapes how believers think about calling, ministry, and identity in the church. In everyday life, “service” usually describes a professional, paid, or obligatory...

coldcasechristianity.com

What does it matter to you?

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Interesting. The article took a different direction than I thought it would.

Volunteerism? Or obligation?


* Is not Torah about obligations: Our obligations to God and to each other, and the obligations God puts Himself under towards us (i.e. promises)?