By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Christian TrendsChristian Trends
  • Home
  • Editorial
    EditorialShow More
    Freedom With Direction
    4 Min Read
    Excommunication, a Culture of Correction
    4 Min Read
    “Games” in the Arena
    5 Min Read
    Our Future is Open in God of Hope
    5 Min Read
    Plug The Gaps In Character
    4 Min Read
  • Cover Story
    Cover StoryShow More
    The Promise, Power, And Gift of Pentecost
    5 Min Read
    “Back to Church” in the Post-Pandemic Context
    10 Min Read
    The Wailing Wall of Nature – The Christian’s Call for Creation Care!
    10 Min Read
    Movies and Christians: A Conversation About Culture
    14 Min Read
    The Real Influencers
    10 Min Read
  • Sections
    SectionsShow More
    Challenging Sexual Double Standards: Judah vs. Joseph
    2 Min Read
    The Living Church in a Flat World
    7 Min Read
    Opportunities Gained and Lost
    9 Min Read
    Rediscovering the Local Church: Seeds of Change from the Pandemic
    8 Min Read
    Being a Church (Part 1/2)
    9 Min Read
  • ShopNew
  • Contact
Reading: Who Will Do the Dirty Work?
Share
0

No products in the cart.

Notification Show More
Aa
Christian TrendsChristian Trends
0
Aa
  • Cover Story
  • Inspiration
  • Logos
  • Gleanings
  • Culture
  • Direction
  • Perspective
Search
  • About
    • About Christian Trends
  • Categories
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Spotlight
    • Logos
    • In Question
    • Culture
    • Perspective
    • Direction
    • Inspiration
    • Reflection
    • Roots
    • Health and Wellness
    • Family
    • Creative Space
    • Millennial Musings
    • Take It Easy
    • Gleanings
    • Reviews
    • CTrends Blogs
  • Bookmarks and Preferences
    • Customize Interests
    • My Bookmarks
    • My account
  • More From CTrends
    • Shop
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
  • Contact
© Christian Trends. All Rights Reserved. 2023
Christian Trends > Sections > Culture > Who Will Do the Dirty Work?
Culture

Who Will Do the Dirty Work?

By Charles Christian Published October 3, 2019
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

“You set example of how celebrities should behave at the airport. No harm at all tugging your own baggage, no chamchas to receive and the icing on the cake! No dark glasses or an airport look. You show confidence with no insecurities. Atta girl!” This is how legendary Bollywood actor Rishi
Kapoor recently lauded Sara Ali Khan’s “down-to-earth”  behaviour at the airport. An actor herself, Sara Ali Khan— daughter of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh—was seen lugging her luggage and with no one to receive her at the airport.

The tweet divided the twitterati as usual. While a fair share of fans praised Sara’s attitude, others fumed why Sara was praised for doing “the bare minimum” and for doing what common people do everyday. Some even blamed Rishi Kapoor for promoting “another star kid”.

That social media brings the best and the worst out of people is no secret. But that aside, what made the act famous was the fact that it was committed by an elite, a group whose subjects are seldom found lugging their own baggage. And when they do, it surprises us. We wonder, “Can anything good come out of a spoilt elite brat?”

More Read

The Living Church in a Flat World
The Metaverse Christian (Part 2)
Christian Missions in a Post-Truth Era – Part 2
The Metaverse Christian (Part 1)
Living Water for the Thirsty Generation

That Christians should be even more mindful about doing such mundane tasks by themselves is founded on the Christian theology that by proclaiming all human beings equal image-bearers of God, also demolishes the corresponding hierarchy of work

Certainly our ability to perform such tasks is also dictated by several other conditions, most importantly our health, but then there are those for whom tugging their own luggage is not only “uncommon”, but at worst, appears to be “below dignity”. Conversely, having chamchas to hold our briefcases sometimes becomes a status symbol. This is all the more evident in societies that are divided by social structures that claim to organise society on the basis of a hierarchy of people and, corresponding to that, prescribe a hierarchy of work. Once such a system is established, the act itself (for instance, of having others to tug your luggage) can be justified in the garb of providing those on the lower rung of hierarchy employment, or by suggesting that they have been doing it for generations and, therefore, are expert at those professions, or that society divided in such a manner can function best. And when some commit acts that are proscribed by such a system, they do ruffle a few feathers, while several others laud the audacity of those going against the norm.

But has the church been able to break free from such a hierarchical view of work? When I joined the ministry, several of my Christian bosses and colleagues expected, and in some cases even asked, me to carry their luggage. Perhaps, they assumed that such an act was necessary to exorcise pride they assumed I had in my theological education, and once I am humbled, I can be effortlessly towed to work for them. What they did not realise is that while exorcising my pride they were puffing up their own ego. An act as simple as tugging one’s own luggage goes a long way in influencing others to be an industrious, self-responsible and faithful worker. Thankfully, some Christian leaders did just that, and I am grateful for their example.

That Christians should be even more mindful about doing such mundane tasks by themselves is founded on the Christian theology that by proclaiming all human beings equal image-bearers of God, also demolishes the corresponding hierarchy of work.

R Hooykaas, a Dutch historian of science, in his book, Religion and the Rise of Modern Science, observes how Christian theology of work redeemed science, though in popular opinion they are often pitted against one another. According to Hooykaas, though Greek science was instrumental in constructing the edifice of Western science, the Greeks could never break free to revolutionise the world because of the social setting they were placed in. The empirical method that is considered the hallmark of scientific thinking today, was left untouched by Greek giants, including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, and other less-known Greek philosophers, primarily because physical labour was regarded as lower to contemplation. To experiment would, therefore, be to stoop down to the level of slaves.

The true revolution had already begun more than 1,500 years before Reformation, when the most perfect human being, by taking upon carpentry, a trade not so aspired for even in his own time, had shown the world that “work” had been redeemed from its sinful hierarchy

B V Subbarayappa, an Indian historian of science, echoes Hooykaas’ observation, but in Indian context. For him, though India had potential to become leader in science, one of the decisive reasons for its obstruction is the caste system. Real practitioners of science—“the artisans and craftsmen”—remained trapped within their own castes and professions prescribed by it, while the “intelligentsia” confined themselves to the “matters of mind”. This isolation, both inter-caste and within the castes, ultimately led to stifling of scientific thinking.

Reformation considerably changed this. As individuals were empowered, “hand and head” were synchronised. Blacksmiths, ironsmiths and alchemists, having “practiced” their trades, and having acquired the flexibility to learn from one another by melting away of social boundaries, became generators of knowledge.

But the true revolution had already begun more than 1500 years before Reformation, when the most perfect human being, by taking upon carpentry, a trade not so aspired for even in his own time, had shown the world that “work” had been redeemed from its sinful hierarchy.

- Advertisement -
Ad image

So while you ponder upon this, don’t forget to tug your own luggage next time!

TAGGED: culture, work
Charles Christian February 17, 2023 October 3, 2019
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Print
Share
Avatar photo
By Charles Christian
Having received his theological education at SAIACS, Charles Christian was involved in serving the persecuted churches. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Netherlands.
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Trending

Editorial
Vayikra—An Inspired Life Worth Living!
Finny Philip
Cover Story
The Promise, Power, And Gift of Pentecost
Jacob Cherian
Health and Wellness
Shared Pages: Life Similarities with Paris Hilton
Shilpa Waghmare
Logos
Did Jesus Cleanse the Temple?
Jacob Cherian
The Voyage
The Triune Creator – A Short Review
Charles Christian

Find Us on Socials

More Reads

Culture

The Living Church in a Flat World

Thomas Mathew Thomas Mathew 7 Min Read
Culture

The Metaverse Christian (Part 2)

Cyril Georgeson Cyril Georgeson 4 Min Read
Culture

Christian Missions in a Post-Truth Era – Part 2

Billy Paul Billy Paul 9 Min Read
Show More

Subscribe to the Newsletter

And get updates about latest articles, podcasts and much more.

Find Us on Socials

© Christian Trends. All Rights Reserved. 2023
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
  • Contact
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

I agree to these terms.

Register Lost your password?