Issue 428
I can’t say I am an expert on English medieval history, but I am fascinated by it (I also never thought I would start a WORKTALKweekly with such a statement!). I have been feeding my fascination on material presented by Robert Bartlett of St. Andrews University, Scotland.
It seems that during this era, English society was divided up by three marked divisions. The church class, the fighting class and those that worked. Now this was a material about the inside of the mind, but described a very outward manifestation of thinking.
So here is a question for you. How medieval is your mind? Perhaps you consider you have little in common with those English ancients from centuries ago. As you proceed through your week, is it possible you carry such a mind into your most modern of environments?
Those who worked were oppressed, abused, exploited and despised. Those who fought were ennobled, honoured and empowered. The church class was held in respect by both and carried a symbolic permanence. Don’t forget I am inviting you to explore the way you think. Inside your mind could be a churchy space full of symbols, valued, revered and respected. Outside in your world, you may honour full time church ministry as a high calling.
Inside your mind could be a noble space where fighting for causes, spilling noble blood and powerful expansionism is admired.
Outside in your world you could look longingly at the wealthy and powerful, the winners and perhaps with great respect at your nation’s fighting men and women.
Here is the tricky one. Inside your mind, there is a working space. A despised, necessary, cursed space full of sweat and grime. A space with little value nor dignity. Outside in your world, work is seen as a means to an end, a majority activity with needed but soul-destroying characteristics, A place where filthy lucre is generated but carrying no nobility nor stability.
So how medieval are you? Search your heart and monitor your prayers. Assess what you value and admire and you may realise that what you do everyday carries much less value in your mind than real church work or noble powerful causes. Parts of your mind oppress others, sapping the joy and satisfaction out of your working life. It’s even possible that this mindset exists in corporate form in some churches.
Paul, in writing to Ephesian Christians, based in modern day Turkey, describes the church class very well as: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. He describes these five as gifts falling gracefully from the clothes of Christ. Why would you not admire that?
Later on in the same letter, Paul crafts a great description of the warrior class, decked out in full armour from head to toe, strong and courageous. Why would you not admire that?
But in the same letter, Paul, as he regularly does, describes the inner mindset. Impossible to catalogue in one piece such as this, he explains, however, that dividing walls are broken down. There is no class structure in the Christian mind. These churchy gifts he has identified exist, not to be admired, ordained and dressed in robes, but to prepare God’s people for work. This work involves unification, not fragmentation, and a mature, expansive mind.
Surprise, surprise, it is not the nobility who are told to suit up for battle (nor just the men by the way), but everyone. The aim is not a proud, oppressive mind, but one alert to the invisible but real conflicts which surround the brain.
Here is the intriguing part. With the forceful church class, a large working class and a restless fighting class, medieval England was very unstable. There was a fourth factor in these days and in their minds, which held it all together.
That factor was the King – who is sometimes addressed as ‘my Lord the king’.
I don’t need to join all the dots. Your churchspace, workspace and fighting spaces will only integrate when the Lord the King rules in your mind. There is a unity of spirit, a bond of peace when he rules. There is no sacred, no squalid, no noble space, just royal space, able to contain the millions of thought spaces designed to live out the life of the beloved.
Even at work. Even today. Even now.
Ephesians 4:7-13
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gavethe apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Godand become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 4:1-6
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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