KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

PROGRAMME: MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

COURSE TITLE: CHURCH AND SOCIETY

COURSE CODE: RS 521

ASSIGNMENT

BOOKS REVIEW

Theology and society in context: A Theologist’s reflections on selected topics by Emmanuel

Asante
A Chapter Review- our collective service to God and secular profession, pages 12-22

Pastoral Ethics; part two pastoral ethics and social issues- A Christian theology of work. By
David Atkinson Pages 104-111

STUDENT NAME: ADU-KYEI DAVID

STUDENT ID: 20675744

INDEX NUMBER: PG8775219

LECTURER: Most Rev. (Prof.) Emmanuel Asante

DATE OF SUBMISSION: November 14, 2019

 INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOKS

Author(1): Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante Book Title; Theology and society in
context a theologist’s reflections on selected topics. Publisher sonlife Press, Accra,
2014.chapter review; Chapter two- our collective service to God and secular
profession, pages 12-22

Author(2) David Atkinson Pastoral Ethics; part two pastoral ethics and social
issues- A Christian theology of work. Published by Lyns communications,
Marylebone Road London NWI 4DU 2003 Pages104-111.

SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

The authors introduce the chapter by stating the consequences of the popular
impression that secular profession does not reflect full time service to God. The
sacred-secular dichotomy ideology according to the authors has made some end up
working with little or no sense of Godly purpose in their job when they see their
work as secular. On the other hand many ordained or vocational ministers have
also failed to support or help their church members to a meaningful purpose and
direction for their everyday work with the notion that those works are not sacred.
The authors argue that even early puritans and a Christian reformer such as Martin
Luther never accepted this sacred-secular dichotomy ideology. They further argue
that even the bible hardly draws a distinction between sacred and secular activities.
Asante attributes the causes of this secular-sacred dichotomy ideology to the
Christians wrong conception of work1. David Atkinson in his book Pastoral Ethics
tries to explain the ambiguities in the way we use the word work. He said work is

Emmanuel Asante, Theology and society in context a theologist’s reflections on selected topics.( sonlife Press, Accra, 2014) pp
12
not wholly defined by specific actions. It is usually socially defined 2 Atkinson said
for centuries in pre industrialized society, work was regarded as only a burdensome
toil. There was no sense in which work might be meaningful to the great mass of
those who worked. Meaningful life was that part of life not associated with work.3
Those who view work as a curse or as a part of the world that has fallen, separate
work from serving God. They view the serving of God in a spiritual dimension and
view work as a real/physical dimension that has nothing to do with each other.
Some Christians also view work from the assumption that soul is more important
than the body. God is much concerned about our spiritual soul than our physical
body.

The author makes some suggestions as to how Christian education could prepare
graduates who will define secular service or sevice to the society as service to the
Lord. He further suggests that a chistian perspective of all aspect of life in society
must be promoted to facilitate Christian alternatives to the society. He says
Christian alternative must be defined and informed by the service of men and
women who have a sense of calling to work with integrity.

He concludes with the statement from Warren W. Wiersbe4 which to him a

problem confronting the church in matters of integrity. Service to God can be made
through service to humanity. The sacred activity can be fulfilled through secular
activity. God’s work is hardly limited to the ministry of the ordained. We can do
God’s work through our profession.

2
David Atkinson Pastoral Ethics; part two pastoral ethics and social issues- A Christian theology of work. Published by Lyns
communications, Marylebone Road London NWI 4DU 2003 Pages104.
3
Ibid Pages104.
4
Warren Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis(Nashville: Oliver Nelson,1988)pp16-17
EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION

The author made an attempt to explain that this separation of soul from body is a
belief of the Gnostics who don’t believe that God created this physical world.
However, I was expecting him to explain further that separation of soul from body
is not Christian teaching. The bible makes it clear in Genesis that the soul we
(Christians) see it as a spiritual entity is made up of dust + breath of God.
Understanding the nature of man from this perspective will save us from the
temptation of separating spirituality from our physical nature. Moreover, as a
balanced theologian and a Key Champion of national peace, Professor Asante’s
book is compelling. His style is non-judgmental; he describes his experiences
while acknowledging the Exclusive Brethren’s right to follow a religious path in
which they find meaning. I recommend this book to all young theologians who are
ready to impact their community positively.