Some studies have shown that ministers are more satisfied with their professional lives than any other group. In 2010, a year of relatively high unemployment in America, a careful poll showed that with all the problems, and with lower income than others holding equivalent educations, the pastors across all lines of demarcation were the most pleased with their work. All categories were well represented. Information appeared in news programs. (Response was the same in England.) (CBS – WCCO on 8/10-11/2010)
The poll dealt with satisfaction, not stress. For example, firefighters were found to be highly satisfied with their jobs, but also under high stress. Surgeons and other health services found high stress. Servers, like waiters and bartenders, were least satisfied with their jobs. With recovery from downturn, 55% of unemployed would seek employment in some other occupation than they formerly represented. Similar results were found in earlier studies, including those from England where it was found that even with low congregational support, and relatively low salaries, the ministers were the most pleased of the respondents with their work, in comparison with all other categories. European decline in faith and church attendance have not deterred the ministry from positive meaning and satisfaction for those who engage it.
Such polls indicate something that crosses the diverse lines of laws, conducts, even theologies. In theology there is common grace and divine grace. Common grace is the gift of God for all persons, no matter what their orientations and conducts may be. In common grace the field is level for all to live on earth with the benefits and trials of natural life equal for all. The call of nations and peoples for equality is entirely appropriate for common grace. Denial of God-given rights for all is in those persons of power and privilege, in the misdirection of business, or political power, or whatever machinations persons may find to stratify populations for the benefit of the controllers. One of the benefits of the church, no matter what theological orientation a denomination or group may have, religion is a close friend of common grace so reaches out to help, to influence, to involve its resources in helping the population for better things on earth. It would make a heartening story to be informed about the impact of any Christian orientation on the improvement of life for the communities in which the leaders of congregations have influenced natural life for good. Common grace faiths stand for the equality context for all life in the confines of earth context.
Tension within the broad Christian community usually relates to divine grace. One group would argue for redemption through Christ, finding guidance in the Bible for faith and conduct. Another grouping would take change as appropriate for theology so would add church tradition, or social shifting, or reinterpretation of traditional views, or even to believe that living up to high ethical standards is good enough to assure whatever good there may be for persons after death. Explanation might be extended, but the point is made that the most important controversial concerns in religion relate to divine grace. It is granted that God determines the criteria required to gain his benefits. The evangelical Christian believes it is gained in no other way than through the request for forgiveness of sin (a condition), and a faith acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Savior – individual, not social at the outset. There is more in theology, but this much is essential. Biblical Christians have accepted martyrdom for it. It is a gift to be given and received, not cause for conflict. It is to be declared. In common grace all persons receive the same created treatment.
In divine grace the individual chooses more from God. Even so, in America there is general agreement that nearly all religious groups are united on improvement of life on earth. For this concept there is unity. In theology there is difference, and that difference ultimately means everything. Jesus was very clear about the understanding of the physical (natural) and the spiritual (super-natural), and that though God was the author of both, separation had taken place on the choice of mankind, in man and woman to make their own way without redefining freedom in any spiritual context. To permit humanistic orientation for heaven, God would have to deny himself as the Lord of all. The person/program of Jesus, in divine grace becomes the option and message that is the first duty of Christians to listeners. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020