Victor Counted | Inspiring You to LIVE BETTER!

What is Work?

2012-06-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Throughout this series on “work”, we will be challenged by some taken-for-granted notions in our society about what constitutes work, what constitutes an occupation or profession, and the value of the economic versus the social as a work outcome.

While work occupies a central role in our lives, its social significance extends beyond our personal identities and daily activities. It is closely intertwined with other social institutions, structures, and processes. Work is perhaps the most important way in which society impacts our social experiences and life’s chances.

Work gives people a sense of purpose. It's not uncommon for work to be a large part of a person's life. The fact is, people need to feel accomplished, successful; and work allows us to strive for our best and to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Thomas Alva Edison once said: “Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment, and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.”

This is what the various ideologies on work demonstrate. The physicist, anthropologist, ethicist, economist, theologian, religionist, philosopher, psychologist and others (as we will look at in this series), have different ways of construing their own work concept. But the general view of work is that it is an action aimed towards sustenance of beings.

The developmental stages of this work have really proven it a mystery. “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing”, said Roosevelt. The quest of life itself milliseconds after milliseconds involves expending calories of energy, which are all dispensed to work. How do scholars, laymen, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, rationalists, Jews, Greeks, Romans, ethicists, economists, anthropologists, philosophers, psychologists, physicists and others view work? I did a two-year research on “work” and will progressively share my report with you on this blog. Stay with me, and follow each article as you see fit.

However, the term work does not have any unequivocal definition. No definition is satisfactory because “work” relates to all human activities, and one would exhaust all activities to exhaust the provinces of work. Author Herbert Applebaum (1992:ix) comments in his book, The Concept of Work: “Work is like the spine which structures the way people live, how they make contact with material and social reality, and how they achieve status and self-esteem. Work is basic for human condition, to the creation of human environment, and to the context of human relationships”. For this reason, I have utilized data pertaining to most classes of study, in providing context-relevant information as interspersed in the various segments of this report on work.

Even in part, our habits and mindsets are conditioned by what is created through work, and “no human society can exist without work,” says Applebaum. As candid as this is, let’s come to grips with this oversimplified definition of work by the American anthropologist, Herbert Applebaum as “basic for human condition, to the creation of human environment, and to the context of human relationships”. However we see it, “work” uses things and materials of nature to fashion tools with which to make objects, grow food, and control the living creatures and forces of nature to satisfy human wants and needs.

Interestingly, at one time work was defined as “making things” and this has been related to “needs”. But making things and utilitarian work are not the only kinds of work. There are people who also work who do not make anything. These include the teachers, clerks, engineers, bankers, scientists, lawyers, salespersons, guards, receptionist and others. As we know, most of the white-collar jobs seem not to be making anything material. However, modern terminology seems to have classified this kind of work, and thereby using the term occupation to identify these activities. It is a functional term describing what people do to earn a living, and hence, emphasizing that it is work which sustains life. Consequently, work includes both making things and performing services which are of value to one self, as well as to another. Work is that which sustains life and shapes every human condition.

Come to think of it, for us to fully come to grips with the message in this report in relation to the concept of work, we first need to understand what other disciplines have to say about work. The way societies relate to work is requisite to our research of work. This leads us to our next discussion on theories and perspectives on work. But before I report these perceptions, one must first understand that work primarily means “the act of doing or making things.”

From Missions to Cybermissions

2012-06-15T08:04:00.001-07:00

In June 2010, I wrote a book, Church in Cyberspace, although crudely edited, but I tried to outline the moving contour of Missions and as a result shared several considerations for Christians as we journey into the future. In the book I sounded more like a futurist. This article is just but one of a dozen of things I said in the book.

Traditional “Missions” today appears to be reducing in its value and attraction. This phenomenon is already on-going and gradually attracting concern. Scenarios of this have led to an awful fall in the number of domestic missionaries in most unreached zones of the world. Especially in Africa and in areas that need the gospel. On the other hand, church leaders in Africa are progressively creating more flexible platforms and outreaches to bring the gospel to these areas. Although efforts of these have not been proven unsuccessful because of the millennial strategies invested and coordinated in bringing the gospel to the unreached as against the traditional backdrop. This however was the result of insufficient supply of domestic missionaries as compared to the 1800s towards the second-half of the 20^th century. But much as this is the case, there is still disconnection between these efforts and understanding the third millennium approach to missions in the African Church. Studying this dramatic change and what necessitated towards this new page in missiology is necessary as the Church in Africa begins to shuffle out new ways to lead the gospel in the third millennium. This dream, I believe, has and will continually put church leaders on their toes in years to come. While each church and each Missions agency will make their own decisions, the strategy for third millennium “Missions” remains biblical and requires close examination.

The right question to be asked is: “Has the status quo changed in missions?” Indeed, this has been a controversial question for most contemporary missiologists. And there have been waves of speculations that traditional missions is less effective as it used to since we are in an electronic age. Most analysts have suggested new ways for doing missions in the third millennium. However, there are doubts and questions as to the practicality of this paradigm. Knowing that the Church's launch into the cyberspace hasn't been scrubbed and is yet to get off the ground, Christians were advised to keep pace with the general population by embracing the Internet and Communication Technology. And many Christians believe that this coeval alternative have to be utilized for the sake of sustaining the gospel – and the field is wide open for God’s children to sow seeds of transformation. As this develops, a lot of questions are asked about the relevance of meeting people on the virtual web rather than the field. It is however of concern that, apparently, both are virtually ripe for the gospel but the challenge, as been throughout history, is the approach.

The work of the Church is mission and for years has been traditionally practiced due to the under-advanced pace of phenomena. But today, our world has sailed into the third millennium, where the language in context has changed from what it used to be to something much-more complex. It is elusive that we often lose touch with the physical processing of structures of the former as the case presents itself today.

Our new world has been characterized by her unique sense of freedom. According to Lallana and Margaret (2003), the Internet and the ICT revolution have created sovereign individuals— individuals who are empowered because they have access to new learning opportunities; are able to sell their own ideas, services or products directly to others; and can access medical information to make their own choices about health care. These sovereign individuals also have reliable and up-to-date information about government policies and programs that allows them to become better citizens.[1]From this, it appears the status quo has changed due to this new flexibility discovered by the majority of the world’s population. A vast number of these sovereign individuals are increasingly amalgamating on the cyberspace, searching for hope and life on the web. These gems are codified in hyperlinks, which, when internalized, form their deeper dynamics. Also to notice is the workplace of the third millennium world which has the majority of the world’s population working hard on the web – in their new found reality. In other words, what this suggests is that the work of mission ought to take a new turn and move upwards with the speed of the information age. As this has been argued, many missiologists and neologists have seen this achievable through “cybermission”. Thus the very purpose of the Church, her mission, will be fulfilled through interrelating herself with the context of her time.

The whole idea here for pro-cybermissionarists, like myself, is simple: since the world is gradually being squared with the influence of the cyber-culture and getting oriented to it, the Church at the same time, should do the same with her mission. She should also follow such speed of lightening so that she won’t be alien to the culture-in-context of her time. By this, her re-branded mission: cybermission, can therefrom, effectually impact lives as was ordained before the ages. This change of traffic pattern is a rebranding of approach, not a change in our value.

[1] Lallana, E. C. and N. U. Margaret. May 2003. The Information Age. Manila, Philippines: e-ASEAN Task Force & UNDP-APDIP, p.23.

Trust Me, You Are Trapped

2012-05-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Imagine doing something you keenly love? Something you know you can do so well at, but seems not to make any meaningful progress. There seems to be an unseen force plugging out your every hook-up to upgrade. It is not the problem of evil but destiny, which drives us to our end even when we prove impossible.

Believe it or not, we are all locked in a box of life. Once we think outside this box, we are lost in aspirations and hence frustrated because the soul always yearns for a new experience it hardly gets. Until we breakout we are not really free. Though some will break out while others are destined to be boxed, however, there will always be that struggle to break free. As soon as those boxed try to break loose of their confine, divine fury pounds on them. They are ‘victims of purpose’. They are the most protected, most gifted, and graced.

In as much as we work hard and love to succeed, does not mean that God wants us to marshal and utilize the earth and its operations for our own wishes. Not that He despises us for doing so. But He’s so particular about the things we do here on earth. He wants us to follow a path of light that only leads to eternal reward and earthly fulfillment. The duty is ours to know what He wants from us: What He wants us to do, where He wants us to go, and how he wants us to live. And we must never ask ‘why?’ because at the end of the day His bidding is always perfect and precedes every human naivety.

I don’t care what you think about God or how bad you think He has drilled you to follow Him and march the path of honor. At the end of the day, be rest assured that God will make things better but after He has made you better.

A continuous rejection to His invitation will only lead to more and more pain. The earlier we obey His voice of purposethe better for us. Make haste! He seldom speaks. Join the boat of life He has specially customized for you and you alone. You are not free yet until you accept His bidding for your life. This is our story and testimony. Where do you belong: in the box or outside of it?

It's More Godly To Give

2012-05-20T14:37:00.002-07:00

Desiring the happiness of others without any selfish intention is a component and consequence of godliness. Those that take advantage in helping others get advantage in making a noticeable impact in the society. This is called philanthropy. Philanthropy makes the work of evangelization complete. The necessity of philanthropy among believers is not a new demand, and neither is it a pun. It is a demand of godliness.

The book of Acts 4: 32-37 demonstrates this episode for believers today. In a world where there is so much to be done, the Early Church felt strongly impressed that there must be something for them to do to help one another grow both spiritually and materially. They sacrificed what they had, sold them if they had to and gave it all out to the needy in one heart and mind, and made a significant contribution to those around them.

As for doing good, that is one of the professions which are full. There are thousands if not millions of good people in the world. There are innumerable numbers of good people out there advocating, fighting for a cause, and helping humanity. Indeed this art is full. But it is only those who are sincerely passionate about their faith and about doing good that make a noticeable mark in their communities. It is a demand of godliness to do good just as we would want others to do to us. But what makes the difference between the millions of good people we have in our world today is the intention behind our actions. This troubles me because the intention of man is securely his and his alone.

However, with the encouraging targets by some churches today, there seem to be some tangible actions taken toward the transformation of the society through replaying the ‘Early Church’ episode.

We need to pay more attention to people. We need to serve them. Bless them. Love them. Shoulder them. Minister to them. We need to change our attitude towards the poor and not get offended when a poor person comes to our house asking for something. Jesus was concerned about the poor and so should we.

The threat of an uncharitable Church is now being correctly addressed as not mere societal concern, but a biblical issue that has effects on society, family and church life; health, aid needs and supply; economic insecurity and sustainable human settlements.

Evangelization and philanthropy must include among their essential elements a proclamation of the church’s commission. Because they do not land often enough among the teachings explained, developed, discussed and proclaimed in church gatherings and preachings.

Let’s become better givers, helpers and lovers of people!

BOKO HARAM: A Consequence Of A Systemic Privation

2012-05-20T14:34:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered why someone would enlist himself on a killer squad list to carry out a suicide bombing attack on innocent lives? It’s not a matter of being brainwashed as some might pitiably say. Before that something must have fired such rabid for hate.

We direct our attention to the immediate history we are making today, our pious appetite for bullets and bombs, and our religious thirst for human blood. We are writing the same history white Islam and white Christianity embossed on our land and mind – the hold-them-down, kill-it-all religion – only now we do the dirty things ourselves. A storyteller’s report of contemporary religious violence in northern Nigeria speaks of northern Nigeria to be ‘a jungle where vultures hover over human carcasses.’ Imagine that!

The alteration and mitigation of economic insecurity is already on-going and steeply drowning government’s integrity. Government and security agencies are progressively combating the effects of economic insecurity against the Boko Haram cell and other terrorist organizations funding bombing attacks against Nigerians in different parts of the country through public awareness, proactive action projects, legal and institutional frameworks. But much as this is the case, there are still disconnection between these efforts and understanding the benevolent capacity of the Nigerian church in salvaging the situation. In my opinion, the problem is: The resources of the church are used for the trivials rather than resuscitating the needed. We teach Jesus’ principles about peace but we support war efforts without we knowing. We teach about the simplicity of Christ but we do so while seeking after wealth. We teach that Jesus was concerned about the poor but we are offended when a poor person comes to our house asking for something. Rather our money is pumped into building church structures while the poor and needy wallow in their financial decay. At the end of the day, it backfires.

The poor child which escaped days of untreated malaria and pneumonia under the sun with the beggar – mother, which endured malnutrition and abuse, soon grows to an adolescent sentient of a wicked and unfair world around them. Attaining an obsolete adulthood they begin to see someone happy and near as responsible for their pain and thus enlist with terrorist cells cell for vengeance. They are hurting within and bitter at everyone and themselves.

Then the power brokers who broke down their lives in the first place, in order to prevent the dehumanized from discovering their true violators, come around in pretensions of religious brotherhood to quickly divert their frustrations to the wrong enemy – the Muslim or the Christian. Now religious violence affords the furious vengeance of the poor a cheap sublimation. As a result, subliminal tensions hence become the result of systemic privation and social denigration.

In their deep state of mental confusion, slaughtering man to protect God is not antisocial after all. “The easiest way to win the support of the uninformed mass of people is to tell them that they are backward because they are dominated by the Muslims …. or by the Christians,” says author Enesi Salami.

This smooth deceit fires the needy to enlist in killer squads. And by this terrorist cells are formed and the church is in shock because they had mastered pain all their lives to survive, whereas we, the church, do nothing to stop that at its infancy.

The mitigation of economic insecurity by Christians through philanthropy is a necessary step to take to stop the Boko Haram cell. While each church and each believer will make their own decisions, the strategy for philanthropy is always biblical and requires close attention.

I feel strongly impressed that there must be something for each of us to do in a world where there is so much to be done.

While globally the Islam-Christianity interface is defined by dangerous indoctrination, murderous intents, bitter rivalry, mania and bloodletting, Africa, as in other pictures of social retardation, also mimics the foreign roles, finds cheap enemies within her own which she fixes on either poles, leaving multiple fratricide and mutual suicide in its wake. This special misery – the propensity of the African to self destruct (and in this case through the instrumentality of religion) – is brought to fore as not mere political or religious jack up but a claim of an id concern raped of love and compassion and comforted by isolation and neglect. The result of which we have young men and children ready to sacrifice their lives and divert their frustrations to the wrong enemy - the Christian.

I Will Be Speaking At The 2012 NPCRC Conference Abuja This Saturday

2012-05-20T14:30:00.001-07:00

As I prepare to speak at the upcoming Nigeria Pentecostal & Charismatic Studies Conference 2012 in Abuja come May 24th-26^th, I wanted to share some updates on the event itself. I am preparing a paper presentation for the conference and for the Journal of Pentecostal Studies. I am schedule to speak on the 26^th along with Jordan Samson Rengshwat who will be presenting a paper on “Nigerian Pentecostalism in the Print Media, September 2011 – February 2012” while I will be speaking on "Youth in Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches and Factors Accounting for Attraction to Pentecostalism".

To see the conference schedule draft Click here.

Below is the abstract of the paper I will be presenting:

YOUTH IN PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC CHURCHES AND FACTORS ACCOUNTING FOR ATTRACTION TO PENTECOSTALISM

In traditional churches today, it appears that the youths’ migration to Pentecostalism is already on-going and gradually attracting concern. On the other hand, church leaders in Pentecostal churches are progressively creating more flexible youth-driven frameworks. But much as this is the case, there is still disconnection between these efforts and understanding the adaptive capacity of the youth. Studying factors accounting for this attraction to Pentecostalism is necessary as the youth is one of the largest people groups today. This is a challenge, and one that has continually put church leaders on their toes over the years. However, the threat of a complete exodus of the youth from traditional churches is now being correctly addressed as not merely a denominational concern, but a contemporary issue that has tangible effects on youth, family and church life.This paper will realistically explore the strongest links to this attraction/migration and how we can maintain a successful youth ministry in our churches without necessarily losing them. While each church and each youth will make their own decisions, the strategy for youth ministry should remain biblical and requires close examination. This paper will present several serious considerations for the youth in Pentecostalism to determine their level of commitment.

I ask for your prayers as i prepare for this trip and if you are led to support me financially for this trip, you're most welcomed to write me at Connect(at)victorcounted.org

Victor.

Comparing Discipleship and Mentoring

2012-05-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed of the dangerous line of difference that exists between discipleship and mentorship lately, especially when you look at the conventional definition of both words? One has its roots in the Bible and the other in Greek Mythology. They are two seemingly alike bonds, of which a closer rundown tells of their variations. Here are my points of argument, proving their dissimilarity.

Jesus as we all know, taught and discipled His disciples before His ascension to heaven. That was a pure act of discipleship: being together in one accord to impact for exploit. This deliberate act of impartation is usually done by the discipler towards his disciples in order to introduce an atypical realm, and therefrom make them come to grips with the new realm. This was all what we saw Jesus do while He walked the earth. After completing His discipling assignment on earth, He ascended to heaven—but before that, He promised His disciples that His Spirit (of mentorship) will bring about remembrance of all things taught (John 14:26). In other words, to guide and be with them. That was the Holy Spirit in the remark. Jesus ever since, even after His ascension, was there, guarding and guiding as they walked the journey of Faith (as their mentor) in the person of the Holy Spirit. At this point the Holy Spirit served as their mentor not as a Discipler. This time, reminding them to practicalize into action, the discipleship lessons taught by Jesus Himself. If we believe in the doctrine of trinity, then, we have no reason whatsoever to question this swap.

Let’s contextualize this a little. It’s just like preparing a new convert to the stratum of Christian maturity, once you can discern that such convert can grasp the basic epitome of Christian living, then comes the soothing of mentorship to make the believer grow in spiritual independence. That is what mentorship does to believers.

In the secular world for example, discipling a person is simply the act of training or learning. But once you want to upgrade this responsibility to something much more resolute, then, is called mentorship because, you no longer want to train the person in that thing you do, rather, to give such a person guidance, support, and motivation as a “god-father/mother”. At this point, such a person is no longer a trainee but could be more of a son or daughter. That’s the power of mentorship. It goes beyond just learning to sonship.

Mentorship program is steeped in depth because you move from the level of teaching to a realm of infusion, where you seek to flood the one you mentor with the semblance image of yourself. Just as the followers of Christ were called Christians, meaning they acted and talked like Christ, in the same manner and likeness. If you really consider yourself to be a mentor to someone, people will easily identify the one you mentor, saying, “This one has the same spirit as the other”. That’s what mentorship does to a person. It makes you function virtually (if not completely) at the same level of grace as your mentor. With this light, we must be careful as to the kind of people we allow to act as mentors on our behalf. No human no matter how much knowledge he or she has gained is able to transform a soul into the very “Image of God”. This is the work of the Holy Spirit Himself. This is the work of God.

We are to LOOK like Jesus…not men who IMITATE Jesus.

We are not to take on the nature of our Leaders. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ”. He only taught Christ and Christ crucified. The Holy Spirit [alone] makes Disciples of Christ not man.

As I conclude, let’s not overturn the idea of mentorship claiming it is discipleship or construe discipleship to mean mentorship. For how can a child run if he does not first learn how to walk? This is dangerous because a lot of God’s children want to run without first being drilled to walk—just as the case of mentoring and discipleship. As a result, they muddle both together thinking they are the same. Mentoring as the case may be is the completing part of the journey of Faith, and it has no end. It starts from where the discipleship stops. However, it appears that some believers stop at the crossroad of discipleship, perhaps, not wanting to move further to the deeper reality of Christian living. And at that very-point you’re leveled above human mentoring then God takes over. We see Enoch in the Bible attain such zenith. Obviously the first man who ever did. He walked with God and God took him (Gen. 5: 21-24). Could there be such a man in our time?

Deception Is Truly A Beautiful Thing

2012-05-19T20:04:00.002-07:00

Things are seldom what they seem. Deception! This is a magical term for naïve observers. It is a sister to hope. Some play the game of deception simply because they want to rekindle hope, for someone.

Have you ever met someone in your life you think is so full potentials, whereas in drawn closeness, you discover that was all a lie? An empty mirage!

A friend of mine the other day, complained of the cosmetic change in his wife’s features just one year after their exchange of wedding vows. I watched a TV program few months ago, about a man who wanted to divorce the wife simply because he discovered she had reconstructive surgery years before they met. However, they got married and voila, the wife was pregnant, had a baby for him, and she was far less the “beauty” the husband envisaged.

Yes is true! These stories are pathetic. But imagine the weight of anticipation! The emotional mutuality and manipulations prior to vulnerability! The love and bond they shared before they gave-up on each other! Imagine these? And think about the hope it rekindled!

It appears that in deception people find hope and perseverance, especially when it comes to meeting the expectation of the other. The greater challenge lies on the intents of deception. If is for selfish purpose then is dangerous, but, if deception is for love (to build that which the other wishes) then is loving and optimistic and hence, vindicative. From either of these two perspectives come the deceptions of all people. But more so, in our deceptive games, we must learn to do for love and not for mere selfish motives so as to come to that valley of understanding.

What is the lesson here! May our motive for our actions never be for evil but for the sake of “love”. Do that which people will point to as good at the end of the day. Our actions should always try to retain love. By this, we are giving hope to the hopeless world.

Deception as a concept is not evil in essence but the intent behind the act of deception is what stains it. And since the intents of man are securely his, how do we uncover the good from the bad?

The beauty of deception is deliberate and in two-colors. Sometimes is good because it rekindles hope. Most times is evil because the intent was never aright. Think about it? I hope to respond to your comment.

Counted for Christ™

2012-05-19T19:51:00.001-07:00

This is my personal blog where i will be sharing about my newest research works and my personal life experiences. However, i have a Christian community blog which was launched some years ago. It is called Counted for Christ™. I invite all my readers here who wish to also read soul-searching contents on perspectives and practices of Christian communities. Counted for Christ™ is the place for you.

A little about Counted for Christ™ and what we do there:

Counted for Christ™ is a community blog for all those counted to serve the Lord. We love the Lord and that’s why we are all here! This is where we muster to connect. This is where we get inspired and share it! Encouraging one another using our gifts, issues, ideas and Christian experiences! As lovers of God and lovers of the Word of God, we are committed to knowing God and making Him known. We are never too far gone for God to reach us.

Counted for Christ™ was created with the intention of being a platform for CONVERSATION. While inevitably it will become sort of a journal for us, that is however, the last reason we are writing. Your comment is not only welcomed, it is what this blog feeds on.

At Counted for Christ™ our goal is to bring new light to the ministries and practices of Christian communities through exploring the heavenly and the everyday…