Integrated Faith & Missional Living
Director of Client Service at Slalom Consulting, Timon Smith, is one of 3 panelists speaking on "Exploring the Impact of Digital Work" during Work as Globalocal Mission 2021. Through his own experience living missionally both locally and abroad, Timon discusses how we can pursue an integrated worldview of faith and work to help us bring our full selves to all that we do. Timon challenges us to ask: "What would our industries/cities/societies look like if the Fall didn't happen?"
Discussion Questions
Contributor: Alex Shih, Product Leader at Slack
Timon shares the power that having an integrated worldview of faith and work, as well as strong community has in helping us bring our full selves to what we do. He cites his friend’s work in building a faith and work integration curriculum for college graduates that reduced their post-college attrition rates (walking away from Christianity) from 95% to 5%. How did you experience faith and work when you transitioned from being a student to working? Reflect on factors that contributed to strengthening or weakening your faith after college. How do you currently experience the integration of your faith and the area in which you work (whether professional work, or work in another capacity)?
Timon defines living missionally as “acting on the knowledge that God is renewing all things, starting with our hearts, and that he is actively calling us to join him in his renewing work by providing glimpses of the new heavens and new earth that may reveal God’s character and draw people towards him even now.” According to Timon, one way to think about the new heavens and new earth is to imagine if the Fall never happened. Take some time to reflect: What would the world be like? Would we have cities? Would we have commerce? How would we connect with friends on the other side of the world? Would we need devices? How does that compare to the world we see today? And which parts of this world might God be prompting you--in your role, team, company, and industry--to pull into the present world as glimpses of God’s kingdom?
Timon shares one of his friends’ vision of renewal for the comedy industry: “Stand up is a powerful tool for reminding others of their precious humanity. It can heal wounds and traumas through laughter. Comedy can even bring down the powers of violence, secrecy, and oppression via narrative and emotional truth.” Take a moment to evaluate the reality of the industry in which you work. What parts of it reflect the new heavens and new earth, and what parts don’t? For the parts that don’t, use your imagination to consider: How might God want to use your industry to bring about renewal and healing, and to point towards Him in the world?
Timon shares his vision for the facilities management industry if the Fall never happened: “It would efficiently support human flourishing by improving the productivity of those using the spaces and fiscally optimize capital, while also reducing the impact on the environment by sustainably managing energy and waste. Where people in the industry would understand the dignity inherent in their work as stewards of these amazing spaces.” Having reflected on the pros and cons of your industry, how would you now describe your vision for your industry, in a world in which the Fall never happened?
Timon shares that business is one of the most effective drivers of change for the kingdom of God. Timon’s mission through his job as a technology consultant is to help clients most authentically live out their corporate mission. How do you see your work with your organization as an opportunity to scale the impact you can make for the kingdom of God, to provide glimpses of the new heavens and new earth to those around you?