Immanuel Labor: God's Presence in Our Profession (A Homeschool Coffee Break Book Review)

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Immanuel Labor: God's Presence in Our Profession by Russell E. Gehrlein - My original review of this book appears on The Old SchoolhouseⓇ website. This is a shorter version of that review.

In this informative guidebook, author Russell Gehrlein lays out a practical theological viewpoint of work. Gehrlein's own work experience is varied - he has degrees in mathematics and Biblical studies, has been a youth pastor and a schoolteacher, and is a retired army master sergeant with more than twenty years of active duty. Currently, he works for the army as a civilian. Over the course of his studies and his unique career path, he has developed an understanding of the theology of work and in this book he shares what God says about work in the Bible.

After some introduction and background, Part 1: Biblical and Theological Foundations establishes the groundwork for a Biblical understanding of work and its purpose and value. He explains that God is a worker, and shows that Scripture is full of references to the works of all three members of the Trinity. It follows then, that because we are created in God's image, we are created to be co-workers with God. Also discussed are God's purposes in work and the connection between God's presence and our work. It is this connection that sparked the title of the book, and the idea that God makes his presence known in and through us when we are doing the work he has given us. Many examples from the Bible are given in this section, including David, Nehemiah, and Paul. There are also discussions about how sin affects our work, and what expectations we should have about work during eternity.

In Part 2: A Practical Approach, Gehrlein gives guidelines for applying all that theological understanding to the day-to-day concerns of choosing a vocation, finding a job, and honoring God in all the work that we do. He acknowledges that finding a suitable career path is often difficult and that it is a spiritual journey, and goes on to offer advice on considering our calling and purpose in the workplace. There's more down-to-earth advice in the areas of employer and employee relationships, compensation, working mothers, and how to approach unpleasant tasks in the workplace. There's an entire chapter about Biblical perspective on several special career fields including the arts, education, blue-collar work, and the armed forces. Another chapter deals with vocational Christian ministry.

Most of the chapters in the 244-page book are relatively short, and each ends with a set of questions for small group discussion or personal reflection. This would make a good small group study, since many of the questions focus on Scripture and would encourage thoughtful conversations. I'd also recommend it as a resource for high school or college students, or any young adults making decisions about possible career paths. The book is well-researched and very well written, with an impressive list of resources and an extensive Scripture index for reference and further study.

The original version of this review first appeared on The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine website.

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