Engineering as a Calling As the former US President and mining engineer Herbert Hoover wrote, “[Engineering] is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes… Then it elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of life. That is the engineer’s high privilege.” Hoover’s quote provides a good definition of what an engineer is, but the Christian engineer’s highest priority and primary motivation is to glorify God. A Christian engineer is someone who uses their God given gifts of specialist technical knowledge and practical abilities to transform creation into an image of what the new creation will be like, so that God is glorified and society is improved (Matt 5:16, Jeremiah 29:7). Many of the technological challenges described in Scripture are on very large scales: Noah’s ark, building the temple, reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem and so on. However, in all these cases the emphasis was on the heart of the individual. Local skill and labour was used, particularly in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3). In the construction of the tabernacle, specific tasks were undertaken by Spirit-filled craftsmen (Exodus 31:1-11). The status of craftsmen depended entirely on their God-given talents and to what use they put them to. Conversely, craftsmen who make idols are described as “nothing but men” who “will be brought down to terror and infamy.” (Isaiah 44:11). When Paul visited Athens (Acts 17:16-34) it was among the most advanced cities at the time. Even today the ruins remain a testament to the Athenians’ skill. In his commentary on Acts, John Stott says that Paul “might have been spellbound by the sheer splendour of the city’s architecture, history and wisdom.” However Paul saw past their works to their hearts and recognised that they did not glorify God. Paul placed particular emphasis and value on working with the hands (1 Cor 4:12, Eph 4:28, 1 Thes 4:11) and demonstrated his flexibility in supporting his preaching ministry with practical work including tent making as the need arose.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:16:46 +0000
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