Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World

Reimagine Your Theology of Faith and Work Conversations about faith and work often miss an important truth: limitations are not a problem; they’re a key part of what it means to be human. Work has always been part of humanity’s purpose, but we’re no longer in the perfect Garden of Eden, nor are we in the future new heavens and new earth. To truly address the challenges of work, we need a new theological perspective. In Worth Doing, David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski embrace the realities of limitations, challenging the myths of “You are what you do” and “Do what you love.” Instead, they propose a theology of work that affirms the goodness of human limits while addressing the realities of fallenness, offering hope for those who may not find deep fulfillment in their daily jobs. Buschart and Tafilowski outline a new vision of work that resonates with all workers, recognizing that every job has value, even when it doesn’t align with idealized notions of purpose or calling. By embracing this perspective, people can find new ways to approach daily labor, even when it doesn’t feel deeply fulfilling. In Worth Doing, readers will: Gain a theology of work that moves beyond only ideas of productivity or calling. Learn how to embrace human limitations as part of God's good design. Reflect on the ways work connects to broader questions of purpose and human flourishing. Worth Doing invites readers to consider their limitations as valuable aspects of their vocational journey, offering a thoughtful framework for addressing the complexities of work. This book is particularly relevant for theologians examining the intersections of work, faith, and rest; Christian educators; and leaders in the faith and work space. By moving beyond conventional theological approaches to faith and work, Worth Doing presents a hopeful and theologically rich perspective on vocation that acknowledges and embraces human limitations.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Kelly M. Kapic 1. Introduction 2. Good: A Theology of Finitude 3. Enough: Work (with)in God's Creation 4. The View from the Middle: Life East of Eden 5. Toil and Trouble: Work in the Middle 6. The Goodness of Finite and Fallen Work 7. Worth Doing: The End of the Matter Acknowledgments Appendix: The Rise of Faith and Work General Index Scripture Index

About the Author :
W. David Buschart (PhD, Drew University) is professor of theology and historical studies at Denver Seminary. He is the author of Exploring Protestant Traditions and coauthor of Theology as Retrieval. He is a ruling elder and member of the theology committee of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Ryan Tafilowski (PhD, Edinburgh) is assistant professor of theology at Denver Seminary and lead pastor of Foothills Fellowship Church in Littleton, Colorado. He is the coauthor, with Ross Chapman, of Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others. He previously served as theologian-in-residence for the Denver Institute for Faith and Work.

Review :
"Many publications affirm the value of work and the call to do good work. But we also urgently need a perspective that reminds us that most people just need to pay the bills. We need a compassionate recognition that, for many, work is a taskmaster. W. David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski have done it—given us a more realistic and helpful way to think of work and vocation." "This rich, thoughtful, and practical book will transform your perspective on your daily work. Its theology of working within our God-given limits is desperately needed in this technological age of endless demands and demolished boundaries. And it insists that we must take the fall seriously—a much-needed corrective to naive optimism and not a moment too soon. Outstanding!" "If you don't work in paradise, this book is for you. Many theologies of work operate from either Eden or the new earth. Yet we evidently live in the middle, where we face absurd and even hostile realities on the job. With refreshing candor, W. David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski address a wide range of workers' experiences while reminding us of God's good purposes for human labor. They offer bracing and valuable insights to anyone whose faith compels them to engage the world as it is." "Worth Doing is a theologically rich and refreshingly honest exploration of what it means to work in the real world. W. David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski affirm that even finite, fallen work can still be deeply meaningful. With wisdom and grace, they remind us that our daily efforts—however imperfect—are indeed worth doing in God's eyes. This is a vital contribution to the faith-work conversation, especially for those who don’t always feel seen in traditional narratives of calling and purpose."