Do we have a theology of unemployment?

Article originally published in Evangelicals Now

The government recently published a report into unemployment amongst young people in the UK. The stark headline figure was that 12.8% of 16- to 24-year-olds, or 1 in 8, are not in education, employment or training (or “NEET”). In 2021, the figure was 9.7%. This works out at just under 1 million unemployed young adults in the UK today.

This trend in unemployment amongst young people is a huge societal problem. On a national level, it means that the government is receiving fewer tax receipts and facing greater demands on the welfare state. And for the individuals struggling to find work, unemployment can be devastating. It can shatter someone’s sense of self-worth and their hope for the future. It can lead to life-upending financial instability and put strain on personal relationships. And especially amongst young people, unemployment can become a vicious cycle where lack of work experience hinders their further job prospects.

Clearly the unemployment crisis amongst young people needs urgent political attention. However, there is also a pressing issue that the Church needs to address. 

In recent decades, there has been a concerted effort in the British Evangelical Church to instil a rich and rounded theology of secular work. A lot of this can be traced back to the ministry of John Stott. And today, organisations like The London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, as well as books such as Thank God it’s Monday (Mark Greene) or Every Good Endeavour (Tim Keller), help Christians in secular workplaces to view and engage with their employment as ministry for God.

I personally still think there is much more to be done in this area of helping Christians think through the theology of their work. However, one area that is spoken about even less is the theology of unemployment. And yet, as the government’s report lays bare, unemployment is the lived reality of hundreds of thousands of young people in the UK, with some undoubtedly filling the pews of our churches.

Created to Work

From a Christian perspective, the profound pain of unemployment makes sense in light of the biblical account of creation. In Genesis 2 we read that “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Work, whether paid or unpaid, is an inherent part of our created humanity. We are designed to work.

This is why unemployment can feel so dehumanising. It is an affront to a core part of what makes us human.

So where does this leave those 1 million young people who, for a wide range of reasons, find themselves unemployed? There is much to be said on this issue. However, one place we can perhaps begin is by identifying two contrasting temptations that could beset someone experiencing unemployment.

The Idol of Work

Firstly, whilst work is a good gift from God and an inherent part of our created humanity, we must also ensure that work does not become an idol. For the person desperately trying to find work, or feeling the anguish of repeated rejections, it is easy for a job offer to become almost salvific. Work becomes the vindication of their self-worth. This is not helped by a strong cultural narrative in Western society that ties our identity to our job title. Many of us, when asked to introduce ourselves, instinctively respond with our name followed by our job.

And so, whilst work is a good thing, we must not look to it to provide things that only God can give. We must not place our identity and self-worth in our CV or job offers. Rather, we must continually look to the God who values us unconditionally, and proved it by sending His Son to die for us. This love of God does not diminish if we cannot find a job. Our CV will not get us into the Kingdom!

The Idol of Idleness     

So firstly, we must not make work an idol. But there is a second, opposite temptation that unemployment can also bring- the problem of idleness.

When faced with the painstaking and often demoralising process of applying for jobs, it can be tempting to drift into passivity or resignation. This outlook is something the Bible specifically warns against.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10, Paul writes:

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

Work is not only a God-given gift; it is a God-given duty. We are commanded to roll up our sleeves and face the toil of working in our fallen world, rather than drifting into idleness.

Of course, there is still a vital place for the welfare state. For some people, it is physically impossible for them to work. Therefore, it is essential that the state steps in to provide financial assistance for those who need it. The welfare state was arguably a Christian invention, pioneered by Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple.

However, those who can work must heed Paul’s warning against idleness and be prepared to follow his example of labour and toil.

A Theology of Unemployment

There is clearly much more to be said about how we can approach the painful and challenging issue of unemployment as Christians. But what the government’s report makes clear is that unemployment is a growing issue that we cannot shy away from. We need to think carefully and deeply about what it looks like to live faithfully as Christians through periods of unemployment. And we need to be ready as a Church to walk alongside those who struggle to find work.