Hello, my question is, “Should Christians believe in Karma yoga ‘laborare est orare,’ which means ‘work is worship’? Is everything we do in a week (e.g., 24/7) considered worship (i.e., ‘work worship’)?” In karma yoga, it is believed that doing ordinary things such as mowing the lawn, if dedicated to God, the work becomes worship to God. What does the Bible say? Is there a difference between “service” and “worship” to God in our daily activities? Thank you!
The Latin phrase “laborare est orare” literally translates, “to work is to pray.” The motto was associated with the Rule of Saint Benedict, and it was applied to monks with respect to their communal living about 1,500 years ago (Wikipedia). The same slogan since then has been adopted by others as well, such as the Freemasons (Skhet-Maat Lodge). Some decades ago while on vacation and visiting a church, I personally have heard a Gospel preacher who was teaching a Bible class in a congregation of the churches of Christ specifically say that when we mow grass that we are worshipping God. Obviously, the sentiment of “laborare est orare” is widespread.
The one posing the query above asks some very important questions. “Should Christians turn to any source other than the Bible for religious instruction and practice?” “Is everything a child of God does (24/7) worship to God?” “What does the Bible say?” “Is there a difference between ‘service’ to and ‘worship’ of God?”
The best and most concise, as well as biblically accurate response, to this inquiry can be found in an article already appearing in the Archive of Gospel Gazette Online. It was written by Glen Colley and can be found at the following URL.
https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2001/may/page18.htm
In addition, please observe the article on the same topic written by T. Pierce Brown.
https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2005/oct/page13.htm
In conclusion, the Bible alone is the correct source to which everyone ought to appeal for instruction in religion today. Specifically, the New Testament is the law of God by which everyone now living is bound and by which one day will be judged.
In the strictest and ordinary sense of Christian worship, acts of worship prescribed in the New Testament should be distinguished from acts of Christian service that individuals select for themselves to do. How a Christian lives his or her life ought to glorify God, and especially Christian service does that. However, God has laid out in the New Testament the particular ways by which He desires the children of God to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Works Cited
“Laborare est Orare.” Skhet-Maat Lodge <https://sekhetmaat.com/wiki/Laborare_est_Orare>.
“Rule of Saint Benedict.” Wikipedia. 6 Jul 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Saint_Benedict>.
