First Principles and Last Things for a Theology of Work with Dr. Michael Allen

Doctrine at Work

What does “eschatology” — the study of last things — have to do with your Monday morning? In this conversation, Dr. Michael Allen, John Dyer Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary, joins us to explore how a right understanding of the end shapes how we live and work in the present.

Drawing from his essay on “Doctrine and Work,” Dr. Allen unpacks why Christian hope isn’t just about the hereafter, but about how we order our desires, invest our time, and imagine the purpose of our callings today. Together we discuss what it means to educate our desires through prayer, how our imagination can be reshaped by the promise of God’s future, and why being truly heavenly minded actually makes us more faithful and fruitful in our earthly vocations.

If you’ve ever wondered how the hope of resurrection connects to your everyday responsibilities — from the office to the kitchen table — this episode will help you “start with the end in mind” and see how God’s future transforms the present.

Read Dr. Allen's article: https://journal.rts.edu/article/first-principles-and-last-things-for-a-theology-of-work/

Doctrine at Work is the companion podcast for the Institute for Faith Work and Culture's annual publication entitled Studies in Faith, Work, and Culture. The journal reflects original essays presented during The Colloquium, an annual gathering hosted by the IFWC that brings together practitioners from the Faith & Work community, RTS seminary students, academic scholars, and marketplace leaders.