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Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World
A Hopeful Invitation to Reimagine Faith and Work
Conversations about faith and work often miss an important your limitations are not a problem; they’re a key part of what it means to be human. Work has always been part of our 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 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 invite you to rethink work, proposing a theology of work that affirms the goodness of your limits while addressing the realities of fallenness, offering hope for those who may not find deep fulfillment in their daily jobs.
Buschart and Tafilowski provide a vision of work that resonates with all workers, recognizing that every job has value, even when it doesn’t align with our idealized notions of purpose or calling. By embracing this perspective, you can find new ways to approach your daily labor, even when it doesn’t feel deeply fulfilling.
In Worth Doing, you'
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; Address your own challenges with work with renewed hope.Worth Doing encourages you to see your limitations as gifts and offers hope for navigating the challenges of work. Whether you're a leader in the faith and work space; a Christian educator; a theologian exploring the intersections of work, faith, and rest; or a thoughtful Christian seeking to integrate your faith and work more deeply, this book is your invitation to move beyond popular ideas of faith and work to a hopeful, new theology of work that embraces your limits—get your copy today!
Conversations about faith and work often miss an important your limitations are not a problem; they’re a key part of what it means to be human. Work has always been part of our 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 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 invite you to rethink work, proposing a theology of work that affirms the goodness of your limits while addressing the realities of fallenness, offering hope for those who may not find deep fulfillment in their daily jobs.
Buschart and Tafilowski provide a vision of work that resonates with all workers, recognizing that every job has value, even when it doesn’t align with our idealized notions of purpose or calling. By embracing this perspective, you can find new ways to approach your daily labor, even when it doesn’t feel deeply fulfilling.
In Worth Doing, you'
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; Address your own challenges with work with renewed hope.Worth Doing encourages you to see your limitations as gifts and offers hope for navigating the challenges of work. Whether you're a leader in the faith and work space; a Christian educator; a theologian exploring the intersections of work, faith, and rest; or a thoughtful Christian seeking to integrate your faith and work more deeply, this book is your invitation to move beyond popular ideas of faith and work to a hopeful, new theology of work that embraces your limits—get your copy today!
232 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
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38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 27, 2025
Buschart and Tafilowski argue against what they term the "faith and work movement", which they argue "has been devised by and for the creative class" and does not resonate with "blue- and no-collar workers". They seek to put forward a "realistic theology of work", which is rooted in "the middle" (between Eden and the new Jerusalem) – a "quotidian theology of work". The authors dedicate four out of five substantive chapters to expounding the finitude of mankind, the fall and its consequences, and the implications for work.
While I generally agree with the broad points, the authors paint a generally negative picture of work (excessively so, in my view). For example, in arguing that sin infects work and makes it tragic, they argue: "while it is surely true that "Christians should not work in the sin industries," such an assertion raises the question: What, exactly, is not a sin industry?" (ch 5). I am not sure about the utility of flattening sin to such an extent – is nursing as much a "sin industry" as production of pornography? Doubtful.
The authors also argue that "the great cultural mandate of cultivating the ground and filling the earth through fruitful multiplication-is, by definition, not directly accessible to humans living on this side of the fall." (ch 5) The authors do not address (and I wonder how they would) the Noahic covenant in Genesis 9, where the mandate is renewed with Noah after the flood and, crucially, after the Fall. I do not argue that the Fall left creation or human work untouched – surely it had an effect. I am just sceptical that the mandate is completely lost following the Fall, which would warrant the negative view of work that the authors paint.
In the final substantial chapter of the book (ch 6), titled "The Goodness of Finite and Fallen Work", the authors argue that work is instrumental – "something that must be done" – and this view of work "can supplement (but not replace) an intrinsic view of work" – that is, that "work [has] intrinsic dignity and value". The book thus ends by encouraging the reader: "constrained though it is by finitude and haunted as it is by the curse, work is nonetheless a good gift from the good God and therefore worth doing." (ch 7) While I agree with the conclusion, I got a slight sense of backlash from this ending. Throughout the book, the authors have not given a single argument on the goodness of work, nor explained how the goodness of work fits in the theology of work that they are proposing, yet in the final chapters they assert that work is good while maintaining the negative tone of work they spent the entire book building towards. Puzzling.
At the end of the book, I am still not sure of the authors' view of work and where the Fall and the intrinsic worth of work fall within it. For the lack of clarity (and not just because of my critiques of their pessimistic view of work), I would not recommend this book.
While I generally agree with the broad points, the authors paint a generally negative picture of work (excessively so, in my view). For example, in arguing that sin infects work and makes it tragic, they argue: "while it is surely true that "Christians should not work in the sin industries," such an assertion raises the question: What, exactly, is not a sin industry?" (ch 5). I am not sure about the utility of flattening sin to such an extent – is nursing as much a "sin industry" as production of pornography? Doubtful.
The authors also argue that "the great cultural mandate of cultivating the ground and filling the earth through fruitful multiplication-is, by definition, not directly accessible to humans living on this side of the fall." (ch 5) The authors do not address (and I wonder how they would) the Noahic covenant in Genesis 9, where the mandate is renewed with Noah after the flood and, crucially, after the Fall. I do not argue that the Fall left creation or human work untouched – surely it had an effect. I am just sceptical that the mandate is completely lost following the Fall, which would warrant the negative view of work that the authors paint.
In the final substantial chapter of the book (ch 6), titled "The Goodness of Finite and Fallen Work", the authors argue that work is instrumental – "something that must be done" – and this view of work "can supplement (but not replace) an intrinsic view of work" – that is, that "work [has] intrinsic dignity and value". The book thus ends by encouraging the reader: "constrained though it is by finitude and haunted as it is by the curse, work is nonetheless a good gift from the good God and therefore worth doing." (ch 7) While I agree with the conclusion, I got a slight sense of backlash from this ending. Throughout the book, the authors have not given a single argument on the goodness of work, nor explained how the goodness of work fits in the theology of work that they are proposing, yet in the final chapters they assert that work is good while maintaining the negative tone of work they spent the entire book building towards. Puzzling.
At the end of the book, I am still not sure of the authors' view of work and where the Fall and the intrinsic worth of work fall within it. For the lack of clarity (and not just because of my critiques of their pessimistic view of work), I would not recommend this book.
December 17, 2025
"Worth Doing" is a good read on having a more realistic view of work in our fallen world. Indeed, some books seem to try to convince the reader that total fulfillment in life can be found in a great job while other titles seem to be totally negative about work and its value to people.
Around 200 pages, some of the many points made in the book include:
- While there are limits to work, we can still live in a relationship with our Creator.
- The frustration of not having enough time to do all the work we want to do.
- Experiencing retirement after work.
- The effects of sin on the workplace.
- How humanity's rebellion against God affects life and the workplace.
- Proposed criteria of what defines good work.
- The reality that many people today live and work without a sense of vocational fulfillment.
- Results of bad work in the workplace and the world.
- Whether we acknowledge it or not, God is involved in our work.
- While work and its results are not perfect in a fallen world, it can be good enough.
What I like about this title:
- Has a realistic view of work and includes the limitations of human nature in the workplace.
- Very well-organized - in the introduction the authors clearly state how the book is organized and what is covered in each chapter.
- Includes a thorough scripture and general index.
- Written from a Christian perspective that deals with the reality of work instead of trying to inspire the reader with motivational hype.
- While an academic read, the book can be challenging to read but not overwhelming with academic jargon that may confuse or turn off the reader.
Overall, a good read and recommended. I was given a review by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
Around 200 pages, some of the many points made in the book include:
- While there are limits to work, we can still live in a relationship with our Creator.
- The frustration of not having enough time to do all the work we want to do.
- Experiencing retirement after work.
- The effects of sin on the workplace.
- How humanity's rebellion against God affects life and the workplace.
- Proposed criteria of what defines good work.
- The reality that many people today live and work without a sense of vocational fulfillment.
- Results of bad work in the workplace and the world.
- Whether we acknowledge it or not, God is involved in our work.
- While work and its results are not perfect in a fallen world, it can be good enough.
What I like about this title:
- Has a realistic view of work and includes the limitations of human nature in the workplace.
- Very well-organized - in the introduction the authors clearly state how the book is organized and what is covered in each chapter.
- Includes a thorough scripture and general index.
- Written from a Christian perspective that deals with the reality of work instead of trying to inspire the reader with motivational hype.
- While an academic read, the book can be challenging to read but not overwhelming with academic jargon that may confuse or turn off the reader.
Overall, a good read and recommended. I was given a review by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews