Saint Peter Don't You Call Me, 'Cause I Can't Go....I Owe My Soul to the Company Store

Big Bill Haywood, in his Autobiography, rejects labor contracts. He tells the United Mine Workers in Cripple Creek, "why enter into an agreement with the mining companies at all--that is a time agreement? Why not be in a position to strike at any time?"

I labored through six hours of contract law in law school and never really thought about the underlying premise of the morality of entering into contracts. In essence, most types of contracts involve a promise to do something in the future. Even putting aside for the moment the problems with adhesion contracts, what about the mere idea of making a promise that binds future actions. Isn't there a problem with this?

Jesus said to to the young man, "If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!"

If he is bound by contracts, the young man must say, "Sorry, Jesus, I can't go. I've got a mortgage to pay, credit card bills to meet, and a six month employment contract to fulfill."

And this may have been what happened because when the young man heard this, he went away sad because he owned a lot of property.

If we enter a contract or promise to behave in a certain way in the future, does this break Jesus' rules of life laid out in the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus says (in one translation), "But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. " Other translations talk about "forswearing" oneself.

What is the difference between an oath that forswears a promise for the future and a contract? Maybe the first has some greater implied seriousness, because it is witnessed by God, but the concept of, in the present, committing your future self to a certain type of action, seems to be the same.

Isn't Jesus giving added support to this position when He says, "So don't ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own?"

Contracts always require a worry about tomorrow. That is the whole idea.

And of course, beyond a calling from Jesus, in a more secular context, there may also be a call to the conscience.

For instance we might say,

"I woke up this morning with a clear belief that the rest of my life should be committed to designing and building low cost housing. Anything else would be a waste of my full potential and doing so would be my best chance to reduce human suffering."

Or,

"The muse has moved me and see in my minds eye the Great American Novel that will bring joy to millions and guidance to a nation lost in the wilderness."

Or,

"My young daughter has informed me she is growing up without me and I must stop all I am doing and spend time with her."

But then we remember all of the contracts we have signed and must say,

"No wait. I've forgotten. I need to pay off my Sears charge card first. And the consumer contract on the house siding. And the five year loan on the car. Oh, well. I will stuff away for now this call to conscience thing and this foolishness about living life to my highest potential. Maybe another inspiration will be along in another ten years."