What does Chinese food have to do with heaven? In this conversation, theologian, writer, and musician Dr. Brian Mattson joins Damein and Karen to explore how a simple question from his daughter — “Will there be Chinese food in heaven?” — opens up profound reflections on creation, culture, and the purpose of human work.

Drawing from his article in Studies in Faith, Work, and Culture, Dr. Mattson unpacks the neo-Calvinist vision of God’s world as fundamentally good — not something to escape, but something destined for renewal. Together they discuss how the things we create, from art to spreadsheets, might echo into eternity, and why our daily labor has lasting meaning in God’s redemptive story.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your work truly matters, or how the world to come connects to the world you know, this episode will reshape how you see vocation, creation, and eternity — helping you imagine what it means to prepare for heaven right where you are.

Read Dr. Mattson's article: https://journal.rts.edu/article/paradisial-gin-and-tonics-on-the-redemption-of-the-artifacts-of-human-cultivation/

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.