Work & Faith

I have become interested in the connection between faith and the workplace, so I have put some thoughts together here, and will include even more in the sermon time at Point Cook Community Baptist Church this Sunday. I am greatly indebted to the book entitled “God on Monday” by Benny Tabalujan (Klesis Institute, 2005), from which I gained much inspiration.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The “whatever you do…” in this biblical text from Colossians 3:17 certainly takes in every part of a Christian’s life, including where we spend a lot of time – the workplace & the schoolyard & the university campus. We represent Jesus wherever we go … that is we should! If we are not known as a follower of Jesus in our regular activities, then we should be – not by preaching it, but by living in such a manner as to raise some curiosity, and by honestly answering the questions that follow. Sometimes we are better at advertising the label of the clothes we wear (on the outside), than the person we are in Christ on the inside! If we are known as followers of Jesus, then we’re really “under the pump” to “come up with the goods” – because the credibility of Jesus will be judged through us!

Work provides a dynamic environment where life must be lived out in relationship with others. It brings a natural forum for conversation, for debate, for new insight. It is also a testing ground for our character. The work given to humanity in the first two chapters of Genesis was to take responsibility for the welfare of God’s creation. Men and women, made in the image of God, would work to mirror a God who had already worked in the fashioning and forming of the universe. So, work was good and designed to be pleasurable! With the exercise of freewill we read about in Genesis 3 (“the fall”), the decision made in the “Garden of Eden” to rebel from God – work suddenly becomes far more toilsome and problematical. However, the concept of working is still good, because it forms part of our journey back to God – a forum in which to prove our faith and allegiance.

A positive involvement in work helps to mould us toward maturity. Despite at times not liking our job, continuing to be faithful workers will be to our benefit. This doesn’t mean that we allow ourselves to be pushed around or discriminated against, rather that we ourselves act fairly and perform our duties responsibly. Our freewill sometimes takes us in unfortunate directions – however making subsequent good decisions can align us afresh with the purposes of God. In this way we can see our work as much more than just earning a living, our workplace is also our “mission-field”. Thank goodness work is meaningful – we spend long enough doing it!! We can begin to see each of our work contacts as a unique person who God desires to love and get to know! This is in complete contrast with the inclination to use others simply in the pursuit of personal agendas. So previously mundane meetings, gradually become real human encounters – with the possibility of meaningful relationships being initiated.

Whereas, generally speaking, we are not at work primarily to share our faith, we do have to relate to others. And as our faith is a central part of who we are, then the gospel that lives within us should become evident through such relating. Sharing the good news is not akin to switching a torch on and off in a dark space; instead we should be like a lamp which provides steady, helpful light to all (Tabalujan).

Our life should not be divided up into segments, where we deliberately keep hidden certain aspects in certain environments. In mathematics, an “integer” (one of the root words of “integrity”) is a whole number, in contrast to fractions. So, to be the same person wherever we are, rather than being a bit of a “fractured” or divided individual, means that we can experience being ‘whole’ and ‘complete’ – each component of our life is integrated into a unity of being. Through this integrity, when faced with competing influences, we will have much more chance of deciding and acting correctly, than if we just respond out of a splintered off part of ourselves – disconnected from our spiritual centre.

Our working life should be nurtured by and reflective of our spiritual values. Our Christian values and ethics will also inform our career paths and job choices. Clearly, we don’t want to be pursuing the types of employment that very quickly conflict with who we are as a person and what we believe in. Also, in the same way as we should live out our faith at work for the benefit of others, we should take the opportunity to bring our work struggles back to our faith community from where we can gain some much needed support.

Ethical dilemmas force us to make a choice from among alternative courses of action. What we finish up choosing indicates where we are at in life, what our priorities are, and what we judge to be right or wrong. Some people tend to evaluate their decisions on the basis of how things turn out. The ends justify the means (if you can get away with it)! Such people tend to only apologize if and when they get caught, and aren’t usually all that repentant.

Christian ethics are not based upon outcomes, but rather on the adoption of a range
of worthy propositions, held deep within, that define a person’s decision-making. Such propositions are clearly set out in the teaching of Jesus, most clearly recorded in Matthew’s Gospel in chapters 5 to 7. Our knowledge of Jesus increasingly develops within us deep inner convictions about the issues surrounding our life. This inner guide is formed and affirmed by what we have learnt and believed, and is nurtured by the Holy Spirit. This should hold us in good stead – through our reactions and decisions, as we are put on the spot, placed under pressure, or surprised by the unexpected. More and more, we will develop a simple sense of knowing the right thing to do.

How can we be a good example at Work? By remembering, especially in times of stress, that we belong to God, and that God is the central feature of our lives. By having a good attitude to our work, ie. not becoming detached from it because we see no point in it, also not becoming addicted to it because it so much defines who we are; we neither become a “slacker”, nor a “workaholic”. By showing a good balance between work, family, community & church activity. By handling pressure and competing demands with a degree of maturity and peacefulness. By not running with the crowd (or accepting the prevailing culture) when it is clearly counter to our normal ethical stance. By being loyal to our employer, no matter how we feel about the job; by working for our employer with the same faithfulness as we would for God.
By demonstrating that earthly success is secondary to spiritual well-being. By being seen to be considerate to the needs of others, even when it inconveniences us or costs us time. By not allowing our ambition to lead to us trampling all over other people. By dealing well with monetary matters; it takes strong ethical commitment to make the right decisions when it means gaining less money.

In Acts chapter 8, Philip had an awareness of God guiding his life, even to the extent of feeling promptings to be in certain places at certain times. When such direction was evident, Philip was prepared to respond. Because of this connection with God’s will & purposes, Philip was actually in the right place at the right time to help another. We can feel promptings as well – to sit in a particular place, or to be available to a certain person. This may well occur at work. Philip was in the place where God could use him! Even when the more threatening call came to go over to the Ethiopian’s chariot and join it, Philip found the courage to respond positively. Philip was there at the right time to hear the Ethiopian reading from the scriptures (and probably see a confused look on his face). Philip was also prepared to open a conversation with this Ethiopian, starting with where the Ethiopian was personally at. Asking, “Do you understand what you are reading”, was obviously a helpful approach because it brought an answer that opened a wonderful opportunity for sharing. Philip had gained an attentive listener, and starting with the Ethiopian’s point of interest (the book of Isaiah), Philip shared with him the good news of Jesus! Philip was also prepared to follow through and help this man with his tentative steps in discipleship. Philip’s actions here demonstrated that there was no barrier that could stop this Ethiopian becoming an active follower of Jesus and a member of his Kingdom.