The Work Place

[aReformedPatriot]

Should one evangelize the workplace regardless if its against company policy? I'm not saying argue with everyone, but to tell everyone who will listen.

I think we should on the Basis of an Event in Acts. I think it was Peter and John who were commanded to be silent about the Gospel but they refused stating that they cannot keep quiet what they have seen. While they werent in the 'work place' they still did so. What are your thoughts?

 

[RED that's ME]

I think you should pray for opportunities to share your faith. You could make friends with some of your co-workers and invite them out to eat with you building a relationship to share your faith not just start preaching at them.
Another important thing is to be Christlike in everything you do and say in the workplace.
Too many christians aren't the examples they should be. Too many nonchristians see christians lose their tempers, take company property, fudge on reports etc...
Christians should live so that others can see a difference. It should never be said of any christian....if that's a christian I never want to be one.

 

[Carrye]

How is it written in company policy, TLE?

Oh, and I agree with RED. There's a quote attributed to Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary"; we should always witness with our lives. People will notice that something is different, and I guarantee you that they'll want that something (or Someone).

 

[mesue]

You should use compant time to conduct company business, and your time is God's.

 

[pressingon]

clskinner --

Proselytizing is specifically prohibited by policies and procedures at some companies, per Equal Opportunity Employment laws. Basically, these laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on age, sex, race, religion, or veteran status. It's a gray issue, really, but it's specifically dangerous, legally, to share your faith with sub-ordinates, as this can be viewed as a wedge issue that creates a bias toward employees of like faith. There's nothing specifically prohibiting such, but it does open up your employer to potential legal ramifications, if the "target" can build a case that they are being discriminated against based on their faith (or lack thereof).

mesue --

I disagree, to an extent. In almost every job, there's "downtime" where conversation between co-workers occurs... lunch, breaks, while travelling with co-workers, even while working side by side. Such conversation usually does not revolve around work completely. Using these times to share your faith, so long as it's invited, not in violation of company policies, and is not preventing you or your co-workers from being productive, is hardly inappropriate. God places us where He has for a reason... sometimes that's to make a difference in the life of a co-worker. I know He's used me that way many times.

The Lord's Envoy --

I think your reference in Scripture answers your question... if you're called to preach the gospel to someone, do it! Whose call are we to heed... the Lord's, or man's? I think the answer is obvious.

To me, it's not a question of whether to witness or not... it's just a matter of how to do so.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

You should use compant time to conduct company business, and your time is God's.

Amen. Im continually on the clock, and I must say the work of the Lord has good benifits

To me, it's not a question of whether to witness or not... it's just a matter of how to do so.

True, and as stated above they're are many forms of witnessing. At one job, a telemarketing gig, the Gospel presentation was very open with a wide interest. The Holy Ghost used me to lead a co-worker to Christ and many-a-seed to be planted.

At this new job, its a little harder but is taking shape. However there is this one girl named Stephanie [stripper; self proclaimed man-hater, user and 'christian'; not to mention a Steelers fan ]there who absoloutly doesnt like my 'Christianity.' I've been praying for her and for guidance. Ironically she'll initiate the 'witnessing' and ask me a question about the faith, and after 3 words yell at me for preaching--it's fun. Her ignorance and hard heart is quite a hard thing to deal with and has resulted in many a talk with my boss because her actions torwards me end up actually interfering with my job. She's practically gotten herself to the point of getting herself fired. Though natrually, I'm to blame for her actions. Its interesting to endure this persecution. I might add hard and trying to that. One day I was just doing my paperwork and she was yelling at me and being hateful for no good reason. I just sat there doing my paperwork, my blood boiling I wanted to lashback. "For the Kingdom" I told myself.

Anyways the rest are interested, my boss to a higher degree. In my witness I'm not militant, nor forceful and If it came down to it, I'd get fired for it with no regrets. I shouldnt be worried how I'll be taken care of, nor about money. After all, it is the Lord who provides every dime is it not?

 

[rural_preacher]

The key is consentual...

Conversation which is mutually agreed upon and does not interfere with job performance is rarely opposed by employers.

In years past (before I became a full-time pastor), I even had opportunities at times to witness to my boss. It was consentual conversation. The same conversations would have been against company policy if he would not have expressed interest in my "point of view" on life. His interest opened the door.

I have found (many times over the years) that if you ask God for witnessing opportunities He will give them to you. God desires to save souls. He uses us as His instruments to proclaim His Word - "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".

Pray earnestly for the door to be opened and the door will open...even in tough places like work environments where policies are prohibitive.

Number one, though, be the best employee you can be. Diligence and reliability are loud testimonies.

(My .02)



----

 

[seebs]

I think it depends substantially... If I have agreed to a policy, then my agreement binds me, even if the policy otherwise wouldn't. I might have to refuse a job which would prohibit me from sharing my faith, but then, I don't "evangelize" in any obvious way, so I probably wouldn't run into such a policy.

 

[Crazy Liz]

At this new job, its a little harder but is taking shape. However there is this one girl named Stephanie [stripper; self proclaimed man-hater, user and 'christian'; not to mention a Steelers fan ]there who absoloutly doesnt like my 'Christianity.' I've been praying for her and for guidance. Ironically she'll initiate the 'witnessing' and ask me a question about the faith, and after 3 words yell at me for preaching--it's fun. Her ignorance and hard heart is quite a hard thing to deal with and has resulted in many a talk with my boss because her actions torwards me end up actually interfering with my job. She's practically gotten herself to the point of getting herself fired. Though natrually, I'm to blame for her actions. Its interesting to endure this persecution. I might add hard and trying to that. One day I was just doing my paperwork and she was yelling at me and being hateful for no good reason. I just sat there doing my paperwork, my blood boiling I wanted to lashback. "For the Kingdom" I told myself.

Do you feel obliged to answer her questions?

I wonder what other people think about that. Do you need to answer every question a non-Christian asks you about your faith? Is it sometimes better to refuse, avoid the question, or answer in some other way?

For myself, I usually try to redirect hostile questions, rather than answering them directly. You have to do it with sincerity and actual concern, though. For example, if someone were to ask me, "Do you believe in the Virgin Birth?" I sometimes might say, "Yes. Sure." But more often I would think for a bit and ask, "Why do you want to know?" This is likely to open up a more fruitful discussion.

Often, I find the initial question is about some concept they can't understand, but some other hostile Christian has tried to preach to them before. A direct answer simply reinforces in the person's mind that I must be the same kind of obnoxious person as the other person who preached to them. If I ask, "Why do you want to know?" usually, they'll come out with this kind of story, and I can use that story as an opening to talking to them about the gospel, acknowledging that some Christians are obnoxious, but that doesn't make our faith something obnoxious.

Even then, I try to keep the answer to a minimum. I'd rather have them wonder about it and want to know more than spill my guts and bore them with information that really is, at that moment, not going to make a difference to them.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Do you feel obliged to answer her questions?

I wonder what other people think about that. Do you need to answer every question a non-Christian asks you about your faith? Is it sometimes better to refuse, avoid the question, or answer in some other way?

For myself, I usually try to redirect hostile questions, rather than answering them directly. You have to do it with sincerity and actual concern, though. For example, if someone were to ask me, "Do you believe in the Virgin Birth?" I sometimes might say, "Yes. Sure." But more often I would think for a bit and ask, "Why do you want to know?" This is likely to open up a more fruitful discussion.

Often, I find the initial question is about some concept they can't understand, but some other hostile Christian has tried to preach to them before. A direct answer simply reinforces in the person's mind that I must be the same kind of obnoxious person as the other person who preached to them. If I ask, "Why do you want to know?" usually, they'll come out with this kind of story, and I can use that story as an opening to talking to them about the gospel, acknowledging that some Christians are obnoxious, but that doesn't make our faith something obnoxious.

Even then, I try to keep the answer to a minimum. I'd rather have them wonder about it and want to know more than spill my guts and bore them with information that really is, at that moment, not going to make a difference to them.

I could see how saying 'why' could lead to a fruitful discussion, but most people I think would say 'just wondering.' You also could turn off thier active interest in which after you answer thier initial question, why would they ask another when you were so hesitant to give the first? My personality type would be just to answer the question best I could, and if they set me up I'd hopefully be gracious enough to understand my answers might be hated, no matter how benign they might be.

In regards to hostile questions from Stephanie. maybe Im just dense but I cant see what is hostile about: "why cant you lie," or "you said your taking biblical history, whats that?" etc.

Well Biblical history is the study of events in the bible recor..... "Shut up I dont want to hear it...".... "ok"........ "I said shut up, dont preach to me"

^ dont think the above is an exxageration.

 

[mesue]

clskinner --


mesue --

I disagree, to an extent. In almost every job, there's "downtime" where conversation between co-workers occurs... lunch, breaks, while travelling with co-workers, even while working side by side. Such conversation usually does not revolve around work completely. Using these times to share your faith, so long as it's invited, not in violation of company policies, and is not preventing you or your co-workers from being productive, is hardly inappropriate. God places us where He has for a reason... sometimes that's to make a difference in the life of a co-worker. I know He's used me that way many times.

That's what I said sorta in less words.
We are protected by the Constitution in answering any questions one has regarding our Chrisianity. It is considered no less "offensive" that talking about politics.

 

[ZiSunka]

I don't think any company policy against discussions of faith would be constitutional.

But that being said, I think it would depend on how long you want to work there and how happy you want to be on the job.

If you want peace with your boss, then don't evangelize. If you don't care about your job, then go ahead and shout to the wind about Christ. But if you are smart, you will find other ways to demonstrate your faith without having to say a word.

Like being the best employee and making them wish they had 100 of you on the job. Like being especially caring and never put yourself ahead of others. Like doing more than is expected and pulling more than your share of the weight. You know, that whole "go the extra mile" thing.

It is by living like Christ that we show the world the power of God, not by handing out tracts and having Christian bumper stickers.

 

[P_G]

Preach the gospel at all times

And if nescessary use words.

I also work a secular job
I pray for people
share the gospel
and make sure all know who I represent

I have been taken to task many times for it
I told them I would understand if they fired me
But that I would not stop
Nor will I.

I serve the king
Make no mistake
Fire me
Tourture me
put me to death

Jesus name will be on my lips!

PG

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I don't think any company policy against discussions of faith would be constitutional.

But that being said, I think it would depend on how long you want to work there and how happy you want to be on the job.

If you want peace with your boss, then don't evangelize. If you don't care about your job, then go ahead and shout to the wind about Christ. But if you are smart, you will find other ways to demonstrate your faith without having to say a word.

Like being the best employee and making them wish they had 100 of you on the job. Like being especially caring and never put yourself ahead of others. Like doing more than is expected and pulling more than your share of the weight. You know, that whole "go the extra mile" thing.

It is by living like Christ that we show the world the power of God, not by handing out tracts and having Christian bumper stickers.

I disagree with about 98% of this. The Bolded is what I agree with.

Your detailing half of our witness, the other half is verbal. How much I like my job, or how much I want to please my boss is of no concern to me when it comes to the things of God. I wont put him on the back burner to appease anybody.

So to 'find other ways to demonstrate your faith without saying a word' is wrong.

Rom 15:18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,

and also:

Rom 10:14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Follow the biblical example, 'by word and deed' as Paul says teach them.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Preach the gospel at all times

And if nescessary use words.

I also work a secular job
I pray for people
share the gospel
and make sure all know who I represent

I have been taken to task many times for it
I told them I would understand if they fired me
But that I would not stop
Nor will I.

I serve the king
Make no mistake
Fire me
Tourture me
put me to death

Jesus name will be on my lips!

PG

A-MEN!

 

[ZiSunka]

I disagree with about 98% of this. The Bolded is what I agree with.

Your detailing half of our witness, the other half is verbal. How much I like my job, or how much I want to please my boss is of no concern to me when it comes to the things of God. I wont put him on the back burner to appease anybody.

So to 'find other ways to demonstrate your faith without saying a word' is wrong.

Rom 15:18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,

and also:

Rom 10:14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Follow the biblical example, 'by word and deed' as Paul says teach them.

You clearly misunderstood what I was saying, then. I was saying to live out the gospel and you wouldn't need to preach or to hand out tracts or to make a pain in the neck out of yourself to your boss. Being "out there" as a Christian is the worst way to spread the good news, and living out the gospel in your daily life is the best way. No one will be the least bit interested in your God if you constantly break the rules in order to bludgeon people with heavy-handed preaching, but everyone will be interested if you are the best employee and the first to offer kindness and support when it is needed. Preaching doesn't have to be out loud. The best preaching is quiet and often silent.