As cultural opposition to Christianity develops, what effect does this have on the evangelization you do at work?Are you more loyal or more fearful?
You can hardly blame one for being more fearful. The rapid advancement of social liberalism and human resources policies that promote “tolerance” in the workplace only exacerbate the two fears we commonly cite so as not to share the gospel with our colleagues: fear. of poor reputation and fear of professional repercussions, such as job losses or career stagnation.
- Evangelism has always been difficult.
- If there’s anything new about our challenges today.
- It’s how strong the opposition seems.
- Non-Christians used to say ‘everyone instead’.
- Now we’re more likely to be accused of stupidity (“Really.
- Don’t you think?believe in evolution ??) or bigoted bigotry (“How dare you say homosexuality is a sin?”).
- Employers are increasingly looking on social media for the lives of candidates or employees before making hiring or promotion decisions.
- Did fear of harassment and discrimination in the workplace replace the most visible Christian with someone less prominent?.
Despite all this, I am very grateful for the brethren who feared God more than men and shared the gospel with me. My own faith is the result of evangelism in the workplace.
Lost and found in the workplace
Twelve years ago, he was a researcher at a midsize consulting firm in Washington, D. C. He was a confident, self-sufficient and professionally prosperous Hindu. I wouldn’t say it was spiritually insecure. Frankly, I didn’t know. I was spiritually insecure, I really wasn’t a man struggling to find Christ.
My Christian colleague, Hunter, comes in. Well known and beloved in the office, Hunter was a high-level seller with varied interests. Someone said to me, “He’s a Christian, you know?” None of us knew for sure what that meant, but we both thought it was relevant enough to add a bias.
I knew Hunter didn’t fit into the Christian mold I had mentally built. Christians were “legaizinhos”, old-fashioned, hypocritical, monotonous. Hunter wasn’t like that. Then I started looking at it.
We’ve become friends. We spend time together and talk about different topics: The Simpsons, The Lord of the Rings, Christ, Krishna, coffee, work. When the Lord used Hunter to look for me, I never felt like a project, but as a friend. As only God can do, He arranged for Hunter to be with me at the same time as orchestrating a spiritual crisis in my life. And he gave Hunter the wisdom and audacity to tell the truth to my life when I needed it most.
Behavior of an evangelist in the workplace
Although he himself was young in faith at the time, there is much in Hunter’s example that any believer can apply in the context of the workplace.
1. Throwing Christ on the table
First, throw Christ on the table. Because it may be rare to find Christians in the workplace, it is essential that people in your office know that you are a disciple of Christ. In this way, it may be available to the weakest believers and set an example for the unbelievers. It was a non-Christian colleague who told me about Hunter’s faith. Obviously, we shouldn’t do this in an offensive or irresponsible way, but speaking of the weekend, describing a Bible study you’re participating in. or share how he prays for others will immediately let people know that he is a Christian.
2. Working with excellence
Secondly, work with excellence. When I throw Christ on the table, expect to be studied by his colleagues as I studied Hunter. Work in a way that reflects God’s creativity, purpose, and goodness. Show loyalty and integrity, work, without murmuring or conflict? (Fp 2. 14). Feed those who have authority and serve humbly.
This, in itself, is not evangelization, but the content of our working lives must strengthen and not weaken the content of the gospel message we share.
3. Love your colleagues
Thirdly, love your colleagues. Invest in friendships with non-Christians in their workplace, not superficially as “projects”, but by loving them as if they had been created in the image of God. Don’t underestimate the importance of trust. Consider that it was a year and a half after our first meeting with Hunter that we studied the Bible together and God heard the gospel.
Use your lunch hour strategically. Whenever possible, make generous use of hospitality, where you can share your life with an out-of-office colleague and jokes and conversations in the office.
4. Prepare to evangelize
Fourth, prepare to evangelize. As stupid as it may seem, make sure you can explain the gospel easily. Practice if necessary.
When the Lord offers you a chance, don’t you want your inner voice to yell at you so that it is not clear?You want your mind to be free to listen to your colleague and what he or she has trouble understanding. the gospel that saves, not our insight and our deep knowledge of apologetics. I praise God for Hunter’s clarity, boldness, and trust in the power of the gospel.
5. Pray
Fifth, pray. Pray regularly for your colleagues. Pray for good opportunities to share the gospel. Pray he becomes brave. Pray that God may be great and the man is small. We’re all guilty of mixing the two.
And also invite the brothers and sisters of your church to pray. Hunter then told me that his bible study group for men had been praying for me from the moment I asked him about the Christian faith he had.
A call to loyalty
As workplaces become increasingly hostile to Christianity, these basic practices become increasingly essential. The Lord has responded well to my many prayers of good opportunities and words to speak. my colleagues as bearers of God’s image gave me the opportunity to speak openly about my faith. And in His wonderful grace, God chose to use me to bring a colleague to the faith.
We must wait for the Lord to answer our prayers and give us the opportunity to speak about Christ, so pray for courage. And get ready to spend your “relationship capital. “God put you where you are for a purpose.