A standalone study on how to live out your faith on the job with wisdom, excellence, and respect.
The big question
Most of us spend about a third of our lives at work. That makes the job one of the largest mission fields we will ever stand in. But the workplace also has rules, and good intentions can get a believer disciplined or even fired. So how do you bear witness to Christ at work in a way that is bold, wise, and lawful? This study works through the difference between a witness people are drawn to and a witness that pushes people away.
Key takeaways
- Your character is your first sermon. People read how you treat them long before they hear what you believe.
- Know your company’s policies on conduct, harassment, and religious accommodation. Wisdom starts with information.
- The law protects your faith at work. It does not protect harassing, shaming, or cornering coworkers.
- You can bring your whole self to work: pray over lunch, read on a break, answer honestly when asked.
- You cannot force anyone to believe. God does not, and neither can we. The goal is an open door, not a hard push.
Scripture to sit with
Colossians 3:23. Work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people. Excellence on the job is itself an act of worship.
1 Peter 3:15-16. Always be ready to give a reason for your hope, with gentleness and respect. The manner matters as much as the message.
Matthew 5:16. Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to God. The witness is visible before it is verbal.
Colossians 4:5-6. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, and let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt. Wisdom and grace are workplace skills.
Quotes worth discussing
Robbin Frazier says, “It is perfectly fine in the workplace to bring your authentic self to work.”
On the limits of our witness, Frazier says, “You don’t want to berate others with your sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Frazier draws the legal line: “While we have a right to our religious freedoms, we don’t have a right to interfere with the company’s ability to conduct business.”
Frazier roots it in God’s own way with us: “God didn’t force us to follow him, and so we certainly can’t force others to do the same.”
Discussion questions
- Where do you spend most of your week, and what would change if you saw that place as a mission field rather than just a job?
- Have you ever been drawn to someone because of how they carried themselves at work? What exactly did they do?
- Do you actually know your company’s policies on religious accommodation and conduct? If not, how could you find out this week?
- Frazier says you cannot force anyone to believe. Where are you tempted to push instead of open a door?
- Think of one coworker. What is one wordless way you could show them the character of Christ this week?
Go deeper
This study comes from the Jude 3 Project’s Christ at Work webinar, where HR practitioner Robbin Frazier joined theologian Walter Strickland and executive Travis Williams, hosted by Lisa Fields. To go further on the theology of work itself, see the Jude 3 conversation How Do You Live Out Your Faith at Work.
A closing reflection
Pick one habit this week. Maybe you pause to pray over your lunch without announcing it. Maybe you do one task with more care than the job requires. Maybe you simply refuse to join the gossip at the next break. Do it quietly, as unto the Lord, and watch who notices. The door usually opens from there.