A little while ago, I was in a conversation with a few church-going guys about how to "live out Christianity in the workplace". This is a frequent topic among affluent, white, male, church-going circles. There are many blogs, email subscriptions, books, seminars, which cover this subject matter—how to be a "good Christian". Mind you, there are some incredible minds, hearts, and motives behind a lot of this. I've followed folks like WisdomHunters.com and have on occasion read Boyd Bailey's blog.
But I think too many of us are too focused on being a "good Christian in the workplace", and too concerned with what we do and say to ensure we are "being that."
So, I was in this conversation with some guys and as we discussed this "being good Christian in the workplace" experience, I asked the question, "Why?".
Why do concentrate so hard on this? Why do we need to figure out what this looks like? How it should manifest itself? The Bible is loaded with answers. So why do we struggle so much with this? Why do we need to define it? I think its because we think we can control it. Our "goodness".
Maybe I am just a "bad Christian" in the workplace, and I don't define or work hard enough at it.*
I am a Christian. A follower of Christ. Desiring to be like Christ. Not reading enough Bible. Not praying enough. Swearing too much. Drinking too much. Putting myself first too much. And I am in the workplace.
If I am looking too hard at being a "good" one. I am looking at others. And what they think of what I am doing. My focus is elsewhere. On my reputation. Or worse yet, my reputation on behalf of God's. And He doesn't need my help.
Jesus never called us to be good. He called us to be like Him. To "Be holy because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16)" and that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)" and that "the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome the poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and don not hide from relatives who need your help. (Isaiah 58:6-7)"
E.T. told us to "Be good.". God did not.
* That's my safe statement, y'all. It absolves any critical observation and comment from being too cutting, and puts any blame on myself and my shortcomings. After all, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God."–wink.
