INTEGRITY
In the Workplace, But Not of It
8.10.08
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Article:
From the daily grind to unethical demands, Christians struggle to honor God at work. How do we find our identity amidst the challenges of vocational excellence, ethics, evangelism, and essence? If we emphasize one of these aspects to the neglect of the other, our motivation for work is easily distorted and our results can dishonor God. However, if we approach our work with these four aspects of work in proper focus, work can become worship! We can work in the workplace and not be "of it."
Ethical Work
The way we carry out our work can honor or dishonor God. If we fudge on the books, arrive late to work, or lie about our progress, we deny God honor in the realm of creation and culture. Even if our ethical compromise produces a superior product, we cheat the Creator of his glory by denying his moral nature and biblical commands. The end does not justify the means. Christian work cannot be excellent and unethical. How we work reflects who we are.
Excellent Work
On the other hand, we can work ethically without producing excellence. You may be punctual and honest while turning out inferior reports and products. If we are to do our work in an excellent way, we must not only strive to honor the moral nature of God but also the essential nature of God, his manifold excellence and comprehensive glory.
Evangelistic Work
Too many people use their workplace as a platform for evangelism. The film The Big Kahuna comes to mind, in which Bob makes work an excuse for evangelism. As a result, he blows the business deal. Christian work does not compromise excellence for the sake of evangelism.
To be sure, the workplace is a place of people, eternal beings with eternal destinies, people with real struggles and issues that only the gospel can solve. But if we do our work without redemptive concern for others, we reduce the purpose of our vocation to self-concern and self-promotion. Thus, it is important that we work with a broader view of the gospel, as a message that affects all of life, from people to culture.
Theological Work
Work as reflection on vocational essence is simply working with the nature and character of God in view. The attributes of God are reflected in the essence of our work. Artistic work reflects God’s life-giving creativity. Computer based work relies upon binary code, a sequence of ones and zeroes that enables our computers to function. In essence, computer work reflects order, order that reflects the orderly nature of God. Orderly computers can be used to crank out pornography, or they can be used to help care for hospital patients. But the essence of what computers do in our work reflects the orderly character of God.
Identity and Work
How do we find our identity in God instead of in work that is ethical, excellent, evangelistic, and theologically reflective? In order to avoid the pitfalls of these approaches to work, we must work from our acceptance in Christ, not for our acceptance. We should not seek the acceptance and applause of our coworkers or competition through unethical or less than excellent work. Instead, we can rest in God' acceptance and approval, working excellently to honor him (Col 3:22; 1 Cor. 15:50-58). No matter how tight our work ethic, we will inevitably fail. Instead of taking comfort in our superior work ethic, Christ calls us to rest in his finished work on our behalf (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 9:23-28).
Instead of approaching work with a narrow view of the gospel, we can take the whole gospel into the whole workplace, contributing to the whole of society and ministering to people’s individual needs. As a result, we do excellent, ethical, and evangelistic work, not to earn God’s favor or to impress others, but as a faith effort, as an act of worship. As you work, rest in his acceptance and work for his honor.
READER'S COMMENTS
Jonathan,
This is a good, straightforward reminder for Christian employees in any vocation. Regarding the first two points, however, I'm reminded of a conversation with a group of marketers. We were discussing similar content and brainstorming a list of behaviors that indicate Christian work. Most folks mentioned items that fall into your "Ethical Work" and "Excellent Work" categories, like being punctual, finishing a task with excellence, etc.
Then a woman spoke up. She had a sort of what-are-you-talking-about grimace on her face, and said something to this effect: "These aren't marks of a Christian. They're marks of an employee! They are what you were hired to do regardless of your faith system, and if you don't do them, you should be let go. Being a Christian at work must mean more than this."
And she's right. For those of us who believe the first two categories are sufficient, we'll miss out on truly fulfilling our calling. And while I think there is plenty more to be said about theology and identity at work, I'm glad you pushed beyond a comfortable view of being "In the workplace, but not of it."
Jonathan,
while it is true that being ethical and an excellent worker could be considered marks of a Christian employee, they're also marks of many non-Christian employees - sometimes more so. i've worked with Christians and am afraid the experience hasn't been very encouraging - it's not surprising that many of those who work with such Christians do say: "if that's how it is to be a Christian, i would rather not be one ." sad but true.
so i think in addition to the above, the true marks of a Christian employee are more personal in nature: a joyful character, diligence, humility, kindness, loyalty, integrity, courage, etc. It is reflecting our Lord's image in the workplace on how we relate with others and how we react to certain "worldly" activities.
which brings me to: we should not be of this world but Christians don't also have to look as if they just emerged from the 1800s. this attracts more sideway glances and sometimes not-so-subtle ridicule than admiration.
Jiji
Thanks, Sam. Yes, your fellow employee was correct. Great story! Unforutnately, the reality is that ethics and excellence doesn't characterize the typical employee. In fact, the opposite is sometimes encouraged by the workplace. So, Christians can set themselves apart in these areas, but they shouldn't ground their identity in it or congraulate themselves for it. We should always work as unto the Lord, which means much more than excellence and ethics!
Another area I didn't discuss would be sacrificial work, work that allows others to succeed while we sacrifice kudos. Thanks for the interaction!
In all my business experience over the past 20 years I have never been "encouraged" by the workplace to do something unethical or un-excellent. I think it's a farce to single out business/corporate America as the cesspool of ethics and boo-hoo over the poor Christians who have to put up some kind of battle every day .. Hog wash!!! Bad behavior is rampant throughout our culture in education, research, academics, music, churches, non-profits, etc. We are living in a world with alot of decent people and a few bad apples, and most people that I know, Christian or not, tend towards moral, ethical and decent behavior. In my experience its often the Christians who are more of an employee problem than the "non-Christians".
I think the "struggle" of Christians in work has more to do with character, maturity, vocation and courage.
Just my opinion!
Brad, it's funny that you zeroed in on ethics. Jonathan starts there--maybe because so many poeple start there when thinking about faith in the workplace. In fact, here's one thing we've found as we've explored other organizations like our own. Many Christian organizations seems to limit their understanding of faith and work to either evangelism or ethics or a combination of those two.
And you are absolutely right that the issue is much bigger and deeper than that.