The first of 4 articles discussed expressing one’s faith in the workplace, noting the workplace is the most strategic place for Christians.
Main point: “We call on Christian leaders to recognize that the workplace is the most strategic mission field in the world, and commit to equipping Christians in the workplace to fulfill their role in the Great Commission.”
More about it:
- “…one percent of people in the universal church are in professional ministry, and when it comes to evangelism, the other 99 percent [lay people] are greatly neglected.”
- “[Michael] Oh [global executive director / CEO of the Lausanne Movement] wrote in Christianity Today, placing the responsibility of evangelism not on professional ministers and missionaries who overtly proclaim the gospel, but on ordinary Christians who spend their days in the workplace.”
- “First, we must redefine the frontline of gospel impact, and second, we must designate and deploy primary messengers (the 99 percent) on the frontlines.”
- “Most Christians in the workplace are hesitant to acknowledge and fulfill their noble call to evangelism. The idea of discussing faith in their workplace is unsettling, as the vast majority feel they do not have the gift of evangelism.”
- What if people understood:
- “…playing a part in someone’s journey to faith in Jesus could begin with something as simple as having a cup of coffee with a colleague, encouraging someone who had a rough week, or offering a helping hand to a boss or coworker under stress?”
- “…they didn’t have to be perfect and say just the right things—that it was God’s work to draw people to himself.”
- “…Jesus authorizes them to act on his behalf to fulfill their calling as his witnesses at work.”
- “…early [1st through 3rd centuries] Christians of every ethnicity, gender, and level of society were passionate about extending Christ’s kingdom.”
How it works:
- “Ancient history and the New Testament tell us that the gospel spread like wildfire along trade routes, in public places, and from house to house or from oikos to oikos [‘basic social and economic unit of the Greco-Roman world. A house was not only where a nuclear family lived, it was a workplace—the small business of the day, which included family members, hired workers, and household servants’].”
- “Through informal conversations within and between members of oikos, working men and women shared the gospel with friends, relatives, coworkers, suppliers, customers, teachers, and soldiers—their network of workplace relationships. They were not professional preachers or missionaries, but informal evangelists.”
- “Work is not just a necessity; it is a calling that forms the backbone of local society. The worker is honored and recognized for his or her work, which gives a credible platform for sharing the gospel message.”
What to do about it:
- Recognize the workplace as a crucial mission field for evangelism, potentially more impactful than large-scale events.
- Understand that all Christians, not just professional ministers, have a role in fulfilling the Great Commission through workplace evangelism.
- Reframe evangelism as simple, everyday actions like having coffee with colleagues, offering encouragement, or demonstrating faith through good work.
- Overcome hesitations about workplace evangelism by understanding that it doesn’t require perfection or extensive theological knowledge.
- Draw confidence from biblical promises, such as the Holy Spirit’s guidance and Christ’s constant presence, when engaging in workplace evangelism.
- Learn from the early church’s example of informal evangelism through everyday interactions and relationships.
- Recognize the historical significance of the workplace (oikos) in spreading the gospel during the early church period.
- Understand that good work itself can be a powerful testimony, as Scripture emphasizes the importance and goodness of work.
- View your job not just as a necessity, but as a calling that provides a credible platform for sharing the gospel.
- Embrace the idea that all believers, regardless of their profession, can make a significant impact in their secular context, following biblical examples like Joseph, Daniel, and Esther.
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