Discussing one’s faith in the workplace can feel very difficult, according to an article from the Lausanne Movement.
Main point: Think about “what evangelism should be that will go a long way to make faith conversations in the workplace not only tolerated but welcomed.”
More about it:
- “No one lives every day in such a way that our actions are all that is needed to witness to the grace of Jesus.”
- “Behavior that honors and reflects Christ—through competence, character, faithfulness, and concern—is a vital part of what it means to be a witness,[5] but words are important, too.”
How to do it:
- “Wise conversations consider the listener’s spiritual openness.”
- “Wise conversations are gracious, not judgmental.”
- “Wise conversations turn questions and objections into opportunities, not debates.”
- “Wise conversations focus on what we know, not what we do not know.”
- “Wise conversations are about listening and observing, not just talking.”
- “Be there beyond the workplace.”
Think it through:
- “…today’s workplaces, which are more spiritually diverse than ever and often politically hostile, present Christians with a plethora of questions about what is legal, what is allowed, beyond what is appropriate—and this varies from country to country and even workplace to workplace.”
- “Evangelization is about looking at the person in front of your face, no matter who that person is, and gasping in wonder at the miraculously beautiful creation God has endowed with a dignity and a worth that nothing can erase, no matter how deep in the mire that person is swimming just now.”
- “You see that person, and you know for a fact: Here is somebody worth dying for.”
- “And then you try for a few minutes to do something worthy of being in the presence of such a person.”
- Other takeaways:
- Recognize that both actions and words are necessary for effective evangelism; living a godly life alone is not sufficient.
- Be prepared to explain your faith, but do so with gentleness and respect, considering the listener’s spiritual openness.
- Develop wisdom to discern appropriate times and ways to speak about faith in the workplace.
- Approach conversations with grace, not judgment, remembering that conviction is the Holy Spirit’s role.
- View objections and questions as opportunities for dialogue rather than debates to be won.
- Focus on sharing your personal faith story when you don’t have answers to specific questions or objections.
- Prioritize listening and observing to understand colleagues’ deep longings and potential openness to the gospel.
- Be present in colleagues’ lives beyond the workplace, attending important events and being available during challenging times.
- Be aware of legal and company-specific guidelines regarding religious conversations in your workplace.
- Approach evangelism with a genuine appreciation for the dignity and worth of each person, rather than as a task to be accomplished.
- Consider the potential costs of speaking about faith in your specific workplace context, while drawing courage from historical examples of faith.
- Prepare to engage in long-term relationship building, recognizing that a person’s journey to faith often involves many small decisions over time.
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