Christian Faith in the Workplace

Published February 11, 2005 - Glendale News-Press

IN THEORY

Christian Faith in the Workplace

A move is underway to promote the practice of the Christian faith in the workplace. Drew Crandall, director of the Connecticut-based Northeast Christians at Work, and other such consultants, advise Christians on how to practice their faith at work and at their cubicles. As corporate America embraces cultural diversity, religious practice at work should be part of that diversity, Crandall says. Should there be a place for religious practice at work?

The work environments are fine the way they are. Faith and expressions of Christ's message are not like a shirt we put on or take off. To reflect the love and joy that Christ offers is not limited to a few minutes nor a few hours a day. The Christian is called to breathe, live and act his/her faith.

When we look at our society riddled with its excesses and are blinded by the reflective glitter, we know that there has to be something more to life. In fact, religion is the search for those deeper elements of life. Religion and faith are not outside of life, but directly part and parcel of it. To set up an extra spot for Christian practice is to fall into the trap of pigeon-holing religion. The greatest testimony to one's faith is to become a living example of love, harmony, compassion and trust. This is not accomplished in cubicles, but in the large work environment known as life.

Scripturally, Jesus warns against the outright practice of piety in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). In no uncertain terms he calls for a person's reconciliation with God, through private practices of prayer, fasting and compassion. He further warns against the hypocrisy that accounts for most of our expressions.

I'm afraid that by setting up these areas of practice, we're missing the point that faith is not an extra curricular activity, but part of the main course. The so called church experience cannot be separate from life experience. It always puzzles me when I hear expressions like, "Oh, I better watch my mouth, I'm in church." Why? Are we worried about God hearing something we think He can't hear in our cars or in our homes? Or is it that we're practicing a type of hypocrisy, hiding in the safety of our churches, rather than confronting the real issues of respect and harmony.

Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that America is most segregated Sunday mornings at 11AM. That is, it is meaningless to hear a message of love and then practice the opposite once we leave the safety of the church pew. Rather than setting up these areas in the workplace, I believe Christ's message can be better served by improving work environments, caring for the laborer and offering opportunities for family recreation and wellbeing.

There is a place in every Christian's work environment where his/her faith can be practiced, it’s called the heart. It is unique to each of us and yet a common expression that encourages diversity and growth for all flows from it. It is supported by tearing down walls, not building them up.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Armenian Church Youth Ministries