Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10/6/2021

Do you Silo your faith in the workplace?

Last night our Courageous men’s group talked about faith in the workplace. We discussed what that looks like and the inherent problems. One key question was: Why do we tend to silo our “faith life” and our “work-life”? What keeps us from letting others know that we are Christians?

We discussed that one ever talks about politics or religion. It’s somehow become ingrained in our society. Why? Because it can be very volatile. People can be very passionate on both sides of the topic but it goes deeper than that. Christians today, as conservatives, are asked to tolerate the vulgarity and the “anything goes” of our society but the world gets uncomfortable and is unwilling to hear about the things of God.

One man was asked to remove his Bible from his desk. He didn’t read it on company time, it was there as an encouragement to him throughout his day. His boss said that it made other people feel uncomfortable and asked him to remove it. How interesting when you see people wear these vile T-shirts with offensive statements that nobody says anything about.
Another reason that we silo our “faith life” and our “work-life” is that we now become accountable to everyone who watches us, listens to us, and will thus judge us about being a Christian. We’re afraid that when we mess up they’re just going to call us a hypocrite. The truth is, they probably will. We’re going to make mistakes and at times we’re going to act unchristian-like. It’s easier to conform to the ways of the world, whether it be bad language, an off-color joke, gossip, or making fun of another person. It seems most people do that but God forbid that we should talk about God to someone who’s going through a break-up, or a member of their family has been diagnosed with cancer.

Let’s forget about the workplace for a minute. What does it say about us when we are afraid to pray for somebody who’s hurting? Anywhere! We may say, I will pray for you, but how about praying with them right there? Another reason that we’re hesitant to share in the workplace is our own insecurities. Many of us were insecure as children and we grew up into adults with that same insecurity. Share my faith? Pray with someone? Many people will not put themselves under the scrutiny of declaring that they are Christian because of the way that others will treat them or confront them. It’s interesting, that we know God is judging us and he knows everything but we care more about people that we know casually and most of them are not even friends.
We just want to be accepted, not be challenged, and just live our lives quietly. Don’t make waves. Don’t offend anyone.
When I was a younger man, our company took us to a dude ranch up into the Rocky Mountains in Colorado for a conference. The staff there was beyond incredible. None of us had ever experienced such great customer service, kindness, and thoughtfulness.

Everyone in our group was talking about their level of servanthood. They took us up by horseback on the last evening there to watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon. It was breathtaking, to say the least. The guide said, that everyone who works at our ranch lives by this one statement. To live a life so different, so kind, so giving that it begs people to ask the question: “What’s different about you?”. He told us that everyone there was Christian. They did not share their faith verbally, you found no Bible laid out other than the Gideons Bible in the top drawer of the dresser by the bed. But each of them was committed and strived to live a life of accountability and walk-in holiness before their God. The guide turned and looked out over the sunset and said
how could anyone ever say that there is no God? I wept.
People are so jubilant and even loud when they’re rooting for their football team. When they are applauding their child after a performance in school. They share with everyone when a member of their family got the word that they were cancer-free. But to openly acknowledge that you’re a Christian. To pray with people, to be proud of the fact that you call Jesus your Savior is just too much to bear in this “all-inclusive society” and so they silo their “faith life” in the workplace. Let’s be sure to not offend.

I think we often take the same attitude at home. Our children know who we are. They know we are Christians. We go to church on Sunday. But we may not openly pray often together. We may hardly ever open the Bible and have a Bible study with our children, but they know we are Christians by the way we live. Is that really enough?

1 John 5:4 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith”. We may be the type of person who uses our actions to testify to our faith. (that’s not a bad thing) We may be one who is bolder and is open to pray for someone. But I pray that you all realize the truth that the world will always try to suppress the word of God. The name of Jesus offends people. The Bible offends people.
When Jesus walked on this earth he offended people.
The Bible says Matt 10: 32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven, But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Our society has taken a devastating turn in the last five years. We each are going to have to be accountable to God Almighty for how we have lived our life, how we have shared our faith, and how we have proclaimed the good news. Yes and that begins at home. He is saying “If you continue to disown me, I will disown you.” “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves” Matt 10: (v16). [What chance do sheep have among wolves?]“They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings. When they arrest you…” (v17-19). Jesus spoke this to believers, not unbelievers.
We have tough times ahead and we have to choose who we serve.
We are comfortable seeing ourselves as seekers in process. But if you want Christ to confess you in heaven, at some point you have to move from being a seeker to being a confessor: “If you confess me…” NOT “if you consider me…” Jesus says “If you are of one word with me, I will be of one word with you.”
JESUS.
PS Today is my Mom’s 96th birthday. She is still fighting, please pray for her!

The Blessing with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=Zp6aygmvzM4&app=desktop (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=Zp6aygmvzM4&app=desktop)