Here’s something you should expect as a Christian in the workplace
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Expectations matter. Our expectations impact how we prepare for situations and how satisfied we are with reality. When our expectations are rooted in reality, we can anticipate the inevitable challenges and intentionally navigate them in a Christlike manner.
Based on both conversation and observation, I think we sometimes hold misguided expectations about what the Christian life will be like. Our expectations may come from our upbringing, our lack of solid scriptural understanding, or our personal faith journey and life experiences.
No matter where they originate, our misguided expectations of the Christian life can leave us feeling blindsided by some of the situations we find ourselves in.
This can often lead to following our human impulses instead of the Holy Spirit and the commands of Scripture. It doesn't have to be that way. The Bible actually tells us a lot about what we should expect, and these expectations apply to our places of work every bit as much as they apply to any other area of our lives.
We should expect discord. We are functional participants in the day-to-day activities of a fallen world. Even as we see God's beauty and blessing all around us, we can't ignore the fact we eat, sleep, work, and play in an imperfect world full of imperfect people. (Present company included, of course.)
As we strive to be more like Jesus in a world that largely rejects Him, we will face many moments of disagreement. I appreciate how Peter puts it when he says, "Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12). We shouldn't find conflict or trials to be peculiaroccurrences in our Christian walk. We should expect them.
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. John 15:18-21, ESV
The strong language John uses here in John 15 mentions hate and persecution. These aren't exactly fun things to expect, but we see throughout Scripture we are not promised an easy-breezy and pain-free life on earth. We also see several examples of Christians suffering because of their faith—both in the Scriptures and throughout all human history.
It's important to remind ourselves where this type of discord comes from. It comes from a fallen world that is denying Jesus. It's coming from those who do not know the love the Father has to offer them. We can't forget that many of our trials and conflicts on earth are part of a larger spiritual warfare at play. With a biblical perspective, we can remind ourselves that, of course the world does not love us "as its own." We are not its own. What a great hope that provides!
Depending on your specific work setting, you may not have experienced something as strong as hatredor persecution in the workplace. Or maybe you have. Maybe you've been disliked for your unpopular biblical stance on a controversial topic. Maybe you've faced ethical challenges and had to defend your biblical position amid a conflict. Maybe you notice you see things differently than your peers, which leads to feeling like an outcast. Whatever level of dissonance, conflict, or hardship you've experienced, it is to be expected.
In Acts 7, we see an early example of severe persecution. Stephen spoke truth, emphasizing Israel's rejection of God. I hope you'll read his full speech as you are working through this principle, but I'll provide a quick summary for now.
After reviewing the history of Israel, Stephen connects it to those he is speaking to. Faced with real danger, he calls them out for resisting the Holy Spirit and rejecting Jesus. In the end, he is stoned to death.
Sometimes when I read biblical accounts of such violent persecution, I wonder how Iwould respond in such a dangerous position. It's incredibly humbling to think about, isn't it? How often have we, as modern professionals, neglected to own our full identity in Christ because we feared something as small as a dirty look, an eye roll, or a snarky comment? What if we welcomed God's work through us, discord aside, by boldly pointing to Christ in all areas of our lives?
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:13, ESV
It's true that we are warned of hardship, and we see those warnings come to fulfillment through our life experiences. While that can be discouraging, other things are also true. As Christians, we know the bigger picture and it's sogood. There is a message of hope that far outweighs whatever we are enduring now. Our trials are not only temporary, but they pale compared to the gifts we have in Christ. I appreciate how Paul puts it in his letter to the Romans.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21, ESV
What do your current trials look like? Workplace challenges, health issues, family struggles, financial troubles, and cultural unrest are just a few of the many things we are daily up against. In this life, we will have trouble. We must maintain a kingdom perspective. Otherwise, the big and small things we face on earth can feel like the only things.
A lack of perspective through trials can easily pull us out of the arms of our Savior and into the empty promises of the world.
Next time you are feeling discouraged or disheartened by a situation in the workplace, look to God's Word. It tells us much about what we can expect today and in the future.
Remind yourself that whatever specific hardship you may be experiencing as you live out your Christian faith is not particularly odd or peculiar. It is simply the circumstantial evidence of a fallen world that is denying truth. And as we navigate the circumstances of today, we can hold tight to God's promises for tomorrow.
Excerpted fromThe Word at Work: Ten Biblical Principles for Christian Professionals,by Miranda Carls (Pebble Mack Publishing, 2022).
 | Miranda Carls is an author, facilitator, and certified leadership coach. She has a passion for helping Christian professionals show up as high performers and leaders at work while remaining firmly anchored in the truth of the Gospel. Having worked with start-ups, non-profits, churches, mid-size organizations, and Fortune 500 companies, she understands the dynamics of both secular and faith-based settings. Learn More » |
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