It's hard to be a Christian in the world. In the church and the "church world" people still sin, of course, but the conversations in secular employment are just completely different. When you're hearing coworkers talk about how you can trick women into getting an abortion so that you don't have to settle down or pay child support, it's pretty clear you're not in church. And yes, something similar to that was discussed in front of me.
I work in the Produce department at Walmart. But I'm also in ministry. At Walmart. As much as I am a Produce Associate, I am even more a Christian. How do these two work? How does one go about a job as menial as stocking fruit in a "Christian" manner? I've listed 10 ways below. Certainly there are more, but these are ten ways to embrace your call as a Christian Produce* Worker. This is not to suggest, however, that I do these things well at all. I struggle with each of these. But I know enough that these are what I should be striving for.
*Obviously, this does not suggest that this list is only for Produce workers. This list is for any job in secular employment. The first two, however, are primarily for those in secular employment, but intending on going into some sort of ministry position, like myself.
1. Recognize that you don't know God's plan.
More than any of these, this one is the most difficult for me. I am preaching more to myself than anyone else. I am called to ministry in some fashion, I know this. What I do not know, however, is where I am called. I am called to the ministry of equipping the saints. God has gifted me in that area. But I don't know where. Would I like to be the pastor of some big church in the city? Actually, no. I'd rather be the pastor of a small church in a small town. Or a teacher at a Bible College or University. But I don't know God's plan for me. I'm waiting at Walmart for vocational ministry, and God has promised me ministry, but not necessarily vocational ministry. Perhaps my future is to be a layman in the church, equipping my own family, as well as others in the church. That isn't what I want exactly. But when I think about it, I have to drop to my knees, and give my future to God. His will be done, not mine.
2. Don't stop studying.
That said, I won't wait at Walmart doing nothing. If you are in a "secular" job, awaiting vocational ministry like I am, then I urge you to keep your edge sharp. You may have already received a formal education in theology, but if you don't keep studying you will get dull. I myself am currently focusing on Greek and Hebrew, as well as trying to learn more about Church History. When and if I get a job in vocational ministry, I'll be more ready than if I merely waited.
3. Remember that Jesus is more your Boss than any other boss.
It is just so easy to think, after being pulled to four different departments (while supposed to keep your own department clean), that Jesus has left the building. But He is still where He has been for the past two millennia: seated at the right hand of the Father. At the end of the day, our managers have to report to Christ. For most of them, that won't be pretty.
In the meantime, remember: what your boss meant for evil, God ordained for good. So when you are pulling $1 snacks into the back room because the managers don't think it looks good out on the floor (and therefore not allowing it to sell), remember that Jesus is at the reins, even here, and His ways are perfect. It may not make sense to us, but that's ok. It makes sense to God, and that is what is important.
4. Jesus is your customer, too.
Jesus is your Boss, yes, but He is also your customer. We must go back to that popular passage, Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus praises His chosen. Why? Because He was sick, poor, cold, and naked, and they took care of them. When they couldn't understand (because they never found Him in such a position), Jesus explains that "whatever you did for the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me." While we take it out of context somewhat, the concept still stands: Those we meet are to be like Jesus to us. How easy is it to disregard people? We all know the answer to that question. This idea is just as true in the workplace as it is anywhere else. You should treat everyone, especially the brothers and sisters, with dignity and respect, as you would surely treat Christ.
5. Exhibit grace to fellow Associates and customers.
This fifth point is really the way to apply the fourth point. But we've been there; there are just so many examples to choose from. Maybe it's the customer who is clearly trying to swindle you and get oranges for 50¢ per pound rather than per orange. Maybe it's the customer who opens the back room door, looks at all the fruits and vegetables, then asks you where the bacon is (simply because the Produce back room is next to the bacon). Maybe it's your coworker who puts a loaded pallet right in front of the item you need.
Regardless of the situation, the solution is the same: grace. Anyone who works in Produce (or anywhere else for that matter) has experienced the customer who is an absolute delight to deal with: friendly, understanding, patient. It's easy to be around such a customer. Or a fellow Associate who thinks of other Associates. It's easy to like such people. But if you like only those customers and Associates, how are you any different? Even the pagans do that! We should be trying extra hard to love those frustrating customers, and those annoying Associates.
6. Do not speak evil against the ruler of your department.
This is difficult for many reasons. For starters, managers can be annoying. Very annoying. In addition, it's hard not to do what everyone else does liberally. You can only be around something for so long before it begins to entice you. Yet, we must hold our tongues. Some might say, "Well, if you're thinking it, its just as bad as saying it!" These people are wrong. If you think it, it affects you, just like saying it would. However, only thinking something does not affect the official in question, your fellow associates, your reputation, nor the reputation of Christ. Saying it affects all these. (as an aside, this goes for the President as well)
Even the (Christian) Apostle Paul, when interrogated by the (Jewish) High Priest, apologized after accidentally speaking in disrespect towards the High Priest. How much more should we Christians respect our Non-believing bosses!
7. Take multiple pages from Daniel.
Daniel is one of the best examples we have of the business world. When Daniel was a young man, his country, Judah, was sent into exile by Babylon. But Daniel was allowed to become a Babylonian official. This Jew, in a Gentile world, serves as a good foil to the lives of us Christians in an oh-so-unChristian world. There are four main applications we can glean from Daniel's example.
7a. Seek the good of the secular institution.
Wherever we are, whether it is Walmart or Babylon, our goal should be to build up the institution God has placed us in (even when we don't want to be there). Daniel did such a good job while working for the Babylonian government, when Babylon was overthrown by the Medo-Persian Empire, they kept Daniel as an Administrator, one of the highest positions in the kingdom!
7b. Do your best to work in such a way that nobody can find fault.
This one is tough. But look at Daniel. After becoming an Administrator, King Darius planned on making Daniel second-in-command. Even though the satraps and Administrators despised Daniel, they could not find anything on him. He worked in such a way that followed all the rules. We should be no different.
7c. Submit (joyfully) in every instance.
Submitting is seen explicitly in Daniel, yes. But I do not recall the text explicitly saying that his submission was "joyful". However, I can only assume it to be so, considering the small chances of a King promoting a grumpy person who doesn't want to be there.
Submission is a term that only really has negative connotations as far as the world is concerned. Sadly, submission is thought to be negative even in the Church today. This should not be so, brothers and sisters. Submission should be done, and it should be done joyfully. I want my wife to submit to me, but I don't want her to submit out of coercion or an unwilling heart. I want her to joyfully submit to me. In the same way, when I go to work at Walmart, I shouldn't push for my way. I should submit, and I should submit joyfully.
Unfortunately, this one proves very difficult for me to do. But that's no excuse. Christian martyrs throughout the past two millenia have submitted to death joyfully. I can submit to throwing out food joyfully.
7d. When Jesus and [insert business here] are at odds, obey Jesus (but be gentle, respectful, and obedient in all other areas).
Of course, the immediate thought is Daniel and the lions' den, but there is more, even in the New Testament.
When we read the 'submission' passages, like Romans 13 and the beginning of Ephesians 6, we almost instinctively look for the loophole. "What has to happen for me to rebel with God's approval?" First off, that isn't joyful, as previously said.
Secondly, we tend to have a mindset that thinks that if our place of business conflicts in some way with God's revealed Word, then all bets are off, and we have the divine imperative to act like jerks. This is not the teaching of Scripture.
As said earlier, Jesus is more your Boss than any other boss. If the CEO tells you to do something that conflicts with what your manager says, its probably a good idea to do what the CEO says. Likewise, no matter what you're manager says, Jesus is the CEO of CEOs. What He says goes. But when you do disobey your manager because of the command of Christ, it must be done gently. It must be done in a winsome spirit. You can disobey your manager in such a way that can help lead them to Christ. In addition, you must be obedient in every other area. In fact it would be good to put extra effort to submitting in the other areas to prove to them (and you) that you are submissive.
8. Remember that most, if not all, of your fellow Associates are lost.
Some of you may have the luxury of working mostly with fellow brothers or sisters. Consider yourself in the minority. For the rest of us, we have to deal with people who frequently use God's name in vain, curse, try to entice us, and in every sense become an obstacle to us. But as frustrating as it can be, it is also quite the blessing for two reasons: Evangelism and Sanctification.
8a. Commit to pray for their salvation.
If you have trouble with sharing the gospel, then congratulations! You get to spend hours a day multiple days a week in close contact with lost people. As much temptation as this arrangement can bring, this is a great chance to let your light shine on the lost. I've tried the door-to-door evangelism routine, and all sorts of evangelism with strangers, but I don't think that evangelism was meant to be done that way primarily. I think evangelism was meant for people to both see and hear. Not just hear the Gospel preached to them, but an example of what that looks like. So be that example. Be transparent with them. Don't hide your failures and your faults, because if they don't see them, they'll assume you're just fake. Show them that a Christian is a fallen person who is being changed slowly by the Holy Spirit.
8b. Don't judge worldly people because they are worldly.
Trust me, it is easy to judge when you're marking down rotten food in the back room, while the other guys in the room are staring at the hot girl who just walked by. But they are not who we are called to judge. We are not to judge those who don't claim Christ, because that judgment belongs to God. We are to judge those who claim to be Christians and either are not, or are genuine Christians finding themselves in unrepentant sin (see 1 Corinthians 5). Do I like the topics my coworkers talk about? Not always. But when I find myself judging them I find something worth judging in me.
9. If you work with brothers or sisters, do not show partiality to them.
Some of us have the luxury of having fellow Christians in the workplace. Others do not have that luxury. For those of us who do, we have an added responsibility. There is a substantial temptation for spiritual nepotism. "Because he or she is my brother or sister in Christ, I'll let this thing slide." Christian managers have an additional temptation regarding their Christian subordinates. We must remember that if we are indeed representatives of Christ, then we must spur our fellow Christians on to a more accurate portrayal of Christ.
10. Representation, not relevancy.
The Church in America as a whole has fallen for a despicable lie: In order for the Church to impact the world, the Church must imitate the world. Unbelievers don't want to see Christians as some sort of moral role model. Instead, we are told, we should strive to be like them, and then we'll be liked by them, and then they'll come to Christ. But that doesn't hold water for two reasons. First, if they look at you and only see what they already have, then they have nothing to gain from you. "You have Jesus, and you look like me, act like me, talk like me, and drink like me? Then I don't need Jesus, because I already look, act, talk, and drink like me!" Secondly, there is no such thing as glovvy mud. You throw a glove into mud, and the mud doesn't get glovvy; the glove gets muddy. You throw a Christian into the world, and the Christian who isn't prepared, armored with Truth, Righteouness, the Gospel, Faith, Salvation, and the Word, and the world won't get more righteous. Instead, the Christian will backslide.
Instead, we should focus on being representatives of Christ. There is great power in our witness in life. When your coworkers go through struggles (and they do), they will turn to the usual: Escapism, be it alcohol, video games, sports, you name it. Anything they can possibly do to ensure that they aren't thinking the hard questions. Where is this person who just died? What will happen to me when I die? What is my purpose here?
When struggles hit you (and they will), then it is time to be strong. Don't just fake it; it's really easy to see through such a deception. But embrace that there is a loving, just God sitting on His throne. Whether the deceased went to Heaven or Hell, God is just. You don't have to resort to escapism, because these questions have been answered for you. You are (if genuinely converted) a blood-bought son or daughter of the God of the Universe, and you are loved. You are loved so much that your mission in life is to glorify the God who paid the ultimate price. Don't be quiet when struggles hit. Talk openly to your coworkers about these things. When you fail, don't hide it from your coworkers. They don't need a fake image about you as though you're perfect. What they need to see is what the Spirit has made you. Then they will wonder why you have something that they don't have. Then they may ask you about the hope you have in you. Then, as 1 Peter 3:15 says, you be ready to give a defense for the hope you have in you (with gentleness and respect.
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