Witnessing in the Workplace

As the majority of Americans reassemble in their respective offices after months of lax schedules, working from home, and creating spreadsheets in our pajamas, we’re now reentering our mission fields.  

It can be easy to check religion at the door, especially if you work for a strictly secular company or organization.  Many places of work don’t support or even allow overt religious practices (e.g. no prayer in school).  

So if you can’t hang a cross on your classroom wall or pray to open every meeting, how can you witness in the workplace? 

A clear way to demonstrate your faith is simply by working hard, being excellent, and having greater passion for your vocation, even if it’s not your dream job. 

The bible says in Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…”  From taking coffee orders to preparing reports to giving a presentation, commit to be excellent at your work.  “In all toil, there is profit...” Proverbs 14:23 

God has always had a purpose for work even in the garden… “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it,” Genesis 2:15. So if Adam and Eve had to work, we must as well.  

Your coworkers who may not know Christ often find the actions and demeanor of believers to be the curious, unique quality that piques their interest.  You can easily inspire others by dedicating yourself to a strong work ethic.   

It can be easy to think that the work you do may not further the kingdom unless you’re on the front lines at your church, building wells in Africa, or enhancing children’s lives in a third world country.  But it’s imperative to understand that right here in America, we have a great deficit of our own: the poverty of lost souls.  

And we work next to many of those people five days out of the week. 

As Christians, our great commission is people and extending grace and patience, congeniality, and joy in your workplace can be an open door to others to see the love of God.   

So as you rejoin your coworkers in your offices, consider the great influence you can have with the person sitting to your right or left, even your customers.  

And remember, sharing the gospel has never been easier.  Even as we reenter the workplace, so much of our lives still remain online, including our professional network. Now, with Rock Springs Church providing an online worship experience, you can invite your friends and colleagues with the click of a button.  

Since March, over 500 individuals have given their lives to Christ because of our online streaming services.  You never know who in your circle might catch a live stream, rewatch a past sermon, or even come to church because of your willingness to share the good news. 

You can watch and invite your friends, family, and coworkers every Sunday at 8, 9:30, and 11 AM on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram or on the Rock Springs Church website.  

How to Approach Confrontation with Grace Part 2

PART 2: The HOW

Now that we know why we practice conflict resolution, let’s talk about how.  

It can be argued that in America, we just don’t know how to do it.  It’s not taught in schools and there certainly isn’t a Conflict Resolution 101 course at college.  And we see its detrimental effects in the staggering divorce rate, amongst our political leaders, and certainly in the workplace.  

The Bible gives us an outline for approaching disagreements in Matthew 18:15-17.  But before we even begin that process, it’s important to evaluate if confrontation is even necessary.  

Everyone has a bad day here and there and it’s important to remember that no one is perfect.  So try to honestly ask yourself if you can forgive and forget it.  Most of the time, a little distance is all we need.  But if the problem persists, then you can proceed with a conversation.  

Step 1: Speak Quickly 

We’ve all held onto anger longer than we should have but if we resolve issues quickly, it preserves the relationship and keeps every party moving forward.  It’s also important to approach the other person one on one.  We do this to keep from embarrassing the other party and protect their reputation as well.  

What do you say when you speak? There’s only two pieces of information you have… 

1. What the other person said or did 
2. How it affected you 

When you start off, simply state what the problem was and how it made you feel.    

E.G. “When you say x, I feel y” rather than “You tried to hurt me, You’re a terrible person.”  That second approach won’t get you very far and will 100% damage the relationship.  Remember, the goal is to speak truth in love so that we will grow. 

Step 2: Choose the Right Time 

In addition to not waiting too long, it’s also important to choose the right time.  Obviously, you wouldn’t pull them aside at a funeral or right before a big test.  Ask them when a good time is and plan around both schedules.  

By giving them a heads up, it allows them time to prepare to have a conversation.  No one likes to be blind sided.  

Step 3: Speak from Heart 

Easier said than done but it’s important to set your heart posture when bringing issues up.  Our goal is to preserve relationships, help others grow, and speak truth.  We don’t attack someone else from a win-lose position.  

Whether the other person is a Christian or not, our goal as Christ-followers is to be more like Jesus and in turn encourage others to do the same.  Jesus approached each interaction with the goal of grace, not shame.

Remember, we speak truth in love so that we can grow together.  

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Confrontation doesn’t have to be scary.  It’s not pleasant but when we learn how to engage each other elegantly, we have a better chance of winning others for Christ and growing the Kingdom together.  

Let’s learn how to come to conflict in a way that’s God-honoring.  And you can start today.  

***If you or your family are in immediate danger, it’s best not to confront a violent party alone.  Please seek help from community or local law enforcement. 

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If you found this article helpful, you may enjoy our other post: The WHY of Conflict Resolution.  Thanks for being a supporter of Rock Springs Church!