from the Lookout
September 5, 1999

The Power
       of Faith
            at Work

By
John
Wayne
Samples

God has put me where I am, doing what I'm doing, for his purpose.

This is an important question for me, particularly as I realize every keystroke of this article will eventually find its way into the hands of my employees (not to mention my golfing partners or board of directors).

And let's not limit this discussion to CEOs or people with offices; taking our faith to work is as important behind the fast-food counter and in front of your peers on the production line as it is anywhere else, and it's just as hard.

It's one thing for a preacher to preach about that "daily walk" thing because, well, that's what preachers are supposed to do. They even get paid to do it. However, it's another thing entirely for the president of the Chamber of Commerce or the third-shift supervisor to witness. Some folks probably think it's even unconstitutional.

Are We 'Good Enough'
to Talk About Our Faith?     My job description nowhere requires me to put a target on my back and dare people to find my spiritual inconsistencies. No, I get paid to deliver the highest quality electricity at the lowest possible price, and as long as we keep doing that, folks are pretty respectful. But let business slip a little, and in addition to being brain-dead about economics, the Christian who takes his faith to work is also subject to being picked apart for his hypocrisies and for allowing his attention to be diluted with that "religion thing."

Is that what we're afraid of? Criticism?

I feel compelled to confess a litany of my own shortcomings here, but I don't really see how telling you about my weaknesses will give you courage or this story credibility. What's the point of detailing my failures as a husband or the "do-overs" I wish I could experience with my kids? If it would help I would even tell you that I sinned against society and never finished my college degree (though I am honored that Milligan and Kentucky Christian College both consider me an alumnus, even if it usually is at fund raising time).

But, I'm not going to mention any of my foibles because here's the deal: the false humility that comes from wallowing in our weaknesses is directly contrary to the amazing power and grace of the blood of Christ. By claiming we are not "good enough" to show our faith in public, we are saying God is not strong enough to save us, to forgive us, and to support us. Moreover, as people on a career path, we have this unquenchable need to control our destiny, and that just flat gets in the way of letting Christ share our office space. So when we do act spiritual, we often forget that the results are not ours. I particularly like the way the Contemporary English Version translates this in 2 Corinthians 2:16 and 3:5:

"No one really has what it takes to do this work. We don't have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do."

Reflecting
a Relationship     Whether at work or elsewhere, demonstrating our faith is not something we do. Rather, it is a result of who we are, a reflection of the relationship we maintain with our Lord.

For example, most Christians would not even think about uttering foul language in a church setting, but how about in a company strategy session, or behind the boss's back, or right after that missed putt for par. Well, that's different.

Is it?

James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

Are we going to lose our salvation with a slip of the tongue? I don't think so. If we do not use bad language, is that a witness that will reflect Christ? Not by itself. However, cursing is assuredly one of those "little things" that can inadvertently cast us as a non-Christian to a non-Christian, and that will pretty much get in the way of simple witnessing. I have friends who will argue with me about this point, but I'm not the one who said it, James is. I just used more words.

Simple witnessing is often one of the most powerful tools God can use to His glory. For the last fifteen years I've made a lot of business trips that take me away from home on weekends. One of my favorite things to do on those trips is to visit different churches on Sunday mornings, usually without regard to denominational designations (gasp!). I have been blessed time and again by the brothers and sisters I've encountered, debated, and even stayed in touch with. One particular trip required me to be in Lincoln, Nebraska over four Sundays, and by the fourth there were two carloads of other conference attendees going with me. I don't remember inviting any of them (shame on me), but they found out through conversation and invited themselves. That's the beauty of taking your faith to work; most folks want you to.

Three years ago we started a small prayer group made up of local businessmen: a doctor, a couple of plant managers, a gas station owner, a consultant, a furniture store manager, a cop, the school superintendent and more. For over two years we met weekly in my office, sharing personals, prayers and pizza. Just today we had a "reunion" get together specifically to pray for and with our school superintendent in the wake of student violence in another state and the impact it was having on our own kids.

Staying in Touch
with the Lord     For witnessing to be a reflection instead of a responsibility, we must make time to stay in touch with the source of our reflection. I once heard Bill Hybels talk about a corner of his pastor's office that he considered almost holy ground. It is reserved for his quiet time with God, and nothing else takes place there. My first response was, "He can do that because he's a preacher", and then I thought about this strange little nook in my office where I hid stuff out of general view. Now this nook has a small desk, some note paper, a couple of bibles and study books. It also has a few tearstains. Each morning I look forward to my time there before work, and sometimes it's my retreat in the middle of the day. It has become my sanctuary in the midst of my business; my personal reflecting pool of sorts. I don't remember ever telling anyone about that before now because I cherished the privacy, but I wouldn't have mine if Mr. Hybels hadn't shared his, so maybe there's another nook or cranny out there in need of a mission.

And there are new ways to strengthen your walk, like the Internet. The web is full of resources that can encourage you, and ways you can encourage others in the daily walk. One of my favorites is www.LifeAtWork.com. This site has lots of materials that address the integration of our lives, instead of the separation of the "God parts" from the "work parts" from the "family parts".

At www.Amazon.com you can send books as gifts or as thinking-of-yous with just a click or two of the mouse. My account is currently set-up so I can send one of three specific books I have found helpful. I've sent them anonymously and not, gift-wrapped and not, to family, employees and friends. It takes about two minutes and the books just "show-up" in a couple of days.

And there are hundreds of other quality sites worth using. Even with my own drama site (JSam.com), I have received encouragement and requests from literally around the world.

Don't Keep it
a Secret      I believe with all my heart that God has put me where I am, doing what I'm doing, for His purpose. My vision is not sufficient to fully understand why, and my strength is not sufficient to fully comply. But I must try. Then I must get up off the floor and try again. And again. And again. And when my valley is finally peaceful, if the One that writes in that great book of life is able to pen the name of the Christian on me, then I will have received more blessing from this life than I deserve. Therefore, it just doesn't make much sense to keep faith a secret at work, or any place else.

I just wish I were better at it!

John W. Samples was president and CEO of Jay County REMC, a rural electric cooperative located in Portland, Indiana, from March 1994 to October 2000.

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