Embedded in the workplace

During the Iraq Gulf War, reporters were granted a unique, first hand glimpse of the battle. During the “shock and awe” of the initial raid in Iraq and march toward Bagdad, television was never so honest. This was reality TV.

As invited guests of the Pentagon, these reporters were embedded in units of every type. Every service was represented and, by and large, the reporting was accurate. It was real.

Christians are embedded in the workplace. We have been sent by the Father as emissaries to workplace. He wants us to get our hands dirty. He wants us to smell the smoke, to hear the weapons, to see the pain and suffering. That is why he did not call us away from the workplace, but called us to the workplace. We are not called out of the world, but are sent back into it.
Like the soldier who is trained, outfitted and readied. We are mobilized. And yes, sometimes, it is a little like war.

But the training is a little lacking. Doug Sherman, the author of “Your Work Matters to God”, says that the local church really doesn’t understand the importance of this message. His surveys show that 90 to 97 percent of Christians have never heard a sermon relating biblical principles to their work life.

So let’s just imagine. If suddenly pastors caught the vision for the workplace. Many of them don’t understand the workplace, so they preach from within their understanding level of theology and philosophy and sociology. But many, many ministers have extensive workplace history. Many of them have extensive workplace histories. Why are they so afraid to talk about what consumes our lives, our time?

How do you feel about this? Should we receive more teaching, more training on our faith in the workplace? Leave your comment below.