Subversive sharing: Why don’t we talk about our faith at work?

What are we afraid of?

The modern mantra is that the workplace should be “inclusive.” We have heard repeatedly that America’s “strength is its diversity.” However, in the rush to purge racism and prejudice from our world, faith, normal opinion and discourse are unwittingly muzzled.

Who would have guessed that religious discussion would one day be labeled hate speech?

They gathered in homes, in taverns, in the courtyards, and in the workplace to discuss the news of the day, delving into the deep and philosophical with a balanced dose of the trite and whimsical. Nothing was off limits. Religion, sex and politics took up much time around the light of the lantern.

Today, since those subjects are off limits, we are left to banter about the weather and the latest reality TV show.

Christians are in a quandary. We know the divine imperative to live out our faith. We know that living out our faith involves talking about our faith. And we know something is not right about hiding who we are. Many of us try to walk the middle ground by dropping code words like “higher power” and “the man upstairs.” We display cozy spiritual things like rainbows and angels. But they fall short, because they don’t do a thing to help the human condition of those around us.

I struggle with the sneaky approach to talking about my faith.. It’s like wrapping a large dog pill in a piece of bacon just so he’ll gobble it down. That’s not the right approach.

Do you talk about your faith at work? Comment here.