Sharing Your Faith at Work Without HR Issues

This topic has been sitting in my writing journal for a couple of weeks waiting to be written about and this week, I want to explore this in more depth. In a world of toxic Christianity, it is important to understand that evangelism and proselytizing does not have be intrusive and accusative.  

I recall an occasion during my time in the Army when a sergeant who identified as Pentecostal approached me. He felt it was necessary to share his knowledge of faith with me. At the time, I was assisting chaplains as a potential step towards becoming one myself. The sergeant believed that I needed to understand what I was doing. While I was handling some paperwork, he started questioning me on the Bible. He found my answers lacking and criticized my understanding and representation of the Gospel. It is felt that my age of 19 likely contributed to my limited knowledge at the time. 

In my vocation since, I have had several occasions of this, both as a pastor and outside the church. Sharing one’s faith and having a confidence in doing so does not require mastery of bible passages and it certainly does not mean being aggressive in one’s approach. This week, I want to talk about how to share your faith at work without a trip to human resources.  

Perseus House 

I worked for Perseus House from 2012 to 2018, serving in the inpatient residential boys’ unit for teenage boys with behavioral and mental health concerns. While it did not get me sent to HR, in my first couple of weeks there, I used my church sign off for my emails, ‘Walkin’ w/ Christ’. I was redirected by my bosses and clinical directors that this was not appropriate.  I would have to adjust how I shared my faith. Unlike some of my colleagues who also active pastors at the time were who continued to openly share their faith,  I chose to make my posture and the way I carried myself my way of sharing my faith. This meant being serious, but not so serious that I did not enjoy a laugh, even if it was inappropriate, these were teenage boys that I was working with. I also strove to live out an attitude of grace and radical acceptance.  

What I learned was that the most effective way to share faith in a professional setting has been through small, consistent actions rather than overt declarations. This approach teaches humility, fostering an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their struggles and seeking guidance. Whether it was offering a listening ear or extending kindness in challenging moments, these unspoken acts carried more weight than words ever could. Such an approach aligns with a deeper understanding of prayer and faith—one that prioritizes connection and compassion over public displays or rigid doctrinal discourse. 

Humility 

If there is a topic I like to talk about more than prayer it is humility. Not that I claim to be a humble person, cultivating humility is a process of becoming.  

Humility plays a crucial role in sharing your faith at work by fostering an environment of respect and understanding, allowing you to engage with colleagues without imposing your beliefs. By prioritizing the needs and perspectives of others, you can share your faith in a way that promotes unity and avoids potential HR conflicts. 

In community like so many work environments become for 8 + hours, humility can fosters unity and peace and unity. Not being pushy about your faith and cultivating a strong posture and utilizing small, consistent actions and verbalizations based on your faith often speaks louder than words. Often without every professing my faith, new boys coming into our unit would learn about Mr. Rob and his faith.  

 Ephesians 4:2-3 urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Humility enables believers to prioritize others above themselves, promoting harmony and cooperation.
The Apostle Peter also emphasizes humility in relationships, instructing believers to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'” (1 Peter 5:5). This exhortation highlights the importance of humility in fostering mutual respect and submission within the body of Christ. 

What Jesus Said About Prayer 

Years of contemplative practice has taught me that prayer is a practice of being. Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God, keeping your finger on the pulse of God’s divine will and the motivations of the Holy Spirit. “Come Holy Spirit guide me” is often on my mind at the opening of every session I engage in with my clients. “God may your will be done here, your words not mine” before I get out of the car and come into the office.  

Most famously, Jesus challenges our prayers to be done in secret. We learn from Jesus that prayer should be sincere and directed to God, not for the purpose of impressing others. He emphasized the importance of private prayer and warned against using empty words, encouraging believers to approach God with genuine hearts and persistence. 

To Close 

Ora et labora is a Latin phrase meaning “pray and work,” which reflects the Benedictine motto emphasizing the balance between prayer and labor in monastic life. It encourages a harmonious lifestyle where both spiritual and physical activities are valued. It is the guiding principle I have lived by since learning about it in my late teens as I consider monastic life.  It becomes the posture of living, the breath in which one breathes minute by minute.  

In sharing your faith at work, it is your attitude, your posture, your love and grace toward your coworkers that will speak louder than your words. Leaning on God when things are hectic and letting this unshakable spirit shine is the evangelism you need to offer.  

Confidence in your faith means living it not by words alone, but by action primarily.