SHARE YOUR FAITH AT WORK

Discipleship will not be easy, Jesus told His disciples. And nowhere is it more difficult than in the 9-to-5 periods in your work life. Not only are there tensions that come with religious discussions, but also bewildering legal entanglements.

Think about it - your co-workers and your boss want you to act one way; the Creator of the universe wants you to act another way. The challenge is to publicly live your faith and tell others about our wonderful Savior.

Before you say a word about Christ:

Get your own spiritual house in order. Nobody will believe you if you seem hypocritical. Model Christ for your co-workers in everything you do. Solve your workplace conflicts in a Christian way.

Make a list of co-workers who you think have a special need to hear about the Word of God. Keep the list short (three to eight) so you can pray daily for opportunities to teach them.

Build friendships before you witness to them. Stay late to help them finish an assignment, go to lunch with them, or socialize with them after work.

Place things on your desk that invite inquiries about your religious beliefs. Use a Bible verse calendar, or put a Bible verse on the screen-saver of your computer.

Sharpen your knowledge of God's Word so you can transmit it effectively and accurately. Think through answers to common questions. (How do you know the Bible is true? What is Christianity?)

Never argue about the "rightness" of Christianity. Never threaten hell to the unbeliever or the disbeliever. Never appear aggressive or confrontational.

Make a plan to avoid office gossip. Much of it is negative: criticism of a worker's wardrobe or dietary eccentricities, speech impediments, or poor grammar. This is not Christ's way.

Turn conversations from the mundane to the meaningful. Bring up what you did over the weekend at your church, mention something you heard on a Christian radio broadcast. Look for openings in conversation where you can interject a religious-oriented comment.

Keep in mind that you will not be able to reach everyone at work. Give priority to those who have no religious affiliation whatsoever.

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