Putting your faith to work: a major new series on faith in the workplace,
The Work Forum team at The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity answer your questions about faith in the workplace...
Q: I find it hard to bring God up in conversation without it sounding forced. I really do want to share my faith, but how can I introduce Jesus into the workplace without people thinking I’m weird? ~ Lindsey, 26, Junior Accountant for a charity
A: It’s great that you’re keen to talk about God at work, but maybe you need to widen your goalposts a little - don’t forget, there are many ways to show and share God’s love as well as verbal witness. Try a few simple things, like asking your colleagues how they are and actually taking time to listen to their response; bringing in a cake or chocolates to give people a reason to stop and chat together; or committing to pray for a different person in your office each week (and, if you’re brave enough, asking them if there’s anything specific you can pray for). Building trust and showing love takes time, but once our colleagues know we’re genuinely interested in their wellbeing it’s easier for them to listen to what we have to say about Jesus.
Q: I’m a mounted policeman so I spend most of my working life sitting on a horse! How is that doing God’s work? ~ David, 42, South Yorkshire Police
A: Just take a look at the Genesis story. God worked at creation - bringing order out of chaos, making and forming new things, creating a place for people to flourish. He also brings the animals to Adam for him to name. So right from the beginning he asks us to partner with him in his work, in the care and cultivation of his creation. And that can take all sorts of forms. As a mounted policeman, there are plenty of ways to reflect God in the way you work - bringing order to your community, training and caring for your horse, creating a safe environment for others... and as a child of God to do all that in his strength and to his glory.
Q: There’s a lot of gossip and innuendo in the casual conversations at my work - how do I respond in those situations without sounding judgmental or alienating myself from my colleagues? ~ Jamie, 31, Sales Assistant at a mobile phone company
A: It might feel tough, but this is actually a great opportunity to influence the culture in your workplace for good. As Christians we often fall into one of two traps when we see something that clashes with our values: we either criticise and create distance, or we join in because we don’t want to be rejected. But, next time you end up in the middle of a gossip session, why not see if you can subvert the conversation - for example, bringing in a positive comment about the person who is being torn to shreds, or talking about the same things or people that are the subject of the innuendo but using only respectful and non-offensive terms. You’ll be surprised how effective simple kindness can be and how, although it may take time, your words can lead others to begin changing theirs.