Church vs Secular Work Environment
So often a question comes as to whether is it better to work in a Christian environment like a church or ministry, than to work in a secular environment? I think we need to demystify this whole thing about the secular and the spiritual. I want to believe strongly that that divide is not helpful at all. Because I believe as a Christian, each one of us is placed by God to be everywhere, a witness.
All Christians Are Called To Be Witnesses
Remember the scripture says that when God called us, he said, “I’ll make you witnesses. I will empower you with my spirit and you’ll be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8. Starting in Jerusalem right up to where the Lord may send you. So I think if we take that as a basis, as a biblical basis for whatever space and whatever environment we’re going to find ourselves, we can be witnesses to any space that God has placed us.
Challenges In The Secular Work Place
Look, it is important to remember obviously that in a secular environment, again just using that for now, it’s harsh out there. There are so many challenges that goes with that. And some people say, for an example, “It is so difficult, in my space, in my environment I cant even pray. I cant even have my devotions, it’s so difficult. Sometimes I can’t even talk about God freely and openly.” So it sounds like working in a church in environment, those people, wow, they pray all the time, they read the scriptures, they don’t fight.
It is important to remember obviously that in a secular environment, it’s harsh out there. There are so many challenges that go with that
Check Your Motives
So sometimes I think those kind of things really bring a wrong impression of what the work environment is all about. Both in a Christian environment, also in a non-Christian environment. I think what is important for me is to check your motives. What motivates you in the first place when it comes to the environment of working? Or rather the working environment and the work place?
Are you motivated by the fact that you want to insulate yourself and isolate yourself from the people. Remember, while it sounds kosher to work in a church context and environment, there is an element also that you are isolated from what I may call, “The real world.”
Limitations When Working In Ministry
Yes, in a church we are friendly, yes we do pray. I didn’t knock it when I said it earlier on, we do find it easier. And sometimes the environment may just be so conducive, you really want to find yourself in that space. But I think what is a limitation working in a church environment is that everyone there, majority of us are Christians. So in a sense you are limited to the exposure of being the salt in a decaying world, the light in darkness, because you are already living in the light.
So I think from that perspective, it brings you that kind of a limitation because at the end of the day, friends, we are called to be out in the world. Not of this world, but out in the world to shine the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A limitation with working in a church environment is that majority of us are Christians. In a sense we are limited to the exposure of being the salt in a decaying world, the light in darkness.
We Are Called To Impact The World
Now, if all of us are going to for an example choose to say, “Well, the best place for me is to be in the church environment.” What about the world out there that needs to hear the gospel? The world that needs young Christians. The world that needs older Christians and everyone else who’s a Christian who needs to be a witness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then I want to believe that all of us needs, really, to examine our own motives. Do you want to be in a Christian context and work environment because you feel like, “Well, it is safer to be in the church environment.” So that motive, really, might be suspect. Or would you rather say, “Well Lord, put me in a situation, give me the power as you promised.” Because remember he said, “I will give you the Holy Spirit who’s the power, so you can be my witnesses.” Whatever environment you find yourself in, so you can still be a witness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If all of us are going to for an example choose to say, “The best place for me is to be in the church environment.” What about the world out there that needs to hear the gospel?
Let The Gospel Shine Wherever You Are Planted
So I think it is important then, again, to emphasise, it is not helpful for us as Christians to think about this secular and this spiritual world. That dichotomy, it is not helpful because wherever we are, wherever we are planted, we need to shine the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, while it might sound like it’s easier and cosy to be in the church environment, but God still needs people out there in the world to stand for him and the truth of the gospel.