Sharing Christ in the workplace

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

seekingthemindofChrist

Casting down imaginations
Jul 10, 2023
1,178
573
113
#63
I watched it too, just now .:). Thanks for sharing it. Larry was such a jerk .:censored::cry::censored:
He was a jerk, but, as I said before, we sometimes do not know what a person is going through until we get to know the person.

I know that it was just a movie, but Larry had been through a lot which led to his wrong perspective of God. By overcoming evil with good, "Jesus" helped to change that perspective, and that is what we need to seek to do ourselves.

Again, I am not saying these things as someone who has always responded properly myself, but I am learning...I hope.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#64
Doesn't sound all that legit. lol
typical American blue collar workplace setting, well established mom and pop company, ownership just passed onto the second generation . Just celebrated 50 years of business. On the surface you would never suspect such filth plagues the company but there it is. A retiree who was my Forman spent 28 years there, the most angry, foul mouthed, short tempered 67 year old man highly verbally abusive to employees literally if you walked up to this man and asked for help as a boss he would look at ya and say “young man, are ya stupid”?!!! It was expected of you to say yes, and he would say “at least your honest “ Just a real sour unapproachable guy. Would tell dirty stories about things from the 90s . Devout Church attender by the way. Even as a cruel , angry and verbally abusive as this guy was certain employees including the two causing troubles currently look back fondly on this guy and actually reminisce when this guy was a Forman. I don’t get it. It’s like anger, rage, perversion is a love language to these guys.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,433
3,684
113
#65
typical American blue collar workplace setting, well established mom and pop company, ownership just passed onto the second generation . Just celebrated 50 years of business. On the surface you would never suspect such filth plagues the company but there it is. A retiree who was my Forman spent 28 years there, the most angry, foul mouthed, short tempered 67 year old man highly verbally abusive to employees literally if you walked up to this man and asked for help as a boss he would look at ya and say “young man, are ya stupid”?!!! It was expected of you to say yes, and he would say “at least your honest “ Just a real sour unapproachable guy. Would tell dirty stories about things from the 90s . Devout Church attender by the way. Even as a cruel , angry and verbally abusive as this guy was certain employees including the two causing troubles currently look back fondly on this guy and actually reminisce when this guy was a Forman. I don’t get it. It’s like anger, rage, perversion is a love language to these guys.
What you're describing sounds like a car dealership I worked at when I was younger. I was around 19 or 20 I think, and pretty thin-skinned. I was a gopher and car washer. The mechanics pretty much ran the place and they were merciless to me. It was family owned. They were Catholic but they didn't care what went on as long as it didn't hurt business. One day this mechanic said to me, you know the reason they do that don't you, because you let them. I was years away from really understanding I had the option to let them or not let them. I finally quit and chocked it up to a good learning experience.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#66
What you're describing sounds like a car dealership I worked at when I was younger. I was around 19 or 20 I think, and pretty thin-skinned. I was a gopher and car washer. The mechanics pretty much ran the place and they were merciless to me. It was family owned. They were Catholic but they didn't care what went on as long as it didn't hurt business. One day this mechanic said to me, you know the reason they do that don't you, because you let them. I was years away from really understanding I had the option to let them or not let them. I finally quit and chocked it up to a good learning experience.
Yes, right there, that’s why I’m also saying I think this is some kind of career characteristic
I’m bumping into as well. You have it nailed RA on the work setting.

I’ve also got nude model calendars staring me in the face all day on mech. toolboxes when I’m called over to help others, it’s a real daily tempt to lust. In my particular case I have commercial trucks that come in with nude calendars on the dash staring me down when I hop into their trucks to do my job often. It’s a real struggle on top of the personality clashes.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#67
I’ve thought about buying the entire shop pizza or breakfast every time they act up and get boisterous about their opposition to Christianity but I’m torn on weather that would be perceived as kindness where scripturally Kindness to an enemy lumps coals on their heads or without a Jesus conversation in front of it would I be simply training their minds, encouraging their inappropriate behavior to continue humanly speaking?
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#68
Sometimes God is actually trying to move us out and into where He wants us to be.
Sometimes it’s for our training for a future position that God will place us in.

I have learnt not to be moved by what (actually God has allowed)
people do/say to me,
but to ask our Father in heaven,
exactly what is He trying to
tell me/teach me.

God is not separated from everything that happens to us.
He allows it, for our perfecting,
whatever direction that may be.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#69
Sometimes God is actually trying to move us out and into where He wants us to be.
Sometimes it’s for our training for a future position that God will place us in.

I have learnt not to be moved by what (actually God has allowed)
people do/say to me,
but to ask our Father in heaven,
exactly what is He trying to
tell me/teach me.

God is not separated from everything that happens to us.
He allows it, for our perfecting,
whatever direction that may be.
So how is one to discern when God is trying to move us into something new and when to stay put and endure hardships. I’ve been staying under it believing God must have a purpose to this hardship as in reference to.
“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you suggesting that may not be what God is after for me in this situation?
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#70
So how is one to discern when God is trying to move us into something new and when to stay put and endure hardships. I’ve been staying under it believing God must have a purpose to this hardship as in reference to.
“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you suggesting that may not be what God is after for me in this situation?
Personally I went to responsible people in the house of God/the church,
and requested prayer, twice maybe three times.
Each time I was advised to stay there, (yes, suffer patiently) not knowing that I would become the manager in that place. 🫢
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
2,701
1,235
113
#71
Looking for some guidance and godly counsel. I have this really odd situation at my workplace that’s been going on for years. I work around several individuals who will randomly take jabs at Christianity and Jesus while I’m in earshot. They habitually swear in Jesus name then will turn around and in passing conversations with others they will say things like “ Jim , saw ya last night, did ya get saved?” “Did ya find Jesus? “ I’m assuming they both attended the same church service but its about as condescending towards the other as possible. Zero visible fruit in these way either of these guys carry themselves. When I try to talk about Jesus things literally they have zero interest and put up the walls about not mixing religion and work and run away . I don’t get it. It’s like they have their own religiousness and I’m outside that evidently. Am I to assume these are indeed words spoken from the church attending but yet unbelieving and mockers? The foul things that come fourth from their mouths while claiming Jesus is just astonishing from these guys. Anyone experience anything like this? It’s at a level I don’t even know how to enter conversation without getting sucked into their ungodly conversations. Do I begin assuming they are unbelievers or do I begin by rebukes? Keep in mind, very tough skinned , blue collar workers. Not well educated and clearly not taking in what they are hearing in their church services.
only once did i experience a very foul mouth when witnessing to someone and he is my brother, an atheist! his life is about as bad as you could imagine & he refuses to believe in Jesus. here's my approach: constantly look in the person's eyes, smile as much as possible, be forever kind, never raise your voice, speak with proper drama & facial expressions, use the person's name often, make she or he feel like they are already your friend, don't int erupt & always end with a abatement that will keep them wondering about Jesus.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,024
2,180
113
46
#72
This is also a complex topic which is difficult to put into words in a forum because it involves a lot of back-and-forth questions to properly understand the situation but Karlon has given solid advice here ... again not knowing a lot of other details.

But, have you thought about making fun of Atheists too .... to break the ice?
For example you can say: Durr i am here because a molecule appeared on Earth and then BAM a human appeared next and the Universe came from nothing ... durrr .

And then maybe go out to lunch with them and buy them cold drinks and follow it up with: you're gonna need a lot of cold stuff cos it's going to be very HOT where you're going.

You know? Stuff like that and see what they say.
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#73
Even in the work place it will be “a testimony against them”
Yes we are there to work, but when God burdens you to speak/witness of Him, we must.
And it will be a testimony against them if they don’t take heed.
It’s good to see the fruit of our labour’s in Christ.
But much of it we will not see until that day when all is revealed.
Mark 13:9 KJV
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#74
As soon as they see you,
they feel their guilt,
they know they are sinners.

At the end of the day,
They are all without excuse,
Because you have been an example
Before them.
 
F

FollowingtheWay

Guest
#75
Even in the work place it will be “a testimony against them”
Yes we are there to work, but when God burdens you to speak/witness of Him, we must.
And it will be a testimony against them if they don’t take heed.
It’s good to see the fruit of our labour’s in Christ.
But much of it we will not see until that day when all is revealed.
Mark 13:9 KJV
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
so something significant just happened. I had left three unique Gospel tracts in the workplace break room on the info table. They had sat there months. Today one is missing. someone is searching for God today 😊
 

Underwhosewings

Well-known member
Jan 19, 2023
1,318
670
113
Australia
#76
so something significant just happened. I had left three unique Gospel tracts in the workplace break room on the info table. They had sat there months. Today one is missing. someone is searching for God today 😊
Keep at it.
When you feel like all is useless,
Know that God is about to do something.

Isaiah 42:4 KJV
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
 

seekingthemindofChrist

Casting down imaginations
Jul 10, 2023
1,178
573
113
#78
so something significant just happened. I had left three unique Gospel tracts in the workplace break room on the info table. They had sat there months. Today one is missing. someone is searching for God today 😊
Kudos to you for leaving the tracts.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,376
1,082
113
#79
“you’re not going to be one of those annoying Christians that goes around telling everyone about God are you? If so we’re going to have a problem” then points to a car and says “this is my god” I was speechless. Clear intimidation tactic immediately from this boss of mine
If he talks about cars all the time; you should jokingly tell him to stop spreading his religion at work!
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,376
1,082
113
#80
I’ve thought about buying the entire shop pizza or breakfast every time they act up and get boisterous about their opposition to Christianity but I’m torn on weather that would be perceived as kindness where scripturally Kindness to an enemy lumps coals on their heads or without a Jesus conversation
Not a bad idea, if they like pizza.
would I be simply training their minds, encouraging their inappropriate behavior to continue humanly speaking?
Positive reinforcement? They would probably not connect your buying pizza with their bad behavior; from a worldly perspective that's totally ridiculous. Besides that; it says feed your adversary "if they're hungry"- not "whenever they act like a jerk."