Is it acceptable for Christians to have an unchristian job or career?

[tourist]

I know a woman who worked at a strip club as a bartender accepted Christ. She asked the Lord if she should leave but she felt she should stay. For 5 years after her conversion she stayed and ministered to the young women who worked there until the Lord released her from that place. She remains friends with many of the women who made it out of that industry.

She saw it as a Joseph over Egypt arrangement, where Joseph was given authority over people who were polytheists yet, because of God's mercy, many lives were saved in the time of famine.

You raised a good point worth consideration.

 

[JaumeJ]

1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

[TaniyahStark]

Hey there! This is an interesting topic. In my opinion, being Christian doesn't necessarily dictate your profession. It's more about how you conduct yourself in any job or career. You can work in any field without compromising your faith if you maintain your values and integrity. It's about finding a balance between your beliefs and your work life.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Hey there! This is an interesting topic. In my opinion, being Christian doesn't necessarily dictate your profession. It's more about how you conduct yourself in any job or career. You can work in any field without compromising your faith if you maintain your values and integrity. It's about finding a balance between your beliefs and your work life.

Can you be a prostitute? How about drug dealer?

 

[LeeLoving]

You shouldn't do something that's morally unacceptable.

 

[Karlon]

if someone is a true born again Christian, you will feel the Holy Spirit's promptings to stay away from a job before you fill out the application, or after you fill it out & you arrive at your senses. i know of a guy who believed you shouldn't work on Sunday's. well, it's obvious that God didn't mean, " DO NOT WORK ON A SUNDAY"! imagine if nurses, doctors, emergency services & police people didn't work on Sunday's? well, this guy threw out an NFL football career because of his beliefs. just imagine, he would have worked at a career he was given the talent for & earned millions of dollars. now that, folks, is absent minded!

 

[SilverFox7]

Can you be a prostitute? How about drug dealer?

The context of Taniyah's commentary implies that being a prostitute or drug dealer are unacceptable vocations as Christians.

Note the "values and integrity" observation...

I like the balance perspective, too...

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

New King James Version

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [a]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without [b]law toward God, but under [c]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became [d]as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

 

[JaumeJ]

ResidentAlien said:
Can you be a prostitute? How about drug dealer?
The context of Taniyah's commentary implies that being a prostitute or drug dealer are unacceptable vocations as Christians.

Note the "values and integrity" observation...

I like the balance perspective, too...

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

New King James Version

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [a]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without [b]law toward God, but under [c]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became [d]as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

What about Rahab?

Rahab’s most significant contribution to the Bible is her inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew, Rahab is mentioned as one of the five women in the lineage of Jesus Christ. The other four women are Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Rahab is specifically mentioned as the wife of Salmon, and the mother of Boaz.

I believe she was saved by faith???

 

[SilverFox7]

ResidentAlien said:
Can you be a prostitute? How about drug dealer?
The context of Taniyah's commentary implies that being a prostitute or drug dealer are unacceptable vocations as Christians.

Note the "values and integrity" observation...

I like the balance perspective, too...

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

New King James Version

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the [a]law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without [b]law toward God, but under [c]law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became [d]as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

What about Rahab?

Rahab’s most significant contribution to the Bible is her inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In the book of Matthew, Rahab is mentioned as one of the five women in the lineage of Jesus Christ. The other four women are Tamar, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Rahab is specifically mentioned as the wife of Salmon, and the mother of Boaz.

I believe she was saved by faith???

Insightful. We live in a sinful world and through faith and grace we interact and impact in a positive way as best we can without getting snared into sinful actions. A challenge to say the least in my experience as a follower of Jesus.

 

[ResidentAlien]

The context of Taniyah's commentary implies that being a prostitute or drug dealer are unacceptable vocations as Christians.

Taniyah said:

"In my opinion, being Christian doesn't necessarily dictate your profession. It's more about how you conduct yourself in any job or career. You can work in any field without compromising your faith if you maintain your values and integrity."​

Is this the context you're talking about? She didn't say Christians should choose a job or career based on their faith and values; she said Christians can work in any field so long as they hold true to their values. Read it again. By this logic I can be a pimp so long as I pray for each John and don't rip them off.

The only thing I see implied here is no profession is off limits.

 

[SilverFox7]

Taniyah said:

"In my opinion, being Christian doesn't necessarily dictate your profession. It's more about how you conduct yourself in any job or career. You can work in any field without compromising your faith if you maintain your values and integrity."​

Is this the context you're talking about? She didn't say Christians should choose a job or career based on their faith and values; she said Christians can work in any field so long as they hold true to their values. Read it again. By this logic I can be a pimp so long as I pray for each John and don't rip them off.

The only thing I see implied here is no profession is off limits.

Way too literal, my friend. You are honing in on perhaps a bad choice of one word. How about if we change "any" to "many". How would the contribution she made change by that one simple edit?

 

[jamessb]

The answer to the OP is YES, of course.

 

[SACREDWARRIOR]

[1Co 10:20-21, 23 ] 20 [No,] but [I say] that things which [the Gentiles] sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ... 23 All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build [people] up.

We have to be careful...both in DOING & JUDGING activities..In many of the responses there are grey issues, THESE ARE UP TO THE BELIEVER & THE HOLY SPIRIT...some such as working in the PORN OR GAY BAR situation are BIBLICALLY determined to be sin and to avoid.

other things like alcohol consumption or sales must be determined by other means, HOLY SPIRIT, FORMER ADDICTION, etc...

The Battle rages til the lion ROARS!!
Clarence

 

[Charlie_2024]

Some examples I can think of are Alice Cooper, who claims to be a Christian but goes onstage and performs some of the most demonic songs and acts imaginable. Another is Brian Welch, who claims to be a Christians but is a member of the metal band KoЯn. He initially left the band but then went back and now claims it's okay to be a Christian in an unchristian profession. And Alan Ritchson of Reacher, a show filled with partial nudity and erotica. And many other celebrities are doing it nowadays.

Can a Christian compartmentalize his or her life into Christian/Work? Under this logic, wouldn't it be acceptable for Christians to participate in any job they wanted? What about Christian prostitute? Christian hit man? Christian drug dealer. I mean, if it's just a job, why not?

I know it can be difficult finding a job or profession that isn't unchristian to some extent; but should extend this to any and every profession out there and then excuse it by saying "it's just my job?"

Christians can do any job, as long as it doesn't involve sinning against God. If the work requires us to disobey God, then we should leave it immediately.

 

[SACREDWARRIOR]

1 Cor 10~~23All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.

I am not to judge these people. Many people have to go through experiences(that we disagree with) to get them to a place God wants them. Maybe it was a "bad" experience that brought them to a good place. God can use our bad choices and bad experiences to His advantage.

A believer that teaches loss of salvation or that God elects/predestines people to salvation is doing WAY more damage to their witness for Christ then a believer who works at a gay bar.

There is a difference, between , knowledge and ignorance. I can think of times, when like a light went on, and I realized that something in my life was sin..that I hadn't considered beforehand... at that moment I have to make a decision...cease or willfully sin...
we all sin, daily, the blood covers us...but Paul says, "do we continue to sin SO THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND? MAY IT NEVER BE...."

God does and will continue to use our BAD choices, however, we must be careful to not use that as license to live immorally.

THE BATTLE RAGES TIL THE LION ROARS!!,
Clarence

 

[jamessb]

Can you be a prostitute? How about drug dealer?

Don't post this kind of nonsense. It is not funny.

 

[Aaron56]

Related comment: when I choose a contractor or service provider for a specific project I tend to stay away from businesses that promote themselves as "Christian".

 

[jamessb]

Regarding the OP... What does "unchristian" (small c) mean? We are meant to be in the world and to fully participate. That way we can demonstrate what being "a Christian" really means. Going to a special building once a week to sing, pray, listen to a sermon, etc. doesn't really show "the world" anything.

 

[hornetguy]

I wouldn't want to be a bartender, but if people just came and drank a little, it wouldn't be as big of an issue,

We should open a Christian bar.... one drink limit. Problem solved.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Going to a special building once a week to sing, pray, listen to a sermon, etc. doesn't really show "the world" anything.

That was never meant to "show the world" anything. It should be meant strictly for God and Christ, in obedience to their words. At the same time, inviting the unsaved to hear the Gospel message in a church meeting and respond to the Gospel is sufficient.

Peter says that that you show the world you are a Christian by refusing to participate in worldly activities and pleasures. The world will reject you automatically.