Hi John,
I really liked what you had to say and it is a subject that burns heavy on my heart too. I have been back walking in faith for 3 years now and for the first time there was a mention of work at my church. In all the numerous Christian events that I have rarely heard anything mentioned about God in the workplace.
It is only in the last year that iI have really connected with my faith and my work are interlinked and that there is a space for God there. In fact I know now that God is as central to my workspace as he is to my liturgy and worship. Getting to that place of understanding has been incredibly powerful as I began to see my worklace as my mission ground. Step by step I began to let my team know whent they were ill or going through tough times that they were in my prayers. I began to share some of the things that I was involved in and they became 'my people of peace'. We spend so much of our time with our work colleagues, they should see our Gospel lived out in action. They, like our families should be able to see the transforming work of God in our lives and the fruit of the Spirit in action.
In the two organisations I have worked in latterly one public sector one private, I have found that it is possible to bring faith into the workplace as long as it is done sensitively and begins with influencing gently those around us. But it has been trial and error because there is little teaching on how to introduce God into the workplace.
We spend a lot of time thinking about Missional Communities, how we might reach our parishes and communities for God. But God is right where we are at and He uses us in that space to touch the people who are around us. For many that is our work colleagues and teams. I am not sure I fancy praying for my laptop or blackberry. But I have learned that praying for the people I work with, for the situations I face and the decisions that I have to make, makes a difference. I try to place God at the centre of all that I do and say; and remember that for me not to be glorifying Him at work is as sinful as any other sin.
I also think that all Christians are called to leadership, it should show itself first within our families and workplaces as we seek to lead them towards our God. So as disciples of Jesus we are leaders seeking to create and develop fellow followers.
I have attended a number of Christian conferences recently, at every one those in leadership in the church were prayed for, commisioned and blessed. But at no point were those of us who are Christians in secular leadership even covered in prayer. I am absolutely convinced it is a difficult and precarious world to be a Christian leader in the church. But it is likewise a very difficult and precarious world for those of us who live to be Christs salt and light in our workplaces 1 Timothy 2 says ;' urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all peopl for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior" I have learned through my church and Christian events to pray for those in Christian ministry in the church. I believe we need to be praying more intentionally for those whose who minister in the world of work too. Because only when we combine the sacred and the secular as God intended, will we see the reality of 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
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