Do People at Work Know You're a Christian

A few years ago, a men's group that I was in studied Tony Dungy's book, "Quiet Strength." That may sound like a strange choice for a weekly devotional group. But as we went through the book, each chapter was built on situations where Coach Dungy's faith was challenged, where he had to make tough choices, or where he was forced to accept that there are somethings that are beyond his control. One thing that struck me was that, in one of the most intense industries, where your successes and failures on are display for everyone to see, Dungy met criticism with faith and failure with hope. Not necessarily hope in "next year," but hope in Christ. Another thing that struck me was that he was unashamedly Christian at work. When I think about football teams and locker rooms, that doesn't exactly seem like the type of place where religion would be all that welcome. But Dungy talked about witnessing to others and praying with coaches. Other players have similarly stood for Jesus (Reggie White comes to mind), and a few high-profile college players including Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow have also been open about their faith.

Regardless of your job and the pressures that come with it, there are opportunities for you to be a light in your workplace. Let me be clear--I'm not talking about cramming your religion down the throats of all your coworkers. Being a light in your workplace will look different for everyone. But three things are probably applicable to most. First, it means that your faith is going to affect the way you make decisions. Second, it means your faith is going to shape the way you face frustrations and difficult circumstances. Third, it means that your faith should affect how you talk about those decisions and difficulties. Make sure others know that you make decisions while thinking about Christ. And let them know that the reason you can face uncertainty in the future is God.

This weekend, take a look at whether people know you are a Christian in your workplace. Then, think about how your faith will influence you at work next week. Finally, pray for opportunities to tell others about why you do what you do, and pray for the courage to take those opportunities. I would love to hear stories about how God answers those prayers.