Mercy in the workplace is not a commonly considered approach. Think about common cliches. "Dog eat dog world." "Rat race." "It's a jungle out there." Those sayings don't make me think about mercy.
But look at James 2:12-13: "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
How can you show mercy to people this week? You may be perfectly in your rights to judge. But that's where this passage is particularly relevant.
This is finals week for me, so perhaps it's appropriate that I should blog about mercy. There's a lot of talk about grade inflation and holding rigorous standards. And I agree with the idea that an A should mean something, should be a reward for hard work. But I also know that I have to balance that rigor with mercy. And it's a line that I'm still trying to find--how to show grace without being a push-over.
How does mercy affect you and how you do your job?
Showing posts with label Mercy/Forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercy/Forgiveness. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thoughts about Firing Employees
I had lunch with a friend a couple of weeks ago, and he mentioned a topic that he'd like to see written about on this blog. This person is a Christian and tries to live like Jesus in his workplace. He is also a supervisor. He recently had to fire an employee. My friend asked me to think about and write about one's role as supervisor having to fire someone relates to one's role as Christian.
I'm still working on that post--it's not an easy question. There's the issue of quality work. The master who gave talents to his servants certainly expected those subordinates to work hard. And you might say he fired the one who did not. But the other side of things is the unmerciful servant. We have been forgiven so much. How can we not forgive others?
In some ways, the analogous situation for me is assigning grades, particularly near the end of the semester when I know that assigning a particular grade will cause a student to fail.
It's a post that I'm still working on. What are your thoughts? If you'd rather not post them as comments, feel free to email me. Look for the post in a couple of weeks.
I'm still working on that post--it's not an easy question. There's the issue of quality work. The master who gave talents to his servants certainly expected those subordinates to work hard. And you might say he fired the one who did not. But the other side of things is the unmerciful servant. We have been forgiven so much. How can we not forgive others?
In some ways, the analogous situation for me is assigning grades, particularly near the end of the semester when I know that assigning a particular grade will cause a student to fail.
It's a post that I'm still working on. What are your thoughts? If you'd rather not post them as comments, feel free to email me. Look for the post in a couple of weeks.
Friday, September 30, 2011
What God Has Done For You
How long has it been since you thought about what God did for you?
I'm not talking just about health or a good job or family or anything like that. Have you really ever thought about God's grace? Have you thought about Jesus as He hung on the cross? While He was there, He was a murderer, a liar, an adulterer, a cheat. Think about the sins in your life. While Jesus hung on the cross, He was guilty of those sins so that you don't have to be. Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Look at what Paul says in Romans 2:1: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." We've been forgiven. Jesus was guilty so that we could experience indescribable grace. And yet it's still so hard not to pass judgment on others. When someone is rude to us, when they inconvenience us, or when we just don't like the way they look at us.
We probably all need to be reminded of the parable of the unmerciful servant. We've been forgiven a great debt. All that's left is for us to show mercy to others.
I'm not talking just about health or a good job or family or anything like that. Have you really ever thought about God's grace? Have you thought about Jesus as He hung on the cross? While He was there, He was a murderer, a liar, an adulterer, a cheat. Think about the sins in your life. While Jesus hung on the cross, He was guilty of those sins so that you don't have to be. Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Look at what Paul says in Romans 2:1: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." We've been forgiven. Jesus was guilty so that we could experience indescribable grace. And yet it's still so hard not to pass judgment on others. When someone is rude to us, when they inconvenience us, or when we just don't like the way they look at us.
We probably all need to be reminded of the parable of the unmerciful servant. We've been forgiven a great debt. All that's left is for us to show mercy to others.
Friday, September 9, 2011
God's Grace to You, Your Grace to Others
The most popular post in the last three months is this one about grace. Here's another along a similar line of thought that was also well-read. It's pretty gratifying that the most read posts are so central to what God is all about.
We like checklists, and it would be easy if Christianity in general, and Christianity at work specifically, could be reduced to a checklist. The problem is, of course, that we can never be perfect at taknig care of the things on that list, and God expects perfection. Talk about a demanding boss! That's why His grace is so important. Jesus reduces our checklist to one thing--Himself. So respecting your supervisor, loving your coworkers, watching what you say, keeping God's perspective, etc., it's all about making Jesus the lord of your life. He takes care of the rest.
Just as we've been shown so much mercy, God wants us to show mercy to others. I think the parable of the unmerciful servant is one of the most convicting parts of Jesus' message. God has forgiven us so much. Others may offend us, but the offense is very minor compared to our offense toward God.
Mercy and grace aren't particularly popular concepts in workplaces. But they are part of our calling as Christians.
We like checklists, and it would be easy if Christianity in general, and Christianity at work specifically, could be reduced to a checklist. The problem is, of course, that we can never be perfect at taknig care of the things on that list, and God expects perfection. Talk about a demanding boss! That's why His grace is so important. Jesus reduces our checklist to one thing--Himself. So respecting your supervisor, loving your coworkers, watching what you say, keeping God's perspective, etc., it's all about making Jesus the lord of your life. He takes care of the rest.
Just as we've been shown so much mercy, God wants us to show mercy to others. I think the parable of the unmerciful servant is one of the most convicting parts of Jesus' message. God has forgiven us so much. Others may offend us, but the offense is very minor compared to our offense toward God.
Mercy and grace aren't particularly popular concepts in workplaces. But they are part of our calling as Christians.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Follow up on Dealing with Difficult Subordinates
Friday's post was about dealing with difficult subordinates as a Christian. I wanted to follow up on that post because I think it's anything but black and white. As a supervisor, you need people to be productive and to be focused on the organization's goals, which sometimes means you have to prod people to get them to work. At the same time, I posted last week about the importance of mercy when communicating with subordinates. It's really a balancing act, with justice on one side (giving people the rewards and punishments that they deserve so that they'll work hard) and mercy on the other side (recognizing that you have been spared the punishments you deserve and promised incredible, unearned rewards).
I think about that balance as I interact with students in my classes. It's not a perfect analogy, but in some ways, they are like subordinates. When they challenge the way that I graded an assignment, I have to balance justice and mercy. I want the class to be rigorous and an "A" to mean something. That means setting high expectations and enforcing standards when those expectations aren't met. On the other hand, let's say a student turns something in late. I want to temper that justice with mercy. Yes, I want the student to learn the importance of deadlines, but as a Christian, I want to be merciful.
It is a tough dilemma to balance these things. No doubt, sometimes I err on either side. You will also. But keeping both sides in mind is important. Micah 6:8 says to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Be just with your subordinates. But love mercy--really seek out ways that you can model mercy and forgiveness with them. Then walk humbly with God, knowing that you will not be perfect in justice or mercy. And be thankful that you have a Master who is perfect in both!
I think about that balance as I interact with students in my classes. It's not a perfect analogy, but in some ways, they are like subordinates. When they challenge the way that I graded an assignment, I have to balance justice and mercy. I want the class to be rigorous and an "A" to mean something. That means setting high expectations and enforcing standards when those expectations aren't met. On the other hand, let's say a student turns something in late. I want to temper that justice with mercy. Yes, I want the student to learn the importance of deadlines, but as a Christian, I want to be merciful.
It is a tough dilemma to balance these things. No doubt, sometimes I err on either side. You will also. But keeping both sides in mind is important. Micah 6:8 says to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." Be just with your subordinates. But love mercy--really seek out ways that you can model mercy and forgiveness with them. Then walk humbly with God, knowing that you will not be perfect in justice or mercy. And be thankful that you have a Master who is perfect in both!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Knowing God
1 John 4:7-21
By loving our seemingly unlovable coworkers, bosses, and customers/clients, we show God's love to them. But more than that, showing such love is how we know God. Look at 1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Later, John says that if anyone claims to know God but hates someone, he or she is a liar. Love is at the very core of who God is. It is as much of His essence as we can know. And that's not just love for those that love Him back. God loved us BEFORE we loved Him (verse 19). He loved us when we were unlovable (Romans 5:8). By loving those around us that seem unlovable, we experience, to a microscopic degree, what God experienced in sending His Son for us.
Remember--it's not about "killing them with kindness," loving so that maybe they'll be nicer to you, or loving to gain leverage in the future. It's not about showing that you're a team player or that you can get along with others. It's loving because God loved you. If your allegiance is to Him and if you want to know Him, then you need to show love to everyone around you, including those that seem unlovable.
By loving our seemingly unlovable coworkers, bosses, and customers/clients, we show God's love to them. But more than that, showing such love is how we know God. Look at 1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Later, John says that if anyone claims to know God but hates someone, he or she is a liar. Love is at the very core of who God is. It is as much of His essence as we can know. And that's not just love for those that love Him back. God loved us BEFORE we loved Him (verse 19). He loved us when we were unlovable (Romans 5:8). By loving those around us that seem unlovable, we experience, to a microscopic degree, what God experienced in sending His Son for us.
Remember--it's not about "killing them with kindness," loving so that maybe they'll be nicer to you, or loving to gain leverage in the future. It's not about showing that you're a team player or that you can get along with others. It's loving because God loved you. If your allegiance is to Him and if you want to know Him, then you need to show love to everyone around you, including those that seem unlovable.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37
When someone asked Jesus who was his neighbor, Jesus told the story of a Samaritan helping a Jew. One thing that was probably especially poignant to the Jew listening to the story was that Jews and Samaritans hated each other. So remember that loving your neighbor doesn't just mean being nice to those people that you get along with. How are you doing showing love to those people that you just can't stand to be around?
I can think of someone that I really don't look forward to seeing. Inwardly, I groan every time I see this person coming toward me. You know, stops by to chat, even when you're busy, even when they have nothing really to say. Always has an opinion about everything and wants you to know it. Shares too much information, sometimes just to demonstrate that they know something. I have to admit that it's hard for me to show love to this person. But that's what loving your neighbor is all about--loving those people when love doesn't come easily.
I don't really have anyone that I work with that I just can't stand. I'm not at odds with anyone. Perhaps you are in your workplace. Perhaps there's a boss or coworker who is out to get you. Maybe that person is irritable or just hard to love. Jesus' message is that those are the people that you should be trying to seek out. The Good Samaritan knew not to expect anything in return for the love he showed. He knew this Jew might not have done the same for him. And note that the story doesn't say that he received anything back from the man that he helped. Don't show love so that this person will be nicer to you or so that he/she may help you in the future. Show love to this person because God loved you, even when you were unlovable.
When someone asked Jesus who was his neighbor, Jesus told the story of a Samaritan helping a Jew. One thing that was probably especially poignant to the Jew listening to the story was that Jews and Samaritans hated each other. So remember that loving your neighbor doesn't just mean being nice to those people that you get along with. How are you doing showing love to those people that you just can't stand to be around?
I can think of someone that I really don't look forward to seeing. Inwardly, I groan every time I see this person coming toward me. You know, stops by to chat, even when you're busy, even when they have nothing really to say. Always has an opinion about everything and wants you to know it. Shares too much information, sometimes just to demonstrate that they know something. I have to admit that it's hard for me to show love to this person. But that's what loving your neighbor is all about--loving those people when love doesn't come easily.
I don't really have anyone that I work with that I just can't stand. I'm not at odds with anyone. Perhaps you are in your workplace. Perhaps there's a boss or coworker who is out to get you. Maybe that person is irritable or just hard to love. Jesus' message is that those are the people that you should be trying to seek out. The Good Samaritan knew not to expect anything in return for the love he showed. He knew this Jew might not have done the same for him. And note that the story doesn't say that he received anything back from the man that he helped. Don't show love so that this person will be nicer to you or so that he/she may help you in the future. Show love to this person because God loved you, even when you were unlovable.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Escalating Conflicts
1 Corinthians 6: 1-11
Have you ever had one of those conflicts that really gets out of control? It probably started over an issue that seemed major at the time but was really not that big of a deal. But now, the whole thing is a much bigger deal. Like the Hatfields and McCoys, what started as a small misunderstanding has become a major feud as one person wrongs another, and the offended makes threats and plots revenge. One outcome of escalating conflicts is taking the other person to court, an option that happens all too frequently these days.
That's not a new problem though. Christians in Paul's day were dealing with conflicts escalating out of control as well. And even then, some of those conflicts were ending up in court. Paul chides the Corinthian Christians for this practice, saying that it completely contradicted what Christ was all about, really for two reasons. First, taking a conflict to court (or sometimes even having a manager or HR director intervene in a conflict) means asking nonbelievers to handle a problem. Here, Paul is specifically talking about conflicts between believers, and Paul says that it is inappropriate for an unbeliever to judge a conflict between believers. I would argue that it's probably wrong for an unbeliever to judge a conflict between a believer and another unbeliever as well based on the second problem that Paul had for condemning court resolution of conflicts. He says that Christians are already defeated when conflicts get to that point! It's better to be wronged, to have your rights violated, than to settle the matter in court. Taking a conflict to court or asking a manager to intervene in a disagreement means that you are standing up for yourself rather than turning the other cheek and forgiving this person.
You may not be on the verge of going to court. But you might be involved in a conflict that's escalating out of control. If so, this passage still applies to you. How can you de-escalate it? First, be determined that, no matter how wronged you are, you will not fight for your rights. They are not worth the damage that this kind of conflict can cause to you and to your reputation as a Christian. As a citizen of God's kingdom, your greater responsibility is to let Him deal with whatever rights you have. Second, try to forgive the other person. It won't happen over night--the conflict probably didn't build in a day and your feelings won't be smoothed that quickly either. But with daily effort and some time, you can do this. Third, pray. Ask God to work in you, helping you reflect Christ by your actions. Remember, He was "led like a lamb to slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). He didn't stand up for His rights. If you are wronged, neither should you.
Have you ever had one of those conflicts that really gets out of control? It probably started over an issue that seemed major at the time but was really not that big of a deal. But now, the whole thing is a much bigger deal. Like the Hatfields and McCoys, what started as a small misunderstanding has become a major feud as one person wrongs another, and the offended makes threats and plots revenge. One outcome of escalating conflicts is taking the other person to court, an option that happens all too frequently these days.
That's not a new problem though. Christians in Paul's day were dealing with conflicts escalating out of control as well. And even then, some of those conflicts were ending up in court. Paul chides the Corinthian Christians for this practice, saying that it completely contradicted what Christ was all about, really for two reasons. First, taking a conflict to court (or sometimes even having a manager or HR director intervene in a conflict) means asking nonbelievers to handle a problem. Here, Paul is specifically talking about conflicts between believers, and Paul says that it is inappropriate for an unbeliever to judge a conflict between believers. I would argue that it's probably wrong for an unbeliever to judge a conflict between a believer and another unbeliever as well based on the second problem that Paul had for condemning court resolution of conflicts. He says that Christians are already defeated when conflicts get to that point! It's better to be wronged, to have your rights violated, than to settle the matter in court. Taking a conflict to court or asking a manager to intervene in a disagreement means that you are standing up for yourself rather than turning the other cheek and forgiving this person.
You may not be on the verge of going to court. But you might be involved in a conflict that's escalating out of control. If so, this passage still applies to you. How can you de-escalate it? First, be determined that, no matter how wronged you are, you will not fight for your rights. They are not worth the damage that this kind of conflict can cause to you and to your reputation as a Christian. As a citizen of God's kingdom, your greater responsibility is to let Him deal with whatever rights you have. Second, try to forgive the other person. It won't happen over night--the conflict probably didn't build in a day and your feelings won't be smoothed that quickly either. But with daily effort and some time, you can do this. Third, pray. Ask God to work in you, helping you reflect Christ by your actions. Remember, He was "led like a lamb to slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). He didn't stand up for His rights. If you are wronged, neither should you.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-22
Last week, a friend let me down. It felt like a betrayal. It was a business transaction, and he had the right to do what he did. I would have expected nothing less from a business. But he was my friend, my role model, my Christian brother. It hurts. It hurts me deeply.
I think of Jesus calling His disciples to forgive 7 times 70 times, and I struggle with forgiving just once. How do I not stay up late thinking about this situation? How do I not resent this hurt?
I will probably see this person again. As friends, we have a lot of friends in common, we travel in similar circles. How will I act when I see him? What will come to mind? How can I forgive when I hurt so much?
Some posts end with calls to action or explanations of what to do. As I write this, I don’t have any such answer for this. I know that I am called to forgive, to not hold a grudge, and, regardless of my feelings, to love this person. I know that I have been forgiven for much more than this—in the grand scheme of things, this is really a pretty small issue. It still hurts. I still don’t know how to forgive. I know that, with time, the Great Physician will heal this hurt. With His help, I will be able to forgive. Thankfully, I don’t have to struggle with forgiveness alone.
Last week, a friend let me down. It felt like a betrayal. It was a business transaction, and he had the right to do what he did. I would have expected nothing less from a business. But he was my friend, my role model, my Christian brother. It hurts. It hurts me deeply.
I think of Jesus calling His disciples to forgive 7 times 70 times, and I struggle with forgiving just once. How do I not stay up late thinking about this situation? How do I not resent this hurt?
I will probably see this person again. As friends, we have a lot of friends in common, we travel in similar circles. How will I act when I see him? What will come to mind? How can I forgive when I hurt so much?
Some posts end with calls to action or explanations of what to do. As I write this, I don’t have any such answer for this. I know that I am called to forgive, to not hold a grudge, and, regardless of my feelings, to love this person. I know that I have been forgiven for much more than this—in the grand scheme of things, this is really a pretty small issue. It still hurts. I still don’t know how to forgive. I know that, with time, the Great Physician will heal this hurt. With His help, I will be able to forgive. Thankfully, I don’t have to struggle with forgiveness alone.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Be at Peace with Others
Romans 12:9-21
Sometimes, we get into conflicts with other people. There's no avoiding it. No matter how well you reflect Christ at work, you're going to find yourself in conflict with someone. In face, someone might be at odds with you just because of your faith. But other times, conflicts occur when we fight for our way, when our ambitions cause conflicts with others. Paul speaks to those occasions. "Live in harmony with others...as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." I see this verse as a call to not cause conflicts. Even when someone wrongs you, as Christians, you are called to turn the other cheek and show love to others. It's not easy, but it is one way to demonstrate how your faith makes you different. The world will tell you to fight back, to take up for yourself. Jesus tells you to deny yourself. If you have wronged anyone, you should make it right immediately. If someone is trying to pick a fight with you, "bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse...do not repay evil for evil...do not seek revenge." At the end of the day, the issue of blame doesn't matter--give in to the other person, regardless of who is in the right.
There's a motivation issue here as well. It's not about loving them for the purpose of "heaping burning coals on their head." Kill them with kindness, so to speak? The motivation is not kindness so that they'll feel guilty about mistreating you. It's about showing Christ's love, even when others don't deserve it.
Sometimes, we get into conflicts with other people. There's no avoiding it. No matter how well you reflect Christ at work, you're going to find yourself in conflict with someone. In face, someone might be at odds with you just because of your faith. But other times, conflicts occur when we fight for our way, when our ambitions cause conflicts with others. Paul speaks to those occasions. "Live in harmony with others...as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." I see this verse as a call to not cause conflicts. Even when someone wrongs you, as Christians, you are called to turn the other cheek and show love to others. It's not easy, but it is one way to demonstrate how your faith makes you different. The world will tell you to fight back, to take up for yourself. Jesus tells you to deny yourself. If you have wronged anyone, you should make it right immediately. If someone is trying to pick a fight with you, "bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse...do not repay evil for evil...do not seek revenge." At the end of the day, the issue of blame doesn't matter--give in to the other person, regardless of who is in the right.
There's a motivation issue here as well. It's not about loving them for the purpose of "heaping burning coals on their head." Kill them with kindness, so to speak? The motivation is not kindness so that they'll feel guilty about mistreating you. It's about showing Christ's love, even when others don't deserve it.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Remedy for Others' Mistakes
I don't know about you, but I see people around me making mistakes all the time. Not huge ones, mind you. Nothing that will bring jail time or might really endanger someone. But those little mistakes that get under your skin and really annoy you. Those things that make life inconvenient or make you have to do extra work. You know the ones. Locking the door to the copy room at 4:30 instead of 5:00 so you have to go get a key when you're trying to finish up and get home. Leaving the coffee pot on when there's barely any left so the break room smells like tar. Parking over the line and taking up an extra parking spot. Poor performance on a report than you now have to redo. I'm sure you can continue the list with any number of things from your workplace.
Today, I was reading Romans 5, and Paul reminded me of how to respond to such mistakes. This is not a workplace-specific passage, of course, but I think it can apply to workplaces just as much as anywhere. Look at verse 8: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The older I get, as I see others who make mistakes, the more I think they need Jesus almost as much as me.
That's really the secret to humility and forgiveness in the workplace--knowing how much you've been forgiven. I think it's easy to compartmentalize our lives so that, even if we make mistakes in other parts, at work, we're all together. The problem with that thinking is that God doesn't make such distinctions. He sees your whole self. And He has forgiven your whole self. The only response is a gratitude toward God that motivates forgiveness toward others.
Today, I was reading Romans 5, and Paul reminded me of how to respond to such mistakes. This is not a workplace-specific passage, of course, but I think it can apply to workplaces just as much as anywhere. Look at verse 8: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The older I get, as I see others who make mistakes, the more I think they need Jesus almost as much as me.
That's really the secret to humility and forgiveness in the workplace--knowing how much you've been forgiven. I think it's easy to compartmentalize our lives so that, even if we make mistakes in other parts, at work, we're all together. The problem with that thinking is that God doesn't make such distinctions. He sees your whole self. And He has forgiven your whole self. The only response is a gratitude toward God that motivates forgiveness toward others.
Monday, January 17, 2011
A Day to Celebrate Mercy
Today, many of us have off from work in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. King was a man who advocated for the disadvantaged. In his day (and some would say this is still true), non-Caucasians were seen as second-class citizens, denied even some of the most basic freedoms provided by our society to whites. I hope that, whoever you are and whatever you are doing today, you take a moment to think about the freedoms that you enjoy and how important those political freedoms are.
But this is a blog about Christianity in the workplace. Jesus had a great deal in common with King. Like King, Jesus identified with the disadvantaged in society. He rebuked His disciples for sending away children, and He praised the innocence with which children accepted Him. Children would never have been allowed around most of the other teachers in Jesus' day, so His recognition of them was truly unusual. Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 (a Samaritan, a woman, and a divorcee!) and his associates with tax collectors and "sinners" are other illustrations of times when Jesus chose to associate with those that society generally rejected. James must have picked up on this attention to the oppressed as he wrote about perfect religion looking after widows and orphans (James 1:27), groups that had virtually no rights at that time.
How can you show mercy to those around you that are disadvantaged? First, ask yourself who it is that no one wants to be around. Second, look at who gets pushed to the margins in your organization. Then, befriend those people. Advocate for their considerations. You won't be popular--Jesus' actions separated Him from the religious leaders who plotted and later killed Him; King was thrown in jail and later assassinated. But it's the right thing to do. Throughout history, freedom comes to people because others are willing to stand up to oppression.
But this is a blog about Christianity in the workplace. Jesus had a great deal in common with King. Like King, Jesus identified with the disadvantaged in society. He rebuked His disciples for sending away children, and He praised the innocence with which children accepted Him. Children would never have been allowed around most of the other teachers in Jesus' day, so His recognition of them was truly unusual. Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 (a Samaritan, a woman, and a divorcee!) and his associates with tax collectors and "sinners" are other illustrations of times when Jesus chose to associate with those that society generally rejected. James must have picked up on this attention to the oppressed as he wrote about perfect religion looking after widows and orphans (James 1:27), groups that had virtually no rights at that time.
How can you show mercy to those around you that are disadvantaged? First, ask yourself who it is that no one wants to be around. Second, look at who gets pushed to the margins in your organization. Then, befriend those people. Advocate for their considerations. You won't be popular--Jesus' actions separated Him from the religious leaders who plotted and later killed Him; King was thrown in jail and later assassinated. But it's the right thing to do. Throughout history, freedom comes to people because others are willing to stand up to oppression.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Addendum on Mercy
James 2:13
A few weeks ago, I posted about the value of mercy in the workplace and the danger of judgmentalism. I read this passage this morning, and I felt like it needed to be added to those ideas. As James talks about churches showing partiality to the rich, he also talks about the tendency to see some sins as more serious as others. In verse 11, he says that if you condemn adultery but then murder someone, you are just as guilty as the adulterer. He concludes this section by emphasizing mercy and saying that "mercy triumphs over judgment." Think about that in your workplace. I think that there is an important line between mercy and high standards, but knowing exactly where that line is not an exact science. Based on this passage in James, as you're looking at others' work, be sure to err on the side of mercy rather than on the side of judging them for poor work. As a Christian, it's better to be accused of being too merciful than it is to be accused of being a tyranical perfectionist. Remember, you've been forgiven. He showed mercy to you.
A few weeks ago, I posted about the value of mercy in the workplace and the danger of judgmentalism. I read this passage this morning, and I felt like it needed to be added to those ideas. As James talks about churches showing partiality to the rich, he also talks about the tendency to see some sins as more serious as others. In verse 11, he says that if you condemn adultery but then murder someone, you are just as guilty as the adulterer. He concludes this section by emphasizing mercy and saying that "mercy triumphs over judgment." Think about that in your workplace. I think that there is an important line between mercy and high standards, but knowing exactly where that line is not an exact science. Based on this passage in James, as you're looking at others' work, be sure to err on the side of mercy rather than on the side of judging them for poor work. As a Christian, it's better to be accused of being too merciful than it is to be accused of being a tyranical perfectionist. Remember, you've been forgiven. He showed mercy to you.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Judgementalism
Matthew 7:1-5
It's easy to think about being judgemental as someone else's problem (of course then, you run the danger of judging them for it!). But stop and think about it for a moment. Do you look at your coworkers with disdain for messing up a project? Do you think some of your supervisor's ideas are just ridiculous--if only they'd hired someone competent to do his/her job? Those questions get to the heart of at least one side of judgementalism in the workplace. It's easy to smirk at the inferiority of others. If only they'd come up to your level. That's passing judgement on them. There's at least three problems with that. First, it's unloving, and we're commanded to love others. Second, it may make you less likeable in the workplace. You might say, "they don't have to like me as long as they respect me." But that's not entirely true. Workplace relationships are one of the key parts of job satisfaction, and being friendly in the workplace can go a long way in helping you succeed.
But Jesus mentions a third reason when he warns against being judgmental. "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." To the degree that you look down at others' mistakes, you will be judged on your own mistakes. There's a couple of ways that happens. First, theologically, God judges us all. This is very similar to Jesus' teaching on forgiving others because you are forgiven, which I blogged about in terms of God's grace and the unmerciful servant. That's really the thing with the unmerciful servant, wasn't it? That he was judgmental toward a fellow servant when he'd been forgiven by the Master. Now for you. You've been forgiven a debt that you could never repay. How then can you judge someone else? It doesn't matter what context, whether a church or a business. We're called to accept people for who they are without judging them. That doesn't mean that you have to accept substandard work from others. But it does mean that you need to see them as worthy individuals just the way that they are.
It's easy to think about being judgemental as someone else's problem (of course then, you run the danger of judging them for it!). But stop and think about it for a moment. Do you look at your coworkers with disdain for messing up a project? Do you think some of your supervisor's ideas are just ridiculous--if only they'd hired someone competent to do his/her job? Those questions get to the heart of at least one side of judgementalism in the workplace. It's easy to smirk at the inferiority of others. If only they'd come up to your level. That's passing judgement on them. There's at least three problems with that. First, it's unloving, and we're commanded to love others. Second, it may make you less likeable in the workplace. You might say, "they don't have to like me as long as they respect me." But that's not entirely true. Workplace relationships are one of the key parts of job satisfaction, and being friendly in the workplace can go a long way in helping you succeed.
But Jesus mentions a third reason when he warns against being judgmental. "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." To the degree that you look down at others' mistakes, you will be judged on your own mistakes. There's a couple of ways that happens. First, theologically, God judges us all. This is very similar to Jesus' teaching on forgiving others because you are forgiven, which I blogged about in terms of God's grace and the unmerciful servant. That's really the thing with the unmerciful servant, wasn't it? That he was judgmental toward a fellow servant when he'd been forgiven by the Master. Now for you. You've been forgiven a debt that you could never repay. How then can you judge someone else? It doesn't matter what context, whether a church or a business. We're called to accept people for who they are without judging them. That doesn't mean that you have to accept substandard work from others. But it does mean that you need to see them as worthy individuals just the way that they are.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Grace
In thinking about the themes of mercy, love, and thankfulness from last week, and forgiveness in the workplace, which I anticipate writing about in the near future, I think that perhaps something very important to remember is that we do these things, we try to honor God in our workplace because of His Grace to us. Even when your subordinates screw up, your coworkers back-stab you, and your supervisors treat you worse than you deserve, remember that they are also sinners in need of a Savior, that they are also imperfect. The parable of the unmerciful servant is convicting. We have been forgiven a debt that can never be repaid, no matter how well our job pays us. That's a powerful perspective to have. We have mercy on others and show love, even to our enemies at work because God has shown such an immense love to us.
I have another purpose for writing about grace. One might look at the last 80+ posts and see them very much as a list of things to do or not do in the workplace. "If I do these things and avoid doing these things, I will honor God in my work." So you try to live by those lists and everything is going well for the first few days until Joe comes in late and you yell at him for messing up your day. Or your coworker Sally tries to double cross you, so you let her have it. "Uh oh, I blew it. I'm not living by the lists." I want to really emphasize this--the ideas about which I'm blogging are in no way lists of do's and don't's. While the Bible is full of commands and admonitions, that's not the "way" to God. Instead, the ideas that I've written in terms of honoring God at work are things to do because God has forgiven you for not being perfect. He knows that you're going to mess up. That's why He sent Jesus to begin with.
I don't want anyone to read this blog as a Pharisaical law of how to act at work. Instead, think of these as ideas about how to honor God because of His wonderful grace.
I have another purpose for writing about grace. One might look at the last 80+ posts and see them very much as a list of things to do or not do in the workplace. "If I do these things and avoid doing these things, I will honor God in my work." So you try to live by those lists and everything is going well for the first few days until Joe comes in late and you yell at him for messing up your day. Or your coworker Sally tries to double cross you, so you let her have it. "Uh oh, I blew it. I'm not living by the lists." I want to really emphasize this--the ideas about which I'm blogging are in no way lists of do's and don't's. While the Bible is full of commands and admonitions, that's not the "way" to God. Instead, the ideas that I've written in terms of honoring God at work are things to do because God has forgiven you for not being perfect. He knows that you're going to mess up. That's why He sent Jesus to begin with.
I don't want anyone to read this blog as a Pharisaical law of how to act at work. Instead, think of these as ideas about how to honor God because of His wonderful grace.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Love Your Enemies...What About Your Coworkers?
Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-35
The Bible is replete with the idea of love. John 4 says that describes the very nature of God as being love ("God is love"). In the two passages listed above, Jesus tells his followers to love their enemies. That doesn't seem right. Jesus, are you sure you got that right? Didn't you mean love your friends? It's pretty counter intuitive to love your enemies. And I don't think that Jesus is talking about loving them with the motivation that Paul mentions in Romans 12:20 of "heaping coals onto their heads." If that's the only motivation that gets you to show kindness to a rival, I suppose that's better than nothing. But I think, given the context of each passage, I think Jesus means to show genuine regard for your enemies. Watch out for them. Treat them, not with hostility, but with kindness. You've probably experienced a coworker or two that, while you might not use the term "enemy," they certainly weren't on the same side as you. We prefer "rival" or "competitor" in a business setting. How can you love your rivals? If a coworker is competing with you for the same promotion, how can you love him or her? Jesus says that everyone loves those who help them and are likely to love back. But Jesus demonstrated love for us, before we loved him (Romans 5: 6-8).
Perhaps one way to show love is to smile. Genuinely, not the kind of smile that says "I'm really angry on the inside." Perhaps a genuine compliment to your rival or about your rival to someone else. Maybe making sure he or she has equal access to information or to face-time with your boss. I don't think that loving your enemy means that you automatically cede the promotion to him or her. But perhaps making sure that you are judged on merits, not on any unfair advantage that tilts your way. And then, whether you get the promotion or not, be sure to be gracious in winning or in losing.
Another way to show love is forgiveness if someone wrongs you. I'll have a post in the not too distance future that focuses specifically on forgiveness. Forgiving others who cheat you, lie to you, or in any other way wrong you is a central part of turning the other cheek. Loving your enemies means not seeking revenge.
What are some other ways you can love your rivals? And what would the outcome be if you did that? I know it's tempting to say that they'd take advantage of you, and that may be very true in the short term. But what would happen long term? For the most part, Jesus never won over most of His rivals, but look at what happened because He loved them anyway.
The Bible is replete with the idea of love. John 4 says that describes the very nature of God as being love ("God is love"). In the two passages listed above, Jesus tells his followers to love their enemies. That doesn't seem right. Jesus, are you sure you got that right? Didn't you mean love your friends? It's pretty counter intuitive to love your enemies. And I don't think that Jesus is talking about loving them with the motivation that Paul mentions in Romans 12:20 of "heaping coals onto their heads." If that's the only motivation that gets you to show kindness to a rival, I suppose that's better than nothing. But I think, given the context of each passage, I think Jesus means to show genuine regard for your enemies. Watch out for them. Treat them, not with hostility, but with kindness. You've probably experienced a coworker or two that, while you might not use the term "enemy," they certainly weren't on the same side as you. We prefer "rival" or "competitor" in a business setting. How can you love your rivals? If a coworker is competing with you for the same promotion, how can you love him or her? Jesus says that everyone loves those who help them and are likely to love back. But Jesus demonstrated love for us, before we loved him (Romans 5: 6-8).
Perhaps one way to show love is to smile. Genuinely, not the kind of smile that says "I'm really angry on the inside." Perhaps a genuine compliment to your rival or about your rival to someone else. Maybe making sure he or she has equal access to information or to face-time with your boss. I don't think that loving your enemy means that you automatically cede the promotion to him or her. But perhaps making sure that you are judged on merits, not on any unfair advantage that tilts your way. And then, whether you get the promotion or not, be sure to be gracious in winning or in losing.
Another way to show love is forgiveness if someone wrongs you. I'll have a post in the not too distance future that focuses specifically on forgiveness. Forgiving others who cheat you, lie to you, or in any other way wrong you is a central part of turning the other cheek. Loving your enemies means not seeking revenge.
What are some other ways you can love your rivals? And what would the outcome be if you did that? I know it's tempting to say that they'd take advantage of you, and that may be very true in the short term. But what would happen long term? For the most part, Jesus never won over most of His rivals, but look at what happened because He loved them anyway.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Blessed are the Merciful
Matthew 5:7; Matthew 18:22-35
cf Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 6:29
For the next few posts, I would like to look at the idea of mercy in the workplace. Today, I'm giving an overview and looking at supervisors and mercy. Wednesday, it will be the idea of forgiveness, particularly in terms of relating to coworkers and others at work. Friday, we'll stop and think about thankfulness. Finally, Monday, we'll talk about why do this at all, what is our motivation for thinking about mercy when those around us often don't.
Mercy is not a popular concept in what is generally thought of as a "dog-eat-dog" world where you have to "look out for number one" to "get ahead" in the "rat race." Those metaphors are much more widely accepted than "be merciful."
What does it even mean to be merciful? Does it mean that your supervisor can treat you like dirt and get away with it? Should coworkers be able to backstab you and know that you won't do anything? Does it mean to let employees slack off?
For me, one of the easist things to remember is to "turn the other cheek," which is found in Matthew 5:39 and in Luke 6:29. That really speaks to the first two situations presented above. Yes, your supervisor can treat you like dirt, and you should still respect, obey, and pray for your supervisor. Yes, your coworkers can backstab you and not expect retaliation. I don't think that means that you have to constantly put yourself in position to be backstabbed, but if it happens, you need to turn the other cheek. I'll continue this line of thought on Wednesday.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to show mercy in a workplace is in relating to your subordinates. Think about the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:22-35. The servant was forgiven a debt that he could never repay. Even if the servant worked all of his life, he could never repay his debt, so the Master forgave it. No questions asked. Balance equals zero. What did this servant do? He went out and found another servant that owed almost nothing, assaulted and threatened him, and demanded money "or else!" Naturally, the Master was dismayed and threw the unmerciful servant in jail until he could pay his debt (which basically equated to a lifetime sentence). So think about your situation. God, the Master, has forgiven you a debt of sin that you could never repay. No matter how hard you worked and how much your job paid, you would never be able to repay the debt, so God said, "no problem, I got this one." What's your move? Are you the unmerciful servant, ready to pounce on someone that crosses you? Remember that, however they wrong you, it cannot compare to the sin that you've been forgiven! Hold your subordinates to a high standard. But remember to supervisor them with an ample supply of mercy for you have been shown incredible mercy yourself (which will be the subject of Friday's post).
cf Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 6:29
For the next few posts, I would like to look at the idea of mercy in the workplace. Today, I'm giving an overview and looking at supervisors and mercy. Wednesday, it will be the idea of forgiveness, particularly in terms of relating to coworkers and others at work. Friday, we'll stop and think about thankfulness. Finally, Monday, we'll talk about why do this at all, what is our motivation for thinking about mercy when those around us often don't.
Mercy is not a popular concept in what is generally thought of as a "dog-eat-dog" world where you have to "look out for number one" to "get ahead" in the "rat race." Those metaphors are much more widely accepted than "be merciful."
What does it even mean to be merciful? Does it mean that your supervisor can treat you like dirt and get away with it? Should coworkers be able to backstab you and know that you won't do anything? Does it mean to let employees slack off?
For me, one of the easist things to remember is to "turn the other cheek," which is found in Matthew 5:39 and in Luke 6:29. That really speaks to the first two situations presented above. Yes, your supervisor can treat you like dirt, and you should still respect, obey, and pray for your supervisor. Yes, your coworkers can backstab you and not expect retaliation. I don't think that means that you have to constantly put yourself in position to be backstabbed, but if it happens, you need to turn the other cheek. I'll continue this line of thought on Wednesday.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to show mercy in a workplace is in relating to your subordinates. Think about the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:22-35. The servant was forgiven a debt that he could never repay. Even if the servant worked all of his life, he could never repay his debt, so the Master forgave it. No questions asked. Balance equals zero. What did this servant do? He went out and found another servant that owed almost nothing, assaulted and threatened him, and demanded money "or else!" Naturally, the Master was dismayed and threw the unmerciful servant in jail until he could pay his debt (which basically equated to a lifetime sentence). So think about your situation. God, the Master, has forgiven you a debt of sin that you could never repay. No matter how hard you worked and how much your job paid, you would never be able to repay the debt, so God said, "no problem, I got this one." What's your move? Are you the unmerciful servant, ready to pounce on someone that crosses you? Remember that, however they wrong you, it cannot compare to the sin that you've been forgiven! Hold your subordinates to a high standard. But remember to supervisor them with an ample supply of mercy for you have been shown incredible mercy yourself (which will be the subject of Friday's post).
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