When Faith and Work Collide
What Jaden Ivey’s Firing Teaches Us About Living as a Christian at Work
This past week, NBA player, Jaden Ivey, was let go for speaking openly about his Christian beliefs. While many are arguing about what was said, I thought this was a good opportunity to discuss, “How should Christians walk out their faith at work?”
[Please note, I made a video on this topic which I embedded at the bottom of this article]
To start, the Daily Beast summarized the situation very simply here:
The Real Issue
As Christians, it’s easy to get caught up in the weeds on any number of specific topics, whether it’s Pride Month, our feelings regarding other belief systems that we may disagree with, any form of perversion, etc. As a result, we want to hold to a certain standard, and we get disappointed when our employer may not feel the same way that we do.
As a first step, I think it’s important that we zoom out and understand some basic truths:
We are called to be in the world, not of the world
Most workplaces are built on priorities that are not centered on Christ
It is rare that these things can ever be reconciled, so tension will exist
Where Christians Get It Wrong
As a result, many of us get frustrated and believe that all situations require boldness. However, when we speak boldly without seeking God’s wisdom, we can find ourselves in murky territory.
For example, it is rumored that Jaden Ivey questioned reporters on their sexual behavior. Asking such questions in any workplace, even if you’re trying to guide someone to the path of righteousness, will not bode well.
Additionally, when we come in too hot and start condemning others’ beliefs, even when they may be wrong, it will only cause people to close up and not receive the message.
This is why we must pray for wisdom, seek counsel from good pastors, ministers, and fellow disciples, and not approach situations too hastily.
A Better Way to Approach It
My best advice is to approach this situation from three angles.
Walk the Walk:
First, we should take up our cross and display our faith through our personal actions by being the salt in the workplace, showing patience and compassion, and reflecting the qualities of Jesus in our lives. So when situations arise that may go against our belief systems, people won’t bat an eye when you choose not to participate, because they will understand that you are a true Christian who lives out your walk with standards.
Pray for Opportunity:
If you want to evangelize to someone at work, ask God to create the opportunity, and if it is according to His will, He will bring that person to YOU. Evangelizing at work is not without its challenges, but we should seek God to create the opening. I’ve had numerous instances where I asked God to create an opportunity, and He answered those prayers on His timeline. So let us be patient.
Trust God to Use Others:
We have to remember, “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). So we should pray for the LORD to send someone into that person’s life to minister to them, and God will raise up a third party who may not have the same restrictions that you have. We just need to go out in faith, believing that He will do it at the appointed time.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, sometimes we get so caught up in changing our workplace that we disregard our community. We forget about the places where we can actually move without restriction, and we get consumed by battles that the LORD may not have called us to fight.
Additionally, we get frustrated when “worldly agendas” infiltrate our workplace, and we feel the need to fight fire with fire. But we have to remember that the devil is manipulative and cannot change someone’s heart, so he works through deception, agendas, and influence.
But God fights differently. He works through His Spirit and changes people from the inside out, because God transforms and cleanses hearts.
So instead of focusing on how the enemy moves, let us trust in God’s ability to change people, create openings, guide our walks, and ultimately transform lives.
I pray the LORD blesses you in your walk, in and outside the workplace. Amen.