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General => Archive => Political and Religious => Topic started by: AndyDT on June 11, 2012, 03:57:28 PM
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How do you view your career and work as a Christian? As things you want to achieve or service? If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself? Personally I've tried to do work where I can serve in some way and let God work out the details.
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I can think of few careers where religion matters even remotely. I guess you generally want a job where you can make a positive difference in the world, but most people want that anyway.
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How do you view your career and work as a Christian? As things you want to achieve or service? If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself? Personally I've tried to do work where I can serve in some way and let God work out the details.
You can serve God by working in a field that's not even remotely related to Him. The job can bless you in ways that you can have the time/money/whatever to do what you need to do. Don't forget interactions with people (I don't mean straight up go "DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS?!!?" but rather, let them see your actions and who you are).
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If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
"God helps those who help themselves".
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If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
"God helps those who help themselves".
That statement is what has perverted Christianity for so many people. It's not even remotely biblical.
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If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
"God helps those who help themselves".
That statement is what has perverted Christianity for so many people. It's not even remotely biblical.
There are enough perversions of christianity due to statements taken directly from the bible, as to make any perversion from this particular "non-biblical" statement pretty much a non-issue.
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Another misconception of Christianity is that everyone in the Bible got it right all of the time.
EDIT: BUT, concerning the actual topic here, I typically pray about any major change that may happen in my field of work or whatever job I'll take next. In Paul's letter to the Colossians he states that Christians ought to work as to the Lord, if we're talking about work ethic or effort or whatever. I don't understand fully what you're getting at with your question though.
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Another misconception of Christianity is that everyone in the Bible got it right all of the time.
So who decides what was right and what was wrong? Sounds like it is all open for widely varying interpretation. That might be the biggest basis for perversions of christianity.
As to the OP: One would think it is coomon sense that if you feel you are to live a christian life, then you should apply those values to all aspects of your life....including your vocation. Just be careful of over doing it. You cant only do volunteer work helping the poor for no pay while your family starves. Balance.
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I'm not sure that religion has anything to do with your job, unless you are on staff at a church or a religious non-profit.
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I wanted to be a musician because I dig the spotlight but I also honestly believe that I've been given a gift, and it was my obligation to share it. To make sure that I did so, He made it fun for me as well. Made perfect sense. But it didn't work out, so I went back to school to become a teacher.
Again, the idea was to share my gift, as He would want me to, or so I thought. I was a good teacher, my students learned a lot and had fun doing it, but as we all know, teachers don't make jack for money, and after six years, I got laid off anyway.
So now I'm a computer programmer and makes lots of money and help a big corporation make lots of money, going on 17 years. Instead of trying to guess at what I'm supposed to be doing, I've decided that whatever works out must be the way it's supposed to be. There are a number of quotes which are variations on "we cannot understand His plan for us" or "His mind is beyond us" or whatever, so okay, I'll go that route.
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If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
"God helps those who help themselves".
That statement is what has perverted Christianity for so many people. It's not even remotely biblical.
Eh, given some of the shite that *is* in the Bible, you might as well take a Sharpie and write it in.
rumborak
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:lol
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If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
"God helps those who help themselves".
That statement is what has perverted Christianity for so many people. It's not even remotely biblical.
Eh, given some of the shite that *is* in the Bible, you might as well take a Sharpie and write it in.
rumborak
I'll narrow it down - it isn't a Christian teaching.
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there are too many passages in new testament to mention that highlight that we are to honor God in our jobs. through honoring our bosses or treating our employees with respect, to working with all your heart, with integrity, for the joy of it rather than the paycheck. to work hard when the boss isn't around, etc.
our Christianity is absolutely central to our work behavior
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Supposedly. But be honest to yourself, you're not checking daily with scriptural doctrine when it comes to work decisions (because otherwise you'd end up like Andy), you just use your own judgment and moral compass.
rumborak
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It doesn't have to be a daily thing, though. I worked for years doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing, and figured that that's something like a Christian work ethic. I wasn't selling drugs or robbing banks, I was doing things that I honestly believed were improving our race and culture as a whole and just happened to get paid for it.
Now, I'm working my butt off for a pharmaceutical company. We make stuff that treats cancer, crohn's, and other really serious diseases. So in the big picture, I'm doing good stuff. I don't start each day deciding how what I do will glorify God or anything like that, but I like to think that I'm doing something positive. Does that count?
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Of course, I guess. It's only that I find that those questions have little to do with either God or Christianity without explicitly shoehorning Him into it. I mean, I ask myself those questions too, only that I don't tack on the "is it the Christian thing to do?" at the end.
rumborak
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
1) If god didnt want us to eat meat, he wouldnt have made it so fucking tasty.
2) Didnt god state that all/some animals are basically lower than us and were put there for us to use/eat?
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
it is very interesting how work in Scripture is closely related to creation (particularly from the beginning with God who created for six days and then rested the seventh, then told us to also work six days and rest on sabbath). when you look at work from this perspective, creating is at the core. your career is a classic example of this. seeing work from this perspective can help to bring the joy that God intended it to be.
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
1) If god didnt want us to eat meat, he wouldnt have made it so fucking tasty.
2) Didnt god state that all/some animals are basically lower than us and were put there for us to use/eat?
Exactly. I'm good with that.
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Animals are food.
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animals are tasty
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Well, animals are a lot more than that, but I guess yeah, they are eaten too.
rumborak
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Animals are food.
And more recently, people.
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I'd rather give personhood to an animal than a corporation.
rumborak
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I'd rather give personhood to an animal than a corporation.
rumborak
Can I say no to both, or must I choose one?
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I'd rather give personhood to an animal than a corporation.
rumborak
Good lord Rumby, next thing you'll give personhood to cartoons!
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I'd rather give personhood to an animal than a corporation.
rumborak
Can I say no to both, or must I choose one?
I'm saying no to both.
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Another misconception of Christianity is that everyone in the Bible got it right all of the time.
EDIT: BUT, concerning the actual topic here, I typically pray about any major change that may happen in my field of work or whatever job I'll take next. In Paul's letter to the Colossians he states that Christians ought to work as to the Lord, if we're talking about work ethic or effort or whatever. I don't understand fully what you're getting at with your question though.
Basically what's your motivation behind career/job choices as a Christian if you are a believing Christian?
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I'd rather give personhood to an animal than a corporation.
rumborak
Can I say no to both, or must I choose one?
I'm saying no to both.
So am I. Just figured I'd point out that I'd rather give it to a living being than an economic entity.
rumborak
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
If God is okay with having sheep sacrificed to him, I'm sure he'll be okay with you killing a few animals so that you won't starve. I mean, if you sacrifice a sheep, that thing is basically wasted. You're putting the dead animals to good use.
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OK, I work hard, no question about that. My dilemma is even though my work brings joy to many and is a vital part of people celebrating love and family, I have to do it by slaughtering God's creatures(and making them tasty as hell). Thoughts?
If God is okay with having sheep sacrificed to him, I'm sure he'll be okay with you killing a few animals so that you won't starve. I mean, if you sacrifice a sheep, that thing is basically wasted. You're putting the dead animals to good use.
QFT
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV)
And I disagree about not looking into the Bible daily..
"Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." (Ps 1:1-3 Good News Translation)
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What the hell is a good news translation? Is there a bad news translation? What about a no news is good news translation?
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Maybe the good news translation is the one where God created the stars on the first day, and not on the fourth.
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Maybe the good news translation is the one where God created the stars on the first day, and not on the fourth.
No, I looked it up. Turns out the Good News translation was done by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth.
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Don't know if serious or not, but "evangelion" => "good news" => "good spell" => "gospel"
rumborak
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Isn't this a little off topic? :facepalm:
I don't exclusively use a single translation. I research into several translations. I just like to mix it up from time to time. There are a core few that are definitely the most reliable and accurate. But occasionally, the "looser" translations add a nice bit of color.
Example: When the Sanhedrien took counsel to kill Jesus, they began to argue with each other about what to do. Then the high priest halted them by saying:
"Ye know nothing at all." (John 11:49 KJV)
"You know nothing at all." (ESV & NIV)
This is accurate. However, in the original Greek, this was a phrase of contempt. Which is why other translations render it:
"You don't know anything!" (Common English Bible)
"You people don't know anything!" (Complete Jewish Bible)
"What fools you are!" (Good News Bible)
"Don't you know anything?" (The Message)
"You don't know what you're talking about!" (New Living Translation)
I wouldn't rely on these translations for accuracy. But literal accuracy is not always accuracy of an idea. It's a very delicate balance.
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Good News bible seems the least reliable at that point.
Also sorry to derail the topic, thought my Farnsworth comment was funny. Oh well.
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Good News bible seems the least reliable at that point.
Also sorry to derail the topic, thought my Farnsworth comment was funny. Oh well.
Well it's not as far out of bounds as The Living Bible which reads: "You stupid idiots!" :lol
You know, it's totally inaccurate...but I like it anyway. :biggrin:
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Wait a minute.....why is "The Complete Jewish Bible" containing anything about jesus?
He's not in our books believe it or not.
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Several of these I have hard copies of...but not the Complete Jewish Bible. (I should look at a used book store)
I have to read that one at biblegateway dot com, so you can research it yourself if you like. I don't know that much about it.
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Oh it's for those Jews for Jesus people. Nevermind, what a horribly misleading title. Might as well call The Book of Mormon "The True Christian Bible" at that point.
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Maybe the good news translation is the one where God created the stars on the first day, and not on the fourth.
No, I looked it up. Turns out the Good News translation was done by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth.
You won all of my internets.
Well, maybe not all. Up to five. Up to five internets.
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Oh it's for those Jews for Jesus people. Nevermind, what a horribly misleading title. Might as well call The Book of Mormon "The True Christian Bible" at that point.
why do you always make me laugh when I shouldn't be
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IMHO Jesus for Jews should spell Jesus "Jewsus". And teach Jujitsu. And play lots of Jenga. In June and July.
rumborak
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IMHO Jesus for Jews should spell Jesus "Jewsus". And teach Jujitsu. And play lots of Jenga. In June and July.
rumborak
Isn't Jenga pronounced like Jaynga?
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV)
That's the hard part as you have to consciously ask day by day sometimes moment to moment "am I on purpose?'
And I disagree about not looking into the Bible daily..
"Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." (Ps 1:1-3 Good News Translation)
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV)
That's the hard part as you have to consciously ask day by day sometimes moment to moment "am I on purpose?'
In part, the testimony you give is by your conduct...by the way you live your life...which includes the way in which you do your job.
"If I perform this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it against my will, all the same I have a stewardship entrusted to me..." (1 Cor 9:17)
That's not to say that if you are in a bad situation, you can't find another one. But the reason you leave should never be because you were doing poor work. Even in the worst of situations, a Christian should do the best work he is capable of until he finds a better situation.
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BTW, the Good News Bible is not a translation at all, it's just a paraphrase. Like The Message.
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Ok...that's really weird. I just double and triple checked and I *DO NOT* have a quote tag around my response. Can't figure out why it posted that way. ???
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Yes, you do.
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:) Hey Andy
@OP:
How do you view your career and work as a Christian?
As unto the Lord and learning not to have my identity wrapped up in it. When given power, authority, status, position it can be easy for those things to define you more then Him. I'm still learning Godliness with contenment.
As things you want to achieve or service?
Both. He gives us the desires of our heart, but it's never the blessing that fulfills it's Him. Achievement is nice, appreciation is nice, but not at the expense of Him and the works of service He's called us to.
If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
Both. His grace and mercy keeps us, but learning to be lead by Him and not the flesh or selfish ambition takes training. I don't mind stagnant to train.
Personally I've tried to do work where I can serve in some way and let God work out the details.
Pray for me. I do the same, but I wrestle with who I work with and whose command I serve under. Blessings bro. :)
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Yes, you do.
But I've tried to modify it. I see the quote tags in the upper half...but there's not "unquote" after my actual post. I don't get it.
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV)
That's the hard part as you have to consciously ask day by day sometimes moment to moment "am I on purpose?'
In part, the testimony you give is by your conduct...by the way you live your life...which includes the way in which you do your job.
"If I perform this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it against my will, all the same I have a stewardship entrusted to me..." (1 Cor 9:17)
That's not to say that if you are in a bad situation, you can't find another one. But the reason you leave should never be because you were doing poor work. Even in the worst of situations, a Christian should do the best work he is capable of until he finds a better situation.
That should fix it. Just copy and paste.
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I remember we hired an uber Christian once at our store. He was fired a few weeks later because he showed up late three times and not at all once. He had a pretty bad work ethic....
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Col 3:23 NIV)
That's the hard part as you have to consciously ask day by day sometimes moment to moment "am I on purpose?'
In part, the testimony you give is by your conduct...by the way you live your life...which includes the way in which you do your job.
"If I perform this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it against my will, all the same I have a stewardship entrusted to me..." (1 Cor 9:17)
That's not to say that if you are in a bad situation, you can't find another one. But the reason you leave should never be because you were doing poor work. Even in the worst of situations, a Christian should do the best work he is capable of until he finds a better situation.
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So weird. I saw the exact same thing in the modify screen of the first post....identical. I must be missing something.
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So weird. I saw the exact same thing in the modify screen of the first post....identical. I must be missing something.
This is getting way off topic, but you missed a / at one of the end quote things, that was all.
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:facepalm:
Thank you. I do appreciate it.
We now return you to AndyDT's original topic, already in progress.
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:) Hey Andy
@OP:
How do you view your career and work as a Christian?
As unto the Lord and learning not to have my identity wrapped up in it. When given power, authority, status, position it can be easy for those things to define you more then Him. I'm still learning Godliness with contenment.
As things you want to achieve or service?
Both. He gives us the desires of our heart, but it's never the blessing that fulfills it's Him. Achievement is nice, appreciation is nice, but not at the expense of Him and the works of service He's called us to.
If you feel things are stagnant do you trust in God to change events so that you have to change or do you mix things up yourself?
Both. His grace and mercy keeps us, but learning to be lead by Him and not the flesh or selfish ambition takes training. I don't mind stagnant to train.
Personally I've tried to do work where I can serve in some way and let God work out the details.
Pray for me. I do the same, but I wrestle with who I work with and whose command I serve under. Blessings bro. :)
Thanks you too.