Most Christians are reluctant to share their faith in the workplace.
The vast majority (95%) think it’s important, but 85% of Christians are unsure how to share their faith in the workplace. A full 60% are afraid to share their faith at work because they fear they will be misunderstood or offend a colleague.
Much of this angst is because we think of sharing our faith as an event, rather than a process.
Sharing Our Faith Is a Process
However, the Bible depicts sharing our faith as a process, not an event.
For example, Paul described the process of sharing faith, saying,
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor” (1 Cor 3:6-8).
In a parable, Jesus also described sharing faith as a process,
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mat 13:3-8).
Both Jesus and Paul described sharing faith as a process, sometimes a long one, involving several steps on the unbeliever’s journey to faith.
1. Cultivation
Any farmer or weekend gardener will tell you that it is essential to cultivate the soil before planting. When it comes to sharing our faith, the unbeliever may have a cynical view of faith. They may be wary of Christians and think God and faith are irrelevant.
The cultivating phase tries to build a trusting relationship with the unbeliever, which reduces emotional barriers and moves the unbeliever to be openly curious about our faith.
2. Planting
Once the soil is cultivated, it’s time to plant seeds. In the planting phase, the unbeliever’s barriers are intellectual, based on their lack of knowledge, misconceptions, or misinformation about God.
The goal of the planting phase is to plant seeds of truth through conversation. We plant seeds of knowledge about God, who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and the response He expects of us.
The result is that the curious unbeliever begins to understand and has an appetite for Biblical truth. As their understanding grows, the differences between a secular worldview and a Biblical worldview come into focus.
3. Harvesting
Over time, the planted seeds grow, and the time for harvest arrives. With emotional and intellectual barriers removed, the unbeliever is now confronted with the need to make a decision. Will they trust in Jesus for their salvation, or will they reject Him?
Our role in the harvesting phase is continued conversation, prayer, and trusting in God to draw the unbeliever to Himself.
4. Multiplying
Once the unbeliever decides to follow Christ, the multiplying phase begins.
The multiplying phase aims to help establish the new believer in a community of believers where their faith can grow and flourish. As they mature spiritually, they may have the privilege of leading the next generation of unbelievers on their journey to faith.
The Journey to Faith
Pastors preach messages of salvation, calling on unbelievers to commit their lives to Christ. Some folks with the gift of evangelism are comfortable standing on a street corner proclaiming the Gospel.
But we are not pastors, and most of us would likely say we do not have the gift of evangelism. However, we are not released from the great commission to share the gospel and make disciples.
We just do it in the workplace.
Much like the first-century church, we share God’s truth of Jesus, where God has given us the most significant opportunity for a harvest—our workplace! Through the relationships we build, God has called us to lead others on their own journey to faith.
Remember, sharing our faith in the workplace is a process, not an event. We begin by cultivating the soil by building personal relationships. Then through conversation, we plant the seeds of the truth of Jesus and nurture the seeds as they begin to grow. Eventually, with constant nurturing, the time for harvest arrives, and the unbeliever decides to trust Jesus. Next, we help the new believer connect with a community of believers who will help them grow into spiritual maturity.
The journey to faith is a process, not an event!
More Articles
I have written several articles on leaders’ obedience to God. You can find them by typing “Obedience to God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #428: Are Godly Leaders Countercultural Leaders?
- #423: The Three Most Common Excuses Leading to Failure
- #385: Is the Path You Are on the Right One?
- #365: Do You Lead Like an Owner or A Steward?
- #345: Disobedience to God Always Leads to Lost Opportunities
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Do any of the four phases in the journey to faith intimidate you in a way that will keep you from sharing your faith in the workplace?
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Category: Personal Development | Obedience to God
The police chief that hired me as a young police officer was Catholic. Over the years he would often gently refer to bits of wisdom that his priest shared in various homilies. I always thought that was a nice way to share his faith with us,
Your old chief was employing a technique I call “signaling.” It’s when simple signals are sent in a way that allows someone to be drawn to the faith! Years later you remember the actions of the chief so what he did and how he did it made a difference in the lives of his officers!