Faith Dilemmas for Marketplace Christians
The Pious Pressman
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
—Colossians 3:17, NIV
THE following story raises several workplace issues. A zealous young convert needs help to see how Monday-to-Friday fits into his larger identity as a Christian. His intense devotion needs to be seasoned by a broader outlook that shows work as part of a divine pattern (John 5:17) that matters to God (Eph. 6:7-8).
Perhaps both the young man and his boss could have their horizons stretched regarding “corporate sin.” God told Moses, “If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty” (Lev. 4:13).
Then, too, there is the matter of “passing judgment on one another” (Rom. 14:1-13).
* * *
For the fifth time that day, Martin got up from his desk. He strode past the typesetting and paste-up departments and pushed through the swinging doors to the new perfector press, which was his pride and joy. He wanted personally to check the register on a big four-color book job. The customer’s previous printer had gotten sloppy. Martin, president of Plains Printing, had won a chance to bid by promising high quality.
Martin needed to please this customer. The press had cost a bundle and required a high volume of work to pay for itself. Martin also felt he ought to check on Dennis, the pressman.
Dennis had joined Plains about a year ago. A pleasant young man with a quick wit, he learned fast. When a press job opened up, Martin trained Dennis for the position.
Martin was pleased when Dennis showed interest in spiritual things. He accepted Martin’s invitation to attend church with him. Before long Dennis made a commitment to follow Jesus.
Dennis was a zealous convert. Once Martin caught him reading his Bible while the press was running. Martin gently reminded him to keep a close eye on the press. He explained that being a Christian pressman also involved quality control and excellence. Dennis had agreed to save his Bible reading for coffee breaks.
Then Dennis began to fast one day a week. Sometimes that made him light-headed and gave him headaches by mid-afternoon. How, Martin wondered, could he do a good job when not feeling well? One of these days he might hurt himself.
One day Dennis criticized some of the jobs Plains was accepting. He had discussed this with his fellowship group, which felt strongly about social justice issues. First, there was the monthly newsletter of a political action group which Dennis felt was militant. He didn’t like being part of the production chain.
Martin cringed. It was a regular printing job with a long and lucrative press run. They always paid promptly.
Then there was the university arts catalog with photographs Dennis found offensive. “This is pretty close to pornography,” he complained.
One day Dennis flatly refused to run the press. This time the problem was a publicity brochure for a flashy TV preacher who lived in a mansion and drove a lavish car yet cried out for contributions for the “poor and unsaved.”
“I think this guy’s a phony,” said Dennis.
Martin rued the day he had told Dennis to keep his eye on the press.
Life sure would be simpler around here if Dennis had never become a Christian, Martin grumbled to himself.
One of these days, he thought, he’d have to do something about it.
Questions to ponder and discuss
1. How much responsibility should a Christian employer accept for an employee’s spiritual development? Should spiritual disciplines be confined to off-hours?
2. Was Dennis out of line to oppose some materials he was printing? Should the customers’ right to “freedom of speech” override his personal convictions?
3. How much moral stake do employees have in the products they help produce or distribute? Does it make a difference if the product is military weapons? Tobacco? Food containing possible safety hazards?