{"id":4562,"date":"2011-09-07T08:41:56","date_gmt":"2011-09-07T13:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=4562"},"modified":"2011-09-07T02:27:24","modified_gmt":"2011-09-07T07:27:24","slug":"workplace-evangelization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2011\/09\/workplace-evangelization\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Evangelization"},"content":{"rendered":"

A while back, I wrote an article about Microevangalization<\/a>: that is, sharing the Good News in small ways as often as possible.<\/p>\n

So, imagine my\u00a0surprise\u00a0when I read this part of a Yahoo article called “What Does Your Desk Say About You?”<\/a>\u00a0listing different items and their impressions:<\/p>\n

Rosary or hamsa:<\/strong>Third-rail alert!<\/em>\u00a0Religious icons can be the fastest way to alienate a colleague. Same goes for political paraphernalia. Treat your workspace like Thanksgiving dinner \u2014 ideology-free.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rosary hanging from desk lamp by theroamincatholic<\/p><\/div>\n

Ouch. I’ll admit I don’t have a rosary hanging at my desk, but I have a prayer card in my line of sight. It’s one of St. Louis de Montfort and Mary that I used during my 33-day Total Consecration prep and I left it up by the Miraculous Medal that hangs out on my keyboard. I have a parish bumper sticker on my car, and a scripture related tattoo. My desk calender is all doodled up with youth ministry notes, young adult events, and blog post reminders. So really, there’s no hiding my<\/em> religiousness. Does that mean I alienate people? This article seems to think so.<\/p>\n

Maybe the article’s intention wasn’t explicitly so, but if those small (yet incredibly meaningful) items can cause a negative impression in the workplace, it certainly seems any items of equal devout significance can, too.<\/p>\n

What’s a modern day apostle to do?\u00a0I’ve come to two conclusions:<\/p>\n

1. Be cautious to those around you’s personal space. Basically, know when your message is not welcome as common sense dictates. Often the most effective way to evangelize isn’t by what we tell other people anyway; it’s what they observe in our character.<\/p>\n

\n
Preach the Gospel at all times and\u00a0when necessary use words.<\/div>\n
St. Francis of Assisi<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I think that the error on the part of the article is its assumption that people with religious or political paraphernalia have it for the sole purpose on\u00a0imposing\u00a0their opinion on others (when the truth is that it’s really for our own personal devotion). Sadly, it only takes one bad experience for a whole body of people to be\u00a0stereotyped\u00a0as such. It’s up to each of us, our character and actions, to (albeit slowly) reverse this train of thought.<\/div>\n
2. Evangelize anyway!<\/div>\n
Honestly, I can’t change my behavior or my love for God in all His three persons any easier than I could wash my tattoo away with soap and water. My beliefs have become (by God’s grace) part of who I am. Intentionally trying to limit that would be mendacious to myself. (And probably impossible!) So, I would\u00a0encourage\u00a0you to not shy away from any opportunity that should present itself. Because contrary to what that article\u00a0perceives, the meaningful conversations that I have had come to pass in the workplace, are more valuable to me than any fear of stigma.<\/div>\n
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So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.<\/div>\n
Mt 10:32<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A while back, I wrote an article about Microevangalization: that is, sharing the Good News in small ways as often as possible. So, imagine my\u00a0surprise\u00a0when I read this part of a Yahoo article called “What Does Your Desk Say About You?”\u00a0listing different items and their impressions: Rosary or hamsa:Third-rail alert!\u00a0Religious icons can be the fastest… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,90,91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-blog","category-faith-blog","category-young-adult","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t