Every Christian family worries about placing their impressionable family members in secular environments where immoral standards endanger upright lifestyles and godly testimonies. Within the Christian community, there is little consensus as to whether protectionist policies are better than active engagement, or if withdrawal from the world amounts to cowardice.
The issue even divides families.
Stan, a 67 year-old retired pastor and minister, works at WalMart to make ends meet. He usually works the front zones as a greeter, but Eric the day manager has been thinking about reassigning him to be a floating helper in the carbonated and alcoholic beverage aisles.
His two oldest children are considering pulling him out of that role.
“I just don’t think there is any reason, at his age, to expose him to the sort of influences that exist in a secular workplace,” said Judith, Stan’s oldest daughter, while preparing for her day as a public school second grade teacher. “There’s just no reason for it, not in this day of religious pluralism and rank paganism. Have you seen the kinds of people who frequent that flesh pit? I think Christians should seriously consider pulling their aging workers out of the secular work force. It’s the only way to protect them against things they can’t understand.”
Her sister Amy agrees. “Aren’t there any Christian retailers? Of course there are! And if there aren’t enough, there’s no reason godly businesses and service providers can’t be established. I’ve been after the church for years to put in a movie projector so families could watch Harry Potter and Twilight without throwing our money away down at the heathens’ Cineplex. The Christian community has sufficient resources to create a godly, wholesome work environment where impressionable family members can work without fear of compromising their witnesses or participating in godless activities, like selling cheap clothing to rednecks.”
Not all the children agree, though.
Shawn, the youngest sibling, takes the opposite position. “I think we should leave Dad there. I mean, he’s a godly influence on the other workers, using his actions and attitudes to influence the heathen who need to know Christ, especially the janitorial staff and those Philistines in the pharmacy. Sure, he gets things confused and all that, but trust me, old people are sharper than we think. They see the truth. As long as families have done their jobs, things will be ok. If we take time nightly to talk to our parents about things they have seen and which prescriptions need re-filling, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Judith snapped back: “I just can’t stand to think of how Mother would feel about all this if she were still alive.”
Stan, for his part, remains conflicted about his job.
“I preached against crass commercialism and the sale-papering of Christmas for 33 years. Now I’m a greeter at Walmart. Led my church to boycott the local steakhouse when they started selling beer. Now I’m moving to the beverage aisle. Railed against building this store because of the damage to local retailers. Now I’m just hoping the store sets a new sales record for the month so we can all earn an extra vacation day. It’s killing me. That sweet employee discount makes it worse.” He paused. “I do need the cash, though. The church didn’t have a retirement plan.”
“This needs to be our call, not his. He’s in no condition…just isn’t equipped to handle the temptations of the world,” fumed Amy as she parked her Hummer next to the tennis courts. “Dad – putting financial gain ahead of his spiritual life? And after all those sermons about nanmon or whatever?”
Jeremy, this is blogging brilliance.
Not only is it funny, but it makes a good point. The protection/engagement dilemma is one we must all face in every aspect of our lives.
Two Thumbs UP!
Two ” Thumbs Up ” is correct but for me the real “light” that all pastors should work towards is getting a retirement plan . Other people are getting them with the money the churches donate . Can’t stand to ask ? Don’t feel you’re worth it ? If you aren’t then nobody else is either. It should come before a church van expense – in my humble opinion . It’s a great Christmas !
Sending the money on down the line via the CP so that others can be taken care of in their retirement while the local pastor is denied his is in my opinion a gross misunderstanding of missions.
Good point. There’s got to be a balance somewhere. The trick is in figuring out our proper priorities and then applying practices that feed those priorities. There’s also something to be said for allowing each group to determine their priorities without demanding that everyone follow what I think is most important.
But please….don’t lose sight of the fact that this is satire. I would hate for anyone to think there really are adults who consider pulling their parents from the secular workplace.
The theme of ‘isolationism’ comes through in this post . . . and the idea that vulnerable people need to be ‘isolated’ from what may contaminate their faith. And the idea that it is ‘responsible’ family members who must intervene in the lives of ‘vulnerable’ family members and make decisions for them, even if those decisions are not what the person would choose for himself/herself . . . but somehow, why is it that I am almost certain that this post will end up being a brew-ha-ha (sorry for pun) over alcolholic beverage consumption? 🙂 Actually, I’m really hopeful that… Read more »
Well, there are two or three things going on here. Isolation vs engagement is only one of them.
Thanks for the kind words.
Awesome post! I love a good saitre.
For what it is worth I lean more towards what you have labeled “isolationism” (i.e. I don’t have a job that compromises my faith in the God of the Bible, my children are homeschooled, I leave the room at work when heathens are grossly sinning, etc.). I say it that way because I don’t really know what your definition of isolationism is.
The “definition of isolationism” is an aspect of the problem. One man’s shelter is another’s isolation. However, a certain blindness to our own definitions creeps in as well. Like the daughters in this piece who work in public schools, choose to watch controversial movies, and drive fancy cars while accusing others of loving money, we too often cherry pick which areas require sound thinking.
After 54 years as a professing believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and having practice both isolationism and engagement at one time or another, It seems to me that the situation is a both/and proposition. There are times for isolation or separation as it might be better put, and there times for engagement or integration, of being “in the world” but “not of the world”. We need to know when and how much we should be isolated or separated from the world and its practices and how much engaged and integreated into the world’s ways. Sometimes we must take a… Read more »
I find that indwelling sin makes it easy to justify and rationalize, in the past, how have you objectectively discerned what calls for engagment and what calls for withdraw?
And, I get accused of using “strawmen” sometimes?
David
Dr. Willingham: Wise words.
What are we to be as Christians? Salt and light, a giver of the Gospel, a caller of justice, giver to the poor, a poultice to the wounded, a teacher to young converts(making disciples) and Christ said “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel”. Those are hard to do if one shuts themselves off.
On the surface, maybe. But would you suggest men going into strip clubs to witness to the “dancers” in the spirit of the Great Commission?
Steve: I think that is an obvious answer and think that Dr. Willingham’s answer covered that well. We use some common sense. I don’t mean to be flip but please……
I could easily see Christians doing this. I submit for evidence, “stripper pole for Jesus (workout fellowship)”. This was where christian woman would workout with a stripper pole. You can be as flip as you like, but the reality is the Church is so doctrinely eroded that these things happen. Worse yet, they happen under the lie that it brings glory to God. With all respect due, what is needed is a renewed conviction that it’s the Bible and the Bible alone that is the rule of faith and not human common sense. That’s why I ask for objective proofs.… Read more »
reformedsteve,
Don’t you think there would always be that nagging thought in the back of your mind as to why you really went into the club in the first place. Would it be to be a witness or would it to “witness”?
“a poultice to the wounded”
That phrase contains the implication of one’s being poured out or used up to completion. I shall borrow that phrase from you Debbie. I like it. I think it illustrates dying to one’s self very well. Thank you.
I might add that places such as Walmart are accommodating to those whose religious convictions dictate not working in certain areas. They are fine with placing that person in another department in the store due to not wanting to sell alcohol or tobacco.