Working for the Lord

Q: What scriptures are there that talk about occupation? In other words, we are on a fund drive and one of our counselors was approached today and was asked if it would be okay for them to put out containers at work with a label on them asking for support for the mission. The counselor said that they thought that would be okay and then the asker told them that they were a bartender at a strip club. Of course the mission certainly doesn`t want it`s name associated with this type of place. The asker was offended saying that the mission was being judgmental and that we shouldn`t care where the money comes from. It seems to me that the asker wanted to justify their occupation by doing what they perceived as a good thing. I suggested that they were correct as far it not mattering where money comes from but they insisted on using the mission`s name. It seemed as though they needed to justify their working in such a place with the name of what they perceived as being a righteous place. They were offended that we did not approve of where they worked. I know scriptures that talk about living righteously but are they ones that deal specifically with occupation?

A: I am not aware of any scriptures that talk about particular occupations, but there are some that talk about working, in general. "The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work (Proverbs 21:25)." "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28)." These scriptures are more about encouraging people not to be idle or engaged in sinful activity, but rather to do something useful. Other scriptures instruct people to pull their own weight when it comes to doing whatever task is in front of them. "On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you (2 Thessalonians 3:8)." "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10)." With that said, it would seem your problem is not one about occupation, but what someone believes.

I understand your concern with having your mission equated with a strip club that promotes sexual immorality. The question you should ask of the bartender is "Do you think it is profitable for a Christian organization to be soliciting funds from the patrons at a strip club?" Furthermore, is this bartender a Christian? That is the ultimate question that needs to be answered. It doesn't matter if he feels judged or not, you are well within your right to be concerned. Our ultimate desire as Christians is to get people saved. And while people who attend a strip club definitely could use the light of the Lord shining in on them, soliciting funds from them is most likely only going to reflect negatively on the mission. I wouldn't be concerned about the bartender's reaction to you questioning where he worked. Many people automatically feel judged because they may not be proud of what they do for a living. The best case scenario would be that the bulk of your support came from Christians who identify with your goal. Besides, if the bartender says you shouldn't care where the money comes from what is to stop somebody from stealing money to help the mission? You see where that can lead?

To be a bartender is not a sinful occupation in and of itself. If it were then nobody would ever be able to work at a restaurant, on a cruise liner or be a flight attendant. Perhaps, where one tends bar, like a strip club, can be debated as such. Many believe it is a poor occupation because getting drunk is a sin or, as is the case in your scenario, the bartender may work at a place that capitalizes off of the vices and sins of others. The first miracle of Jesus was turning water to wine (John 2:9). In a minor way He was being a bartender, but nobody would say He was encouraging people to get drunk or it was sinful to perform the miracle. What a person does with the alcohol they consume is their own responsibility. The bartender has his own reasons for why he is working at a strip club. There comes a time when all of us may have to take jobs that we don't totally agree with in order to survive. However, that doesn't mean that we should expect others to agree with what we do or not have a problem with lending their name to the business. The Bible does talk about living righteously. However, it is more about resting and trusting in the righteousness all believers have in Christ moreso than our occupations.

The Bible says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23)." A solution to your dilemma may be to ask the bartender if he would be satisfied with taking up a collection on his own without the use of the mission containers? That way he can help the mission and the mission isn't directly associated with a strip club. In that way he can still get the satisfaction of "working for the Lord" and the mission doesn't risk being associated with a strip club. My prayer is that the bartender truly knows Jesus as his savior. As time goes on, I would think that working in such an environment would wear on his spirit. Granted the Lord can use him within the confines of that environment, but the question "what fellowship can light have with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)?" comes to mind. Stick to your guns and focus on talking to Him about the Lord in hopes that by doing so it will lead him to a revelation about where he works and how it may reflect on the Lord. Be blessed.