Torch, Fall 1983

things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them ... (Matthew 7: 12). Supervisors must also be firm and let the employee know what the guidelines are - what is expected of them. Yet, a good boss that conforms to Ephesians 6:9 will do so in a way .. .forbearing threatening knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect ofpersons with Him. TORCH: How can a Christian employer be a witness to his/her workers? ENGELMANN: James 2:18 provides a good response . . . I will show thee my faith by my works. My supervisors respect honesty and fairness from me. This in tum gives me credibility when the Lord opens the door for me to be a verbal witness. TORCH: Can an employer be an intimate friend with an employee? ENGELMANN: It would take a top notch person to direct , observe, and rate a worker ' s performance and not be blinded by the high level of friendship they both enJoy. TORCH: Some men hire their wives. Is there danger in this? ENGELMANN: Yes, there is, along the lines that I have just mentioned. I think it is beneficial for husband and wife to be separated part of the day. This makes the end of the workday a blessed homecoming where they can share from their experiences. It keeps the marriage fresh. However, there are some people who follow the pattern of the old couple who lived over the general store and operated it together. They were such a great team that the relationship flourished . TORCH: What are the marks of a good employee? ENGELMANN: The Bible is clear on this. Ephe– sians 6:5 says, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters .... A worker who does all that is asked of him, and with a good spirit, will honor God, express loyalty to his boss and his company, and will be prospered in his work. TORCH: Can a laborer be a: witness to management? ENGELMANN: Oh, yes. The principle found in James 2: 18 applies to employees too. A Christian ' s faith is clearly evidenced by his good works on the job. If he is honest with his boss, does what is expected to the best of his ability, God will give him opportunity to share Christ with co-workers and even his supervisor. TORCH: What if a worker is blessed with a difficult employer? ENGELMANN: Again, the Bible gives us direction. It says, Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Perhaps God places a Christian under the authority of an antagonistic boss so that he can witness to him. Or perhaps the Lord desires to build patience and longsuffering into a saint. Either way, God commands obedience to the good and the bad. TORCH: Let's say that an employer directs a Christian to perform a task that violates Scripture. How should this saint respond? ENGELMANN: We are always to obey God first. Under His umbrella of authority, He has placed parents, government, and employers who also require obedience to rules . However, when any authority demands that a Christian violate his conscience, he has overstepped his bounds. This happened to the apostles. In Acts 5:28 we are told that the religious authorities commanded them not to teach about Jesus. Peter's response in verse 29 was, We ought to obey God rather than men. I recommend that a worker be respectfully frank with his boss in this kind of situation. Explain that what he has required will displease the Lord. Then whatever the consequences, know that God is in control. It could be that the boss will respect the honesty and courage of the employee and alter his orders . On the other hand, he may discipline the employee or even fire him . God says , For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully ; but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God (I Peter 2: 19 ,20b) . Also , Proverbs 12:21 says, There shall no evil happen to the just .... It is not necessarily bad to get fired. Joseph eventually became ruler over Potiphar who fired him . TORCH: Many Christians work for Christian employers and are paid less than they could earn from a secular employer. Should this be expected of Christians? ENGELMANN: Unfortunately, your question illustrates an accurate picture in many Christian organizations. This is regrettable because I believe the Bible teaches that the laborer is worthy of this hire .... (Luke 10:7) . Unregenerate workers are certainly not more worthy than a faithful Christian. Also, it is tempting for a Christian employer to always ask extra of a born again brother or sister because he knows that the job will get done . This practice is unfair. It is the kind of preferential treatment that is demoralizing to the worker and, by the wrong example, hinders the cause of Christ in that shop or office . TORCH: Do you have any closing comments about employer/employee relations? continued on page 22. Mr. Engelmann, a superintendent of manufacturing for General Motors, Chevrolet, Flint, Michigan, is also a 1966 graduate of Cedar– ville, a President's Associate, and Chairman of the Alumni Council. 7