Stop Trying to Leave Your Faith at the Door
Blog: My reflection on what an Undivided Life is for us Catholic Entrepreneurs.
While I wouldn’t recommend setting your watch to us, we do show up… eventually. We’re back with a written takeaway from our last podcast episode with Jeff.
Hey everyone! Silas here 👋
If you’re in the Wausau, WI area, we’re hosting an in person Catholic entrepreneurship meetup on the evening of April 22nd. Message me for more details if you’re in the area and would like to attend.
In Today’s Post:
Understanding there are consequences
Why we cannot separate our faith from our work
Jesus’ warning to Catholic entrepreneurs in scripture
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In our last episode of the CF Podcast with Jeff Schiefelbein, I found one takeaway particularly valuable.
(check out the episode 👇)
What an undivided life means to most
Jeff’s entire principle is that we need to live an undivided life. On the surface, it means living our beliefs and faith at home AND at work. Living a harmonious life. A life where we never write off any part of our day as ‘not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.’
While this perception is good and will surely yield results, I’m convinced there’s more.
Truth has consequences
There are certain things we believe to be true. Of course, not all truths have heavy consequences. Maybe you could tell yourself that an apple is actually a banana. You could choose to believe that. What will the consequences be? Probably nothing immediately, other than perhaps the judgment of your friends.
But in the long run, there is more.
In the long run, small compromises lead to big compromises. Before you know it things like when life begins are up for debate. For this reason, we don’t want to accept any falsehood even if it seems inconsequential. How much greater will the consequences be with a lot on the line? Things like the existence of God. Or what Jesus’ sacrifice for us means.
Because we accept truths, big or small, we need to accept the importance of unity between our personal actions and how our businesses are run. In other words, there is no separation of business and person. Your actions as an individual still have eternal consequences, even if taken in a business setting.
We need total commitment to living out our faith in our businesses. Even if our employees and customers are not Catholic. We still MUST live our faith.
What does our faith in our businesses look like
This is the question. How many of us truly live out our faith fully in our business?
You might ask what does living our faith in our business even look like? Do I need to treat my employees, customers, and suppliers differently? Or can I just be a nice guy and go about my merry way — without worrying about these kinds of things?
What’s so wrong with checking in and out of work and then practicing my religion from the comfort of my own home?
Dissonance.
Living this way is a lie. Woah! That’s a strong word Silas. Yes it is. You want to know why it’s a lie? Because this Catholic Faith of ours — beautiful and diverse as it is — is a Faith of consequences. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has eternal consequences for us.
Before His sacrifice we could never enter heaven. Now we can.
This means something.
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How can our lives look the same
If we understand this, how can our lives be the same before and after recognizing that truth? Knowing this should fundamentally transform our perspective on the world. If it doesn’t, we probably don’t actually realize the weight of this truth.
Put it this way — would someone who knows the truth of the Resurrection live and act the same as someone who has never encountered Jesus and wonders what the purpose of life is?
The honest answer is no.
So why should we accept the notion that our work — the thing we spend a third of our lives on — should be ‘void’ of any religion? Why are we conforming to the non-believers’ false perspective on how the workplace should be?
As entrepreneurs, we have to go even further. We are in charge. So, how in the world can our workplaces look just like every other corporate office in America?
What are we to do
This behavior must permeate our entire being. That’s the end goal. That’s sainthood; unity with God’s will at all times.
From the energy we give when entering a building. To the way we order our salad. To the way we speak with our employees. To the work (prayer) habits we have. To the way we fire people. To the way we use our financial success. To the way we pay our employees. To the benefits and time off we offer.
The list goes on and on.
In essence, we must accept our station in life as entrepreneurs and make the commitment that our lives will be fully… undivided.
It’s not just a nice to have, it’s a duty
We have a duty to do this. The news of the Gospel is so strong we ought to jump at the opportunity to share what we know. At the bare minimum.
Again — this goes to the point at the start. If we are not willing to work, act, and live as if the Son of God has touched our hearts, what lack of courage we have. What a lack of an opportunity to allow Jesus to evangelize through us. What a missed opportunity to return the culture of our workplaces towards God. Imagine if the common response to a compliment or accomplishment was “praise God” instead of some false “it was nothing.”
As I try to communicate this again… living differently, directly or indirectly, at your work versus the ‘rest’ of your life, is effectively an act of refusing to trust God. You’re living on a lie.
Think about the end of your life
Not living on a lie means living with your deathbed in mind. The account of your life (including your work) will be something you’re proud to tell God.
The truth is amazing.
Living an undivided life means living with the truths of our faith front and center at all times of our life. Standing up for them when we must. Radiating our appreciation for these truths always. And doing this without regard to how others will perceive us.
Now here’s the kicker.
The truth is our most powerful weapon
If we all do this, the world will start to conform to the truth. Because nothing is more powerful than the truth. And everyone seeks the truth deep down. The issue is most people are so misled that they don’t even know where to start looking for truth. But because God put His thumbprint on our hearts, we recognize his thumbprint on the hearts of others when they choose to share it.
If you’re not convinced, just recall the fact that, in the end the earth will be destroyed and a new heaven and new earth will be created. God WILL triumph. It’s not an if — it’s a when.
Bit by bit, brick by brick, workplace by workplace, it will no longer be ‘normal’ to leave your faith at the door. That’s a world I want to live in.
Make it real
Is this serious enough for you yet?
If you’ve made it this far, I assume it is. But even the best intentions won’t do us good. We need action. So follow these steps to make it real.
Write down your plan of action. Pick one thing you’re going to do daily or weekly for the next 3 months.
Schedule it. Put this on your calendar so you can’t miss it.
Every time you perform this plan of action, do it with deep sincerity and a desire to share Jesus with the world. Don’t do it from a place of pride.
Once this is a habit, ask God what’s next. Repeat.
I firmly believe that if even a few of us start living our faith fully in how we run our businesses, we will start to see a genuine transformation of the world.
Remember when Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew (12:30) “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Perhaps we thought — we’re fine. We’re not actively trying to hurt the Church. There is no need to go further. Think again. Jesus is clear. We must be alongside Him, gathering.
God Bless & Happy Building!
~Silas Mähner
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