The bookstore near my church has always been a great place to buy Bible bookmarks and journals. There was a big selection of Christian fiction, too, and it was displayed prominently on a wide-open shelf. Usually there were Bibles or other devotionals on a feature display right in front of the area, so it made for a pleasant shopping experience. Over the past year or so, though, there have been some changes in the employees which have resulted in changes to the store. My trip this week brought home a lesson about how people – both dark and light – use their influence in the workplace. As Christians, we are to redeem the time because the days are evil.
The Days Are Evil
Over the past year or so, that particular Half Price Bookstore has gotten darker and darker. Employees wearing pentagram earrings, pants with moons, and other dark attire were now running the store. The feeling that I’m not welcome pushes at me when I shop there, but until this week, I really didn’t get just how much the store itself had changed.
Gone was the large section of Christian fiction with Bibles in front of it. There was Manga in its place. Gone were the Bible bookmarks. There were only secular or New Age/occult choices on the rack. I found one Christian journal, lonely and leftover, the last time I came in, but there was none this time. When I finally located the Christian section, it was a tiny little nook. Both devotionals and Christian fiction were crammed into one little area. Right next to it was an endcap with magic and runes. On the other side of the next nook was a huge display for witchcraft and divination.
It occurred to me that used bookstores have all kinds of books, but the employees have choices about which ones to display prominently and which ones to put into a corner. They also have choices about which new materials like bookmarks, journals, and cards, to keep in stock and which ones to let go when the last ones are sold.
Redeem the Time
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:16
From Godrules.Net, the word “redeeming” is G1805. It means to ransom or rescue from loss. It’s similar to the Hebrew H2084 which means “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.”
Then I had a thought. This store had been taken over by evil. Were we, as Christians, doing the same thing for good in the places where we work? Share on XAre we using every opportunity we have to name the name of Jesus and change the atmosphere from dark to light in our public spheres of influence?
If you work in an office or a shop, do you hang Bible verses and reminders about love and goodness? If you work retail, are you choosing places of prominence for things that are positive and uplifting and putting the dark things to the back? Do you drive Uber or Lyft for a living? Are you using your vehicle’s atmosphere (music, radio programs, symbols) to glorify God? If you work in an ambulance or go on service calls in a truck, do you do the same?
These are just a few suggestions, but there are lots of things we can do to bring Jesus with us right into our workplaces. Of course, not every boss might be accepting of a Christian message, but I think many times Christians just assume that it won’t be okay instead of stepping out boldly for the cause of Christ. Ultimately, though, we are working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Pleasing God should be our ultimate concern.
Start Today
As the days get darker, our lights must shine brighter. Think about where you work. Could someone accuse you of using your influence to bring Christian values, messages, and images into the equation? The forces of darkness aren’t even pretending to be secular anymore. They are preaching occultism and death loud and clear. Children of the light must not be afraid to step out in faith with our message of life and the Lord Jesus Christ. We must use our power and influence to change the very atmospheres where we work. We must redeem the time.
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We have a large ‘Christian’ book store in the main suburb near me but I rarely visit because I came to realise many years ago that most of the books they promote & stock are not truly Christian. They are self help books under a Christian guise! Just as deadly, if not more so! My daughter has bought quite a few of them over the years, not that I think she has ended up reading many of them but they are shallow & often preaching another gospel, coming from the USA & from proponents of the happy clappy church as we call it here in Australia. I too, have purchased some that have ended up in the garbage bin. You really have to know the history of the author before buying books & other paraphernalia. The books that one should really be reading are seldom there to purchase & so the area of really good books is small. To be honest, they used to be far more selective & discerning when they opened their first book store way back in the early 1990s before Pentecostalism really hit Australia.
Yes, I get frustrated with some of the books that are passed off as Christian. You are right that we must be vigilant. A quick check of the author is a great idea. Thanks for your comment!