Ways Christian Organizations Don’t Look Like Christ

No culture or organization is perfect, and anything forged by humanity is bound to have some shortcomings.

That said, I’ve been increasingly aware of how many Christian organizations perpetuate behaviors that look nothing like Jesus. Below are a few of the ways I’ve noticed this lack of congruence between professions of faith and organizational structures.

*It’s important to note I mention these characteristics not for the goal of being critical or cynical but with the intention of bringing awareness to opportunities for growth. We all have blindspots—and we can’t do anything about them until they’re brought to our attention.

Ignoring the invitational command to rest:

Christian organizations (and non-profits, more broadly) are infamous for asking employees to wear many hats for non-competitive pay. While most people working at these organizations recognize they could make more money elsewhere, they don’t intentionally sign up for tossing out their work-life balance in the name of ministry.

Why, then, are overworking, chronic busyness, and constant availability often heralded as signs of being a good worker, team player, or dedicated person of faith?

Over-functioning and careening towards burnout aren’t hallmarks of the Christian faith.

Rather, the idea of “rest” is mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. 500 times! Not to mention that God’s people are marked as those who enter into His rest:

So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.
—Hebrews 4:9–11

So, why don’t we emphasize the importance of rest? If even God and Jesus rested, why can’t we? What are we afraid of?

With the exception of medical personnel, there’s no work so important that we can’t rest. Even good and important work can be paused so the people doing it can rest and be human. Failure to stop and rest reinforces the false ideas that our work is the most important thing and that our value and productivity are intertwined. 

When Christian cultures and organizations glorify overworking as aspirational, we actually lead people away from the heart of Jesus. 

Conversely, moving away from the productivity gospel is a step towards Christ.

Not respecting people’s boundaries:

I recently had a coworker (not my boss) assigning me tasks to do. When I shared my availability and explained I wouldn’t be able to do those tasks, he made a joke about how he “doesn’t do boundaries.”

While it was intended as a joke, it made me deeply uncomfortable. I’ve worked intentionally for years to set healthy boundaries, and having them joked about as something frivolous is frustrating. 

I wonder how much of this line of thinking springs from the false idea that “doing God’s work” means running ourselves into the ground.

Having boundaries doesn’t make us difficult team players or less capable of doing our jobs well. Failing to have boundaries doesn’t help us do our jobs better. 

When we set, enforce, and respect healthy boundaries, we protect ourselves from burnout, respect other people, and are better equipped to do the work set before us.

Mistaking organizational authority for spiritual authority:

I’ve noticed that within Christian organizations, people in higher positions of power tend to see themselves as pastors—regardless of their theological background.

While it’s completely appropriate to share about their personal faith and stories of what God’s doing in their lives, it becomes problematic when that sharing sounds like a command for others to think or believe a certain way.

Leaders of Christian organizations aren’t typically pastors. When they act as such, it creates the potential for manipulation and spiritual abuse. Regardless of the strength of their personal faith, leaders in the workplace shouldn’t be given the authority to tell us how to think about God.

These are a few opportunities for growth within Christian organizations. What would you add to the list?