Christian Hiring: Following the World or God?

I had just finished reading several excellent articles on a well-known Christian ministry's web site. I decided to click on "home" and see if there was anything else interesting.

"Aha," I thought, "I'll check out this employment opportunities section - just for fun."

Well, my fun didn't last very long. It lasted until I got to the bottom one-third of the page.

Then I read:

Applicants are responsible for all expenses related to interviewing or relocating for this position.

"Whoa!" my brain shouted, "That's not right. That is what the world does. It isn't what God wants us to do."

I can suddenly hear those of you who are managers and entrepreneurs saying, "If we had to pay for interview and relocation expenses...Do you realize just how much money that is? Aren't you being a bit ridiculous?"

Yes, I do know the costs associated with interviewing and relocating. And quite frankly, I don't care if they are substantial. I don't care because God plainly states we should follow Him, not the world.

There are several reasons why this practice concerns me.

A Worker is Worth His Hire

Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (James 5:4)

The Bible clearly states that you "don't muzzle the ox while he is threshing" and "the laborer is worth his hire."

You might say, "But we haven't hired that person yet."

Let's take the easy one first. If you hadn't hired that person, then s/he wouldn't be relocating. Obviously, that person has to get to work. If you want that individual enough to hire him/her, then it is "muzzling the ox" not to pay for the relocation.

The same thing applies to the interview process. You are interested enough to want to interview that person.

You haven't hired them yet; however, you know that many people who are out of work are financially needy. Which leads to the next point.

We Are Not to Take Advantage of the Poor and Needy

God quite strongly states in Deuteronomy 14:27-29 that a HUGE portion of our tithe is to go towards the poor. But what concerns me is that God states that His blessing is contingent on our not neglecting the needs of the poor.

Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among your, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of you hand which you do.

When we take advantage of those who are needy (and in my experience most people that are out of work are concerned about meeting their financial obligations - and many of them are just downright poor), then we are not only neglecting the poor, we are doing something worse. We are oppressing them. If God's blessing is contingent upon helping the poor, then what sort of judgment can we expect from taking advantage of those in need.

It scares me to think of how God may judge those Christian ministries.

It also scares me to think of what might be happening to those people who are in leadership at those ministries. I worry that their hearts of compassion might turn cold...that their love for Christ may grow faint. And that they may starting to live according to the world, compromising their beliefs and not even realize they are doing so.

We are to Live in the World - Not Live According to Its Ways

If your mother was out of work and didn't have a great deal of money, would you expect her to spend most of her savings to come and help you out with a problem?

Of course not.

Well then why do Christian employers expect their brothers and sisters in Christ to give out of their poverty when they themselves are rich?

"But," I can hear people say, "That's different. We are helping out these people by giving them a job. We are solving their problem."

Actually, it is the Christian organization that has the problem and they are hoping that the person looking for work can help them out. They are the one that put a notice in the paper stating that they had a problem - a job that wasn't filled. It wasn't the unemployed person who put an ad in the paper stating that they were out of work and would the HR managers please send information on their companies and job openings to him.

It isn't the unemployed person who has the problem - much as many HR managers would like to think differently.

Our Love For Each Other Will Bring Others to Christ

Just because worldly companies have these HR policies doesn't mean that we have to follow. God states that Christians are supposed to be different - they are not supposed to live according to the flesh. Instead, Christians are to live out in their lives God's example of love.

God states that when we love each other, the world will notice a difference. Acting in the same manner as the world isn't going to cause anyone to ask, "What makes you different?" Acting the same as the world isn't going to bring anyone to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Loving our brothers and sisters will.

Is it loving to place financial burdens on our brothers and sisters?

No.

Then why are Christian organizations doing it?

Brothers and sister, it is time for us to throw off all things that are tainted with the stench of the world. We must put on pure, white robes. We must not only mouth our beliefs but act them.

If you agree with me and you know of a Christian organization that is requiring interviewees and new employees to pay interview and relocation costs, send them a copy of this webpage. And let them know that you won't be buying their products or listening to their radio/tv shows until they change this policy.