People are always talking about something. Never fails, especially when it comes to promotions. One of the most vulgar things I've heard is about somebody getting a promotion because they were willing to get one their knees. If that sounds a bit perverted, it is. However, it shouldn't be shocking, especially when the individual who got promoted is widely regarded as incompetent by their co-workers. No, I am not encouraging slander, I am simply stating what I have heard in various locations, and positions over the years.
If you are in management, and you don't think this type of thing is common, you may be shocked to realize that you are far removed from the situation. Hate to say it, but indecent communication is quite common on the warehouse floor, and I don't see it changing any time soon.
The commandment about adultery is found in Exodus 20:14. Interesting, the Small Catechism's explanation includes words, along with actions. Why is that? I suspect that is has to do with what is written in the fifth chapter of Matthew's Gospel. During his sermon on the mount, Christ Jesus makes a rather bold statement about lust, and adultery. What did he say? Without directly quoting, Christ Jesus made it quite clear that to look upon a woman with lustful intentions was just as a much a violation of the commandment as it was to actually commit the act. Don't fool yourself into thinking that just because you are already guilty that you might as well, no sense compounding the problem. The thought, and the deed, might well count as two distinct sins, though I don't properly know for certain, nor do I think anyone else really knows, aside from God.
What does any of this have to do with warehouse work? When we speak indecently of our co-workers, we are committing a form of adultery with, or perhaps even against, them. This is certainly not the type of things that leads to a chaste and decent life. Nor does it do anything to help one to love their spouse. In fact, resentful behavior, when coupled with inappropriate remarks, can actually lend towards strife within the home. Not good.
Yes, promotions may happen that seem unfair. Yes, people are going to say wicked, and vulgar things about the one being promoted. However, God is impartial, and if there is truly wrongdoing, he will judge it on the last day. He who died upon the cross for our sins, will be the one to discern the truth. For the Christian, this means that there is no place for lewd speech, especially against a fellow co-worker. All there really is, as it should be, is the need to ask God to forgive us our sins, and to help us forgive others. If we ask for forgiveness, yet speak slander against a co-worker, we act the hypocrite.
Slander has no place in the warehouse. Neither do lewd vulgarities regarding how somebody got promoted, regardless of how you may feel about their competency to do the job. You should do your job, and trust that God will see you doing that which you are supposed to, rather than complaining about what you perceive as unfair, and you will be rewarded by God at the appropriate time.
Bottom Line: People will talk, and they will say things that are explicitly vulgar, and there is no place for it for the Christian. Otherwise, you do violate the commandment against adultery, just as surely as if you had done it yourself.
Thanks for finally talking about >Decent Standards | Forklift Theology <Loved it!
This entry was posted on 21/03/2016 by Christopher Rose in Discernment, Forgiveness, Sin and tagged adultery, co-workers, commandment, Exodus, Forgiveness, Gospel of Matthew, promotions, slander.