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What occupations are not appropriate for Christians?

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Tim, May 13, 2003.

  1. FearNot

    FearNot New Member

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    I think being a cook at a casino is walking a fine line. The money you are getting is coming from a source that is bad. By working there, you are condoning it. I see it like the gas stations sell zig zag papers. They know good and well people are useing them for joints, not tobacco.
     
  2. stubbornkelly

    stubbornkelly New Member

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    Really? I didn't know gas stations sold them; I've been going to the tobacconist, where they're probably more expensive. And I don't use them for joints, in case anyone was wondering. ;)

    I guess it's a matter of how far you want to travel down the slippery slope. Maybe I shouldn't sell Oreos to fat people, because I "know" they're not going to eat just one, and I shouldn't condone their destroying their temple?

    Generally, I think the only way you can be absolutely sure you're not indirectly "condoning" certain actions by customers is to go into business for yourself. I don't know what you'd sell, though, since almost anything can be used for unsavory purposes.

    But, since we're travelling down that road, how many people who buy into the heavy slippery slope argument here would say that a Christian should not run a gun shop, since some people might use the guns for bad puropses? Just curious to see if that's "different." [​IMG]
     
  3. Larry in Tennessee

    Larry in Tennessee New Member

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    If I'm not mistaken, didn't the apostle Matthew work in collections for the IRS [​IMG]
     
  4. Abiyah

    Abiyah <img src =/abiyah.gif>

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    I know personally a gentleman who was a used car
    salesman, who was absolutely above-board in his
    dealings as well as extremely successful. People
    bought from him because they knew he was trust-
    worthy. He sold his business to pastor a church.

    In another town, his son worked for a large used
    car dealership, but when they demanded that he
    attend classes in order to learn less-than-ethical
    methods, he refused. They fired him. He sued
    and won. He now has his own very nice used
    auto dealership in the same town, and people
    come to him because they know he will give the
    same service as his father did. He sells to lots of
    churches, state-wide and in neighboring states,
    because of his ethics. He even does church-bus
    and church-van searches for them.

    My husband and I, as well as my son, buy our used
    cars from two places: my chosen father or from
    Hyatt Pontiac, a dealership up in Tacoma, WA.
    They literally see their business as a ministry,
    ministering to both the buyers and their own
    employees. They have prayer meetings in the
    morning before work and their own chaplain, who
    ministers to the staff AND the buyers whom
    they perceive may need special care.

    I don't understand. Why not, Tim?

    [ May 14, 2003, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]
     
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    How about Amish Website Developer?
     
  6. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Johnv! LOL.... type in Mennonites or Anabaptists in your address bar and you'll find plenty of Amish websites! LOL. The word Amish brings up too much furniture and recipes...

    That's good tho!

    How about anyone who works in an abortion providing office, including nurse, doctor, receptionist, office clerk.....

    Diane
     
  7. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    I often thought about a Christian working in a brewery, but then I read about a godly man who worked at the plant that brews a famous whiskey in the USA. The plant is in a dry town where they can't even buy the whiskey. To him it was a job that provided a living for his beloved family in his home town. Many Christians work there. It is one of the few places of employment. I can see that, and bless him for caring for his family.

    Sorry, can't think of the brew, but I thought it was in Tennessee or some such Southern state.

    One job that stands out for me is motorcar racing. It pollutes the air with fuel fumes and burnt out rubber from tyres leaving fragments of rubber in the air which we all must breathe. How can we as Christians support this so-called sport anymore than the "sport" of smoking tobacco and such?

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  8. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    How about lunch lady feeding kids that high fat slop?
    Fast food workers who feed high fat foods to over weight people?
    How about cooks in resturants who serve fatty fried foods to anyone?
    Or the waitresses that serve it to them?
    How about a book store or library that has books not christian, and stuff no one should read?
    How about working for a non christian?
    Or working in a bank(or doing your banking there) that does business with anti chrsitan organizations?
    How about an electronics manufacturer who caters to people greed for more electronics, and more of everything exppensive, keep up with the joneses,a dn make them have to keep up with you?

    Good grief, what can possibaly be wrong with having a legitamate job? Lawyer? Car dealer?
    acting?
    And what of those people who are not employed and their reasoning is they can't find a job other then something we've all listed? I mean they want to make ssure they are biblical, and you wouldn't want to ask them to do anything they feel is unbiblical would you? Have you examined your job to make sure there is nothing offensive in anyway?
     
  9. Major B

    Major B <img src=/6069.jpg>

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    Historical perspective: Tertullian (160-220 AD) was discipling a new believer who had an immoral job (not sure what it was), and the old saint told the young man that he must quit his job before being baptised. The young man said, "But brother, I must live!" Tertullian replied, "Must you?"
     
  10. td

    td New Member

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    Jim, please. You have to be kidding me. Do you really think a couple of dozen cars on a race track for a few hours pollute the air more than all the planes that land and take off at an average big city airport? By your reasoning, you'd be better off banning the entire automotive industry and anything that is run by a motor and gives off exhaust fumes. Also, while you are at it, take away the gas and charcoal grills. Get real.

    [ May 14, 2003, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: td ]
     
  11. Tim

    Tim New Member

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    O.K., I admit that some of these (at least on my part) are a little tongue in cheek.

    With that in mind, let me proceed:

    All of you personal injury attorney defenders obviously don't live in NY. One local trio of PIA's has a commercial ditty with these lyrics,
    "If you're hurt, deserve a check, call us up, your best bet--the heavy hitters..." (seriously!)

    As for used car salesmen, I had one crusty old fellow tell me that he'd sold almost everything in his sales career--even used cars, but he had to quit that--his conscience bothered him too much.

    Paying taxes, fine. But being an IRS collector?--it's hard for me to imagine feeling good about reposessing people's houses or cars in order to feed the voracious appetite of the federal government.

    And actors/actresses? How many comprimising roles would one have to take before getting an opportunity to act in decent flicks?

    But race car drivers???!! That's as American as apple pie (low fat apple pie, even)! I always wanted to be one when I was little.

    Tim
     
  12. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Please read this report from California alone on the deposits of lead and zinc from motorcar tyres.
    The imagine the 50 or 60 motorcars travelling at up to 200 odd mph around a continuous track of asphalt.

    http://www.pcl.org/epareport/section2.html

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  13. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    What percentage of sales could be liquor before this would be tripped? Would owning a "legitimate" grocery store that did a brisk cigarette and beer trade be enough?

    Haruo
     
  14. td

    td New Member

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    Jim, I read the report. Looks like you have a lot more to worry about than a few race cars. I think you'd better stop salting the roads up there in the winter. And while you're at it, kill all the livestock and birds as well. ;)
     
  15. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    I don't think so. If the industry is wrong then any job promoting it is wrong. Cooking certainly isn't wrong even though some people over eat and suffer for it. You cannot ethically support an unethical industry. A lot of the examples are just saying that you can unethically support an ethical industry, it is the same thing but it really isn't. You cannot be an ethical actor in a porno movie just because you won't take your clothes off.
     
  16. InHim2002

    InHim2002 New Member

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    I think any legal employment would be okay for Christians - although I personally would never work for either a tobacco company or an arms company.
     
  17. wizofoz

    wizofoz New Member

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    What would be the problem working in an arms company?
     
  18. happymom

    happymom New Member

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    Tim Wrote:
    "I've pondered this question from time to time, especially when considering my children's futures:
    What occupations are not appropriate for Christians? I'm talking about legal occupations here (not drug-dealers, prostitutes, etc.)."

    Being a mom of 2 teenagers I deal with this question on a regular basis. I've come to the decision its not so much "what job" but how they will live their life. For instance, my daughter(like many ;) ) wants to be a vetrinarian. Nothing at all wrong with that... however, if the job requires her to work Sundays, Wednesday nights, wear pants, or give up having a family then she might want to rethink that carreer option. If she can manage all that and still be a veterinarian.. terrific. Same for my son, he wants to be an electronics tech. Again, if he keeps in mind that God is first and that the company he goes to work will not interfere with that, then... Great.

    Happymom
     
  19. InHim2002

    InHim2002 New Member

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    I believe that it is wrong to profit from the killing of other human beings
     
  20. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    Following that logic; would it also be wrong to work for a car manufacturer? They are responsible for many deaths every year.

    Yes, it is the driver who actually does the killing. Just like it is the person behind the gun who does the same. Without guns OR cars, we could cut down on the death rate considerably. :rolleyes:
     
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