CAN CHRISTIANS GO ON STRIKE?

Absolutly, especialy if they are union, it is not agianst the law, as long as they do not break the law while strikeing.

 

General William Booth who founded the Salvation Army encouraged his members to join the trade union movement, being that Trade Unions were about helping workers that were being ripped off in bad labour conditions. I go along with that and if it is neccessary then yes go on strike.

 

There is no scriptural basis for going on strike. There is, "Be content with your wages." THere is, "None of your business what your fellow employee makes, take the salary you agreed to work for." There is much about suffering patiently, but nothing about the attitudes demonstrated by striking, adn that is not pacifism. Get another job if you don't want to deal with the hassle.

 

Preach it!!!!!

The Word of God is what we need to follow to bring our thinking in line with what He says.

 

John gave an example in

Luke 3:14 "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."

I believe God is well aware of what we make, what our benefits are and what we need. I believe that partaking in a strike is putting our dependence on the union and fellow workers and not on God. I saw this in the Caterpillar strike of 1993. If you are working for a company, I believe you should do what you're paid for. If you don't like how the company is paying, handling benefits, etc., there are other ways than striking to handle it. As long as you remain an employee, you essentially agree to their terms for employment. Otherwise, you might consider depending more on God than a union, and find yourself another job.

AVL1984

 

Don't forget Mal. 3:5
"I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny [justice to] the foreigner. They do not fear Me," says the Lord of Hosts. "

 

I agree. The Lord should be the one who takes care of the problem...not a Union. Many whom I knew in the Cat strike of 1993-???? lost their homes, had their cars repo'd, and that was even with the $300.00 or so per week benefit the union gave. The strike went on forever, and I eventually lost my job at a hardware/lumber company and was forced to move to TN for work. That strike nearly tore our church apart, as many worked for Cat as hourly laborers, and many were in management. I've been on both sides of the fence, and I would rather depend on God and let HIM be the one to dole out the judgement on the unjust companies.

AVL1984

 

Companies should also have a right as to how much they pay their employees too. You aren't a slave and have a right to find a higher paying job. As it's been said before God will handle them if they are unfair. Unions (in my opinion) do much more harm than good.

 

Being on strike does not mean violence. I have seen plenty of people pray while holding a sign. They do not block the door but, they DO make thier point known. Just because you go on strike it dosen't mean you need to be a barbarian.

 

God does not want his children to be taken advantage of or for them to be wimps either! If an employee is promised something then he/she is entitled to it. This is just a portion of my thoughts. There are times when Christians ought not to strike.

 

CAN? Certainly. There's nothing unscriptural about going on strike. I've venture to say that abuse of striking, however, might borderline on sinfulness, but most of the time, striking employees are hardworking employees who are not abusing the process (though we customers will typically presume they are, by way of us being inconvenienced).

 

Matthew 20
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

 

Nobody is implying that going on strike means being a barbarian. Anyone who equates the two are being simpletons. Some ARE SAYING however that it is more important to trust in God than a union. As stated previously, God knows how much we make, how much we need, etc., and He keeps the option of vengeance for Himself. To keep working for a company that you believe is doing you wrong is not the company's problem, but the employees. If after bringing things to the companies attention that you feel are not of benefit to the employees, if the employer doesn't correct or consider, then the employee is obligating himself/herself by staying. It's that simple.

AVL1984

 

Interesting viewpoint...Presumably therefore you would equally be in favour of me, as an employee, having to tolerate a disruptive and awkward worker; surely my taking disciplinary action against that employee is not 'trusting in God'

Yours in Christ

Matt

 

Context, Matt...Context. If you are just a coworker of same and not the employer, the only options you have are to pray, speak to this employee or to go to the employer. Why put words in my mouth and try to deflect from the original subject?

AVL1984

 

Can a Christian participate in a strike? Absolutely yes.

 

If you can find a right to strike in the passages below, let me know. Certainly the boss is supposed to be fair, but we are not to enforce that ourselves.

Eph 6:5-9 "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."

Col 3:22-25 "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality."

Col 4:1 "Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven."

Mat 20:1-15 ""For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 "Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 "and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 "Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7 "They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' 8 "So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' 9 "And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 "But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 "And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 "saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13 "But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'"