Should I Shut Up About Jesus?
Some time ago, I wrote a blog post about the true secret of my success in business – Jesus Christ. It’s one of the most popular posts on my blog. In that post, I explained that I would no longer separate my business life from my faith life.
I wrote another post about the 7 Mountains of Culture. It’s about how followers of Jesus should aspire to places of influence in those areas. Again, this is one of the most visited posts on my blog.
I feared that my blog and business would suffer as a result of this “mixing” of the sacred and the “secular”. That was not the case – the opposite was true. Those who did not want to hear about God went their way – they didn’t stick around.
But recently, my blog has grown in readership, and my podcast audience has blossomed. And a new wave of criticism against me has arisen. The basic message: “Ray, shut up about Jesus, and stick to writing about marketing and business.”
Sometimes these criticisms are “colorful”, and emotional. Even hateful. One person called me “an old, white, Jesus-y man in a suit”.
A “friend” in the online business world wrote about me, and called me “one of the prosperity gospel a—holes.” Attacks like this never cause me to reconsider my position. They are not based on reason, but rather on anger and bitterness. These people I pray for and immediately forgive.
Some of my critics are more reasonable. Their logic makes a certain amount of sense. These I consider. I have learned enough humility to be open to the possibility that my critics are right. I can learn from constructive criticism. Here are a couple of examples:
What about these criticisms (and others like them)? What about Christian brothers and sisters who have criticism for me? Some suggest that I could reach more people for Christ if I were more “covert” in my “ministry”. Are they right?
I don’t think so.
After careful consideration, I have decided to stick with my “faith forward” approach. Here are 3 reasons I do not hide my faith:
- The Lord himself gave me this assignment. I’ve told my story elsewhere, so I won’t recount it here. I heard from God that he has enough “pastors in pulpits”. What he needs are more “ministers in the marketplace”. I’m assigned to empower believers and teach them to prosper with purpose. That mission has not changed.
- My mission is not the mission of all Christian business people. There is a place for business people who are less “faith forward” or even “covert” believers. I don’t believe most believers should have the same kind of ministry as me. A friend once described what I do as “a ministry disguised as a business”. It may be more accurate to say I have a ministry that functions through the vehicle of my business.
- My blog, podcast, and teachings appeal to nonbelievers, not just Christians. I believe this is because I don’t exclude anyone. I don’t mandate that my readers and listeners share my beliefs. I don’t try to change their minds. I am open about what I believe, and how it plays out in my business – but I don’t condemn those with other beliefs who come under my tent. I love people, whether they are Christians or not. I don’t judge people who are different from me – even those who are on the opposite end of the belief spectrum. I want to help people with their businesses, regardless of their beliefs.
If you’re a Christian and an entrepreneur, I don’t assume you should take the same approach as me. You should do what God is leading you to do.
[clickToTweet tweet=”God has enough ‘pastors in pulpits’. He’s looking for ministers in the marketplace.” quote=”God has enough ‘pastors in pulpits’. He’s looking for ministers in the marketplace.”]
So, if you’re hoping I’ll be less “Jesus-y”, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. That’s okay. Maybe I’m just not your “cup of tea”.
[reminder]Now that you’ve heard my rationale, what do you think? Have I reached the right conclusion? Or do you think I should shut up about Jesus?[/reminder]
Your show, your way, with your content – if folks don’t like it they’re free not to listen. The fact that your faith permeates what you do means it’s a legitimate part of your DNA and not a ‘made for Sunday’ persona you adopt.
Folk claim to want authenticity, well here is where the rubber meets the road, and those of us who mean it will be long time listeners and fans.
Thank you Shane – I appreciate it!
Never stop talking about Jesus. I’m a recording artist and my music doesn’t talk about God, but He is infused into every song. my blog is ALL about Jesus and about how He’s working in my life. If people don’t like it, they don’t need to read it. Never compromise to keep people happy if it means forsaking God’s instruction over your life and business. Good for you for sticking to your guns.
Thank You Ray (of Light :), Shine On…
Your commitment to Christ and the truth are one of the many reasons I love your podcast.
I learn a lot every time I listen to you and I enjoy the interaction between you and Sean as well.
Keep being a Jesus freak because there are many who may only hear the truth of his love through you. We are all called to full time ministry, be it through the pulpit, podcast, or simply living like Christ.
Thank you to you, Sean, and everyone else who makes your podcast awesome.
Love in Christ’s Name,
Trevor
Trevor, this just made me smile. Thank you.
Ray. I knew you before I knew you were a Christian. You were a powerful creative marketer when you were in the broadcast business
and even more powerful and creative now. You have always been a high integrity guy. Your honesty,candor and focus all wrapped up in the love of our Lord makes for a remarkable and refreshing platform. You have cojones and corazon my friend. I would go to war with you anytime and anywhere.
So good to hear from a dear friend on this. Thank you, Ed.
It’s great to see someone who understands that business and ministry are the same thing. I learned this from Rabbi Daniel Lapin in his book “Ten Commandments for Making Money” where he teaches Jewish business and financial principles.
I was called to start a Christian personal finance blog ( http://www.cfinancialfreedom.com ) a few years ago specifically to teach people about money and how to handle it using common sense and Christian principles. It was difficult at first for me to share my faith in such a public way. I receive a little pushback occasionally from those who don’t quite get it, but overall it’s been a great blessing to me and thousands of others. It’s definitely helped me develop a boldness that I never had before!
It’s rapidly becoming one of the top Christian finance blogs around!
Thanks for being bold and not being afraid to show who you are and who you’re about! More of us Christians should do the same!
I’ve listened to your podcast for a long time now and absolutely love it. I’m a full-time pastor with a desire to make enough income on my own to afford me to give away my church salary so we can use my salary to hire more pastors on staff. (I’m in a small rural church)
I believe in what you do and share your podcast and blog with everyone I can.
Along the way you have encouraged me, and helped me in ways you will never know and I consider you a distance mentor.
I too believe more people in the marketplace should use their “pulpit” to share Jesus.
Your podcast is funny, encouraging, helpful, informative and actionable. Please keep up your current direction because it really is influencing people to move forward with purpose.
Thanks for all you do Ray!
Larry, that means so much. Thank YOU.
The choice is yours to make, whether or not talk about Jesus in your business. However if you have come this far and survived it you can as well continue confessing your faith through your business.
Hi, I love your podcast, it usually makes me think and laugh. Being a christian in the market place is so important. I’m glad you can roll with the punches. You are right on track in my book.
I think you need to heed the criticism and stop wearing suits.
LOL! Okay, I give up. It’s tee-shirts from now on.
I first learned about you on Amy Porterfield’s podcast. I enjoyed the interview and decided to check out your podcast. I was pleasantly surprised to hear you discuss Christianity and attribute your success to God. This is what draws me to your podcast and makes you stand out. I am glad that you won’t be shying away from discussing your faith on the podcast. After listening to your podcasts, I feel spiritually encouraged and I’ve learned something related to copywriting, entrepreneurship or marketing. Keep up the great work!
Isn’t Amy just fantastic? Thank you for the perspective Jennifer, it really helps me stay focused when I hear feedback like this.
The world, including the business and marketing world, needs more salt and light. Keep shining as God called you to.
Hi Ray,
Interesting that some Christians would tell you to be quiet about the best news the world has ever heard! Don’t ever stop shouting the name of Jesus Christ out loud. He holds all the pieces of my life together and without Him my life would be meaningless, small and empty.
For what it’s worth, my opinion is to keep up the good work. The Word says that we are to take every opportunity to speak the Good News. It also says that none of His words will fall to the ground without accomplishing what He wants them to achieve. So keep it up. Keep accomplishing God’s mandate for your life!
Great post, Ray!
Ray, I think you need to be true to your heart & I believe that you should speak about those things that, in fact, reflect who you are & where you come from. Personally, I’d consider myself a bit of a bigot if i were offended by anyone telling me how they think, & why. Atheist, Christian, agnostic, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, etc., all have the right to be heard & respected whether I agree with all their thoughts. That’s the strength of communication…cross-pollination.
It seems you are in good company Ray.
A long time ago in a land far, far away there was a rag-tag bunch of men who kept proclaiming the Lord. The high-minded religious men tried to shut them up, but Jesus said, “If they keep quiet the stones will cry out.”
I think it’s a good idea to keep doing what the Lord called you to do. How else will others know the Truth?
Now, that, Ron, is a very good word indeed. Thank you.
Right on, Bro!!
Ray, Your podcast and posts are #1 in my book as far as listening and taking notes. I respect you fully for where you stand. Keep up the good work. I’m so sick about this “prosperity gospel thing” people keep throwing around without looking into it in a deeper level. God does want his people to prosper! I believe you have read the excellent book on this subject called Money and the Prosperous Soul. The author of that book explains it so well. You keep doing what God has told you to do because on THAT DAY it will only matter between you and him, no one else brother!
“I’m assigned to empower believers and teach them to prosper with purpose.”… I love it!
Ray, thanks so much for going forward with your faith. A big shout-out to Jesus for the gifts He’s given you to bless others. You have definitely come to the right conclusion. Please don’t shut up about Jesus.
No…..No…..Please don’t STOP telling people about Jesus.
One day they will and they will appreciate you…..
Remember the Chief Cup bearer story…. Genesis 40 and 41.
If God has appointed you….do it with all faith…HEAVEN IS BACK YOU….
God Bless and May your business prosper!!!
No…..No…..Please don’t STOP telling people about Jesus.
One day they will and they will appreciate you…..
Remember the Chief Cup bearer story…. Genesis 40 and 41.
If God has appointed you….do it with all faith…HEAVEN IS BACKING YOU….
God Bless and May your business prosper!!!
Keep talking about Jesus and all He has done for us. You’re doing great. I appreciate and love you and your message(s).
One of the first things anyone will tell you when you start a blog is that “the world wants to hear what YOU have to say and how YOU say it.” You may have also heard that to be truly successful, your unique voice and personality needs to shine through, even if it’s controversial. Great decision, Ray, to stay true to your voice and your heart. Please don’t ever shut up about Jesus.
Hello, no, Jesus is the center of your world, your best friend, He fills your life with Hope, Joy, Wisdom.. HOW can you be silent???
One reason I listen- to you is YOU are a Christian. Nope keep on Keeping on…
Be what you are, complete and whole,
not a divided, piecemeal soul.
– Brand (Act 1) Henrik Ibsen
I say PREACH IT BROTHER!!! Keep doing what your doing and the Lord will bless your obedience for doing so. I’m proud of you for sticking to your convictions, and God-given directions, by not allowing the opinions of others to sway your actions. If it means anything, I’m drawn to your podcasts BECAUSE of your faith! Keep running the race of perseverance and run to WIN! 😉
Ray I love that you love people enough to share all that has helped you in you life’s journey. I can understand how those who hate the gospel would react negatively. My belief is that many others will find help and fulfillment from you sharing what Jesus has done in your life. Which of us does not need a little (a Lot) of help in life. If we could do it all by ourselves then that would be the norm and we would see it happening everywhere. Keep it up you are blessing many. A year or so ago I was going through a bible study you did and linked to but it seems to have many parts missing. Keep up the good work and following what God puts on your heart to do. Blessings!
Ray, I really appreciated your post and frankly, it’s your show, your name on the show and you can talk about anything you want. I actually appreciate the combination of faith, business, and personal learning. We all face each of those aspects of our lives every day with differing degrees of attention, tension, and balance. I appreciate your viewpoints and I learn from you each time I listen. I appreciate that you don’t hide behind “I better not say something about my faith”. It is a huge part of you and how you have gotten this far in life so don’t hesitate to talk about it. More power to ya!
Thanks Jeff!
You know this is the right thing to do, so don’t stop! We need more people willing to do what you’re doing.
I am in my middle 80’s and have been involved in almost every kind of business and ministry there is! My thoughts re. this:
Each one of us CAN be sensitive to the “calling” on our life – if and when we find it. If one has a “calling” it is by far best for him or herself to follow it!
As a Believer, ones faithfulness to God is primary – whether in ministry, life and/or the “marketplace”! God needs people in EVERY area of life – our part as believers, is to be faithful there!
I commend you for your stand AND your Spirit and attitude!!
Ray:
You can not be successful if you don’t have critics.
Thanks for your faith, confidence and inspiration.
Then I am on my way, brother! Messages like yours help. Thank you!
Of course you shouldn’t shut up! Being Christian is a state of ‘being’, it’s who you are as well as what you are and what you do. You should no more shut up about it than you would shut up about being male, being a business man, marketer and genius copywriter, or anything else that is who and what you are and do.
Further more, you don’t need anybody’s permission or approval to be and do what you are. Nor does anyone have the right or authority to attempt to dictate or even comment to you on how you run your business or life or mission or ministry… totally out of line. That is between you, God, a spouse, and a coach or accountability partner.
So, no, I do not think you should shut up about Jesus. (you have to follow God’s direction, not man’s… total slap in the face to God if you do otherwise, and that’s seriously something you DO NOT want to do)
Agree agree and agree. Keep in mind that you’re an inspiration to (I am sure) many other Christian business people as well. My aspiration has always been to combine my business and faith and use my business as an outlet to share my faith and minister to others with the truth in addition to the (seemingly secular) service I was providing. When I first came across your site, I was convinced this was actually possible, because I saw you doing it!
Couple other comments:
(1) Your blog, business, and site are based on your personality, so it just makes sense that you’d give people all of what makes you uniquely you and not just a segment or portion of it.
(2) “I don’t try to change their minds.” Why not? If it’s persuasion and not manipulation, why not try to convince someone to make the best and most important decision they could ever make in their life?
Thanks for this post Ray. Simply thank you.
The answer seems obvious to me – carry on. You sent your audience a message and introduced them to your “chairman of the board” who is essential – even inseparable – from the nature of your business. They in turn sent a message back – some by leaving and some by joining – but the overall result was growth. Any change in business will have similar results. A change of policy and procedures will meet with resistance. A change of leadership will result in a shift in direction or internal structure and culture. Some may even leave as a result but this is to be expected and Christ himself is quite familiar with such waves of change. So, your senior partner is silent no more and your audience is seeing even greater focus and purpose driving your business and sharing how they too could know greater focus, clarity, purpose, and success and in turn their customers and clients may also learn why.
Keep it up, can’t please everyone not should you try. I appreciate what you do AND how you do it.
Take care and God Bless,
I just discovered you and am listening to your messages. They are so inspirational. It is more important to listen to Gods call. When all is said and done, you will be happy you obeyed the Lord. You will not be happy you made a million bucks and told no one about Jesus. Keep doing the good work!
I believe, as you have stated yourself, that you have followed the path that is right for you and your business. Too often, criticism comes when what you are doing makes the other person uncomfortable, whether that be another Christian or a non-Christian. I feel you have a good balance of allowing your faith to be seen without making it the overriding theme in your content.
Ray~
Of course you should continue as you are. EVERYONE else is constantly preaching their religion, whether evolution, global warming, abortion for convenience, socialism, you name it. Why should anyone single you/us out? Quite illogical. That said, keep your salt salty, brother!
Ray, I believe God honors our obedience. I think the Bible says that a few times! I, too, am proud to know Jesus and living my life from His presence, everything I am and do is to glorify Him.
Keep going as you are, I am so glad I read this, I also think that God is helping me with my new venture! I am becoming affiliated with many companies & creating a one stop shop for everything and will be donating 80% to good causes while the other 20% will go towards the costs of this project, i am no writer I have no qualifications and I am just a dreamer to my friends & family I have no technical skills so I know the only way I can make this work is with faith in God. I prayed & asked God for a name for this and I got “how’s it work” standing for help others whilst shopping. Unfortunately I am surrounded by non Christians all whom have discouraging advise, I dread to think how many amazing people have not followed their dreams or done amazing things because they have listened to people instead of their inner callings. I have always listened to the na Sayers but not any more, with faith I will succeed. You are a true inspiration thank you and may God bless you even more x
Keep sowing seed. Three out of four “soils” are not “good soil”.
I trust you more for putting your Christian faith forward.
Never mind the critics. Just tell the Truth.
God bless!
“…woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” I Corinthians 9:16
Hi Ray, I have had a similar debate with myself, although more in a personal sense than a business sense. I came to this conclusion: one day this world is going to end and those who accept what Jesus did for them will spend an eternity in heaven, but those who reject what Jesus did for them will spend an eternity in unimaginable torment. If even one person comes to know Jesus as a result of my “not shutting up” and is spared from Hell, then it will have been worth any criticism, mockery, or labelling I might have had to experience. At the end, everyone will know the truth. It’s not about preaching at people or “Bible-bashing” them, but simply letting your light shine, not being ashamed of the gospel, and speaking a word in season. Then God and the Holy Spirit can do the rest. He knows where people’s hearts are, and what a privilege to be useful to Him! Never let the enemy condemn you, I reckon!
Yes , Ray you’ve reached the right conclusion. Don’t shut up about Jesus. If God puts something on your heart, he’s done it for a reason. You must follow through what he has given you to do. Besides I find it quite refreshing. Don’t worry about the nay-sayers, I always believe God knows what he’s doing. Even if sometimes I don’t agree, I’m always certain there’s a reason.
I am in the process of retiring from my day job and launching full time into my own business. I contemplated whether or not to ‘wear Jesus on my sleeve’ in business dealings or not and was on the fence about it. Somehow (just kidding, I know it was by divine appointment) your email for your book made its way into my inbox. So I got the book and again somehow (hmm) found my way to this post. I am sure now that not only do “I want to help people with their businesses, regardless of their beliefs, but also “I have a ministry that functions through the vehicle of my business”. Thanks for the confirmation and helping me obtain clarity of purpose.
You have been very helpful as of late—your writing tips are wonderful. I own 2 of your books. Thank you! However…
Your religious overtones are a huge turn-off for me. Business and religion-just like politics and religion, shouldn’t mix.
Why must you throw Jesus into the conversation?
There; I said it.
And, I still like you 🙂
The Franchise King®
Joel Libava
Joel, I appreciate your comments and compliments. And I respect your point of view. But the very post you’re commenting on is its own answer to your question, “Why must you throw Jesus into the conversation?”.
I elaborated on this before, in this post: http://rayedwardsis.wpengine.com/do-spirituality-and-business-mix/
But we don’t have to agree. I’m okay with that.
And I still like you, too. 🙂
Hi Ray,
I don’t know you from a bar of soap, but I stumbled upon this post. The heading caught my eye and I just had to read it. So many people give up their faith because many people expect them to, especially online when coupled with business (not that I know anything about online business !).
I want to congratulate you for sticking with Jesus. If you stick with Him, you definitely can’t go wrong.
God Bless
Thanks – I appreciate the encouragement. And I definitely am sticking with Jesus. To paraphrase Peter, “Where else would I go? He alone has the words of life.”