Kenneth Weiss offered a Bible to a Muslim co-worker at a Florida medical lab and called a lesbian colleague's attention to Scripture that describes homosexuality as "vile" and "unseemly." The born again Christian also "laid hands" on ill co-workers and prayed over a malfunctioning machine.
bump to the church of Jesus Christ @ FR ..Is this "harassment" or free speech
An employer has every right to forbid certain kinds of speech in his workplace, including "witnessing."
An employee is free to say or do whatever he wants, and an employer is free to terminate his employment as a result.
That being said. . . I worked in a place with an obnoxiously forward prosletyzer. He was extremely sincere, but also extremely obnoxious: he butted into every conversation, and tried forcing his viewpoint on everyone (he was a member of a small, fundamentalist Baptist (???) offshoot, I think it was the Bereans. . . ). He was finally let go after throwing a fit that he wasn't allowed to take three months off with pay to be a missionary in South America (he had maybe a week's vacation time stored up. . .)
Thanks for the bump....
But I wondered about this phrase. I wonder exactly how he called her attention to that verse--whether it was nice, or if he beat her over the head with it. Attitude makes a big difference in this sort of activity.
Under what context? We really don't know enough to make an informed judgment.
Scenario 1: Lesbian is openly boasting about her homosexual relationship in a conversation with the Christian. Then, it is appropriate to discuss the Biblical perspective on homosexuality.
Scenario 2: Believer hears, "So-and-so is a lesbian," and takes it upon himself to correct her. He initiates the discussion, and it gets out of hand. That's harassment.
Similarly, what was the deal with the co-workers? Did the co-workers want him to lay hands and pray over them? IF so, than this is an infringement on the believer's rights. If they didnt approve it, than he could pray silently in his cubicle, and not be disruptive.
A workplace exists to get work done. If this man was disruptive to that end (even if he's right), the employer was well within their bounds to fire him.
That depends on how the employee takes it.
Shalom.
Actually, it's neither. My position on this is probably not very popular with those who consider themselves to be part of the mainstream in Christendom. I am one who believes that virtually every single "civil rights" law on the books is unconstitutional. The government has no right getting involved in the private affairs of how one runs his or her business. An employer, in my opinion, has the right to fire someone for any reason unless doing so violates a legal contract, written or verbal, between that employer and the employee in question. If the employer had said that witnessing would be allowed and then turned around and fired that employee, the employee would have a case. If, however, the employee was approached and warned that such behavior could result in termination and the employee continued to engage in that behavior, the employer would be well within his right to fire that person.
I'm not saying that what the employer did was right, nor am I saying that what Weiss did was wrong. Far from it. However, he seemed to know the consequences if he continued to witness to others. It's something that comes with the territory. Just ask any missionary who has spent any time at all in an unfriendly nation. There will always be those who oppose the sharing of the Gospel. I just think we tend to add to the problem by expecting the government to get involved in an issue that should between private individuals.
Mt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them
in [Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2
and Gal. 3:27.] the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit,
Mt. 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.”
I'm not sure that is what Kenneth was doing.
Tehillim (Psalm) 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
XeniaSt
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. -Ephesians 6:5-7
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. -I Timothy 6:1
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; -Titus 2:6-9
Was the man hired to work or to witness? In a case like this, a Christian has no need to go to the American courts, God has already ruled.