By Jeremy Robertson
July 31, 2024

5 hallmarks for work–faith integrators

Work is spiritual for Integrators. They set high standards and embrace lifelong learning.

Work is good. Faith is good. Can they be good together?

I won’t belabor the false dichotomy of faith vs. career since we have discussed this topic in previous articles. But if Christians believe that God made humans to work and that by working, humans can experience their God-given identity as caretakers of creation, then Christians should enjoy their work. God made work good.

But how does a Christian find meaningful connections between work and faith in order to develop an integrated view of each?

Barna Research recently conducted a study on vocation. The rest of this article will summarize a portion of their findings. They asked Christian employees to respond to the following statements:

  • “I can clearly see how the work that I am doing is serving God or a higher purpose.”
  • “I am looking to make a difference in the world.”
  • “I find purpose and meaning in the work I do.”
  • “As a Christian, I believe it is important to help mold the culture of my workplace.”

The responses from the study yielded three distinct groups: Integrators, Onlookers, and Compartmentalizers. We will focus on the Integrators today in order to understand a healthy relationship between faith and career.

Barna defines Integrators as Christians who agree strongly with the previous statements. They are enthusiastic employees who are deeply connected to their faith and work. 28% of the Christian workforce can be identified as Integrators.

Integrators’ “professional ethos overwhelmingly stands out form the rest and is correlated with a willingness to invest skills and resources wisely, take considered risks, look for ways to improve and work for the good of others.”

This is what we all want. We want to be exemplary. We want to be bold. We want to help others. We want to develop personally. What are the hallmarks of Integrators and their perspective on work and faith?

Work is spiritual

One might assume that these Christians are so deliberate in their workplace that they develop a sense of identity from their job. Instead, Integrators are more likely to regard faith as the foundation of their identity. They consistently acknowledge God as having a role in the work they do and in their vocation generally. Integrators don’t consider going into ministry as a higher calling than those who choose to live faithfully within their given profession.

Set the bar high

Integrators have high expectations of their jobs and of themselves. They value a sense of purpose or personal satisfaction provided by a position more than they value competitive pay and benefits. They value a position’s opportunity to contribute to the greater good of society over opportunities for advancement. Integrators priorities start with the heart.

While requiring a lot of their jobs, Integrators also place high expectations on themselves as people of faith and as employees. Integrators are convinced that Christians should act ethically, speak the truth, demonstrate morality, and confront injustice in the workplace. They believe that Christians have a responsibility to do excellent work in order to bring glory to God.

You’ve never truly “made it”

Integrators don’t approach their career as a single path with one end goal. Instead, they view their career path as meandering with multiple potential outcomes. Because of this mentality, they are willing to embrace a variety of possibilities and a lifelong journey of learning. Integrators never feel like they’re done growing. They actively seek clarity from God regarding their career and the multitude of options placed before them.

Stephanie Shackleford writes, “The adaptability to think ahead and prepare for the future, while remaining open to new ideas and plans, is a key part of developing career calling.”

Embrace curiosity & risk

Integrators are more likely than other Christian workers to exhibit characteristics of curiosity. This curiosity allows for openness to taking chances professionally. Integrators are comfortable putting themselves out there not only in their occupation but also toward other life goals and projects.

Don’t bury your talents

Integrators desire to use their gifts for the good of others. This likely comes from their conviction that any talents they’ve been given are from God and are meant to be used for His glory. This open-handedness and selflessness seem to be defining traits of faith-work integrators.

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About Jeremy Robertson

Jeremy Robertson has served as a Minister at the Edmond Church of Christ since 2010. After 13 years of Youth Ministry, he transitioned to Family Life Ministry in 2013. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in Ministry/Bible and later earned a master’s degree in Family Life Ministry from OC. In his role, Jeremy leads ministry and outreach efforts for marriage enrichment, young adults, men’s and women’s ministry, and other family life contexts. He and his wife Ashley have two sons.