I was a young subaltern arriving at Currie Barracks in 1974. The city was Winnipeg, Manitoba. The unit was the Second Battalion of the famous Princess Patricias Light Infantry (PPCLI). The stated task of an infantry soldier was “to close with and destroy the enemy.” The “enemy” in this case was the Canadian Postal Service and the role of the Battalion was to help get essential mail to the recipients. Not what I expected!
Today, November 20, 2024, fifty years later, The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has announced it intends to begin a national strike. Global News reported that “according to the union, its list of demands includes wage increases aligned with inflation, enhancements to group benefits — such as coverage for fertility treatments and gender-affirming care —improved protections against technological changes, more paid medical leave, paid meal and rest periods and short-term disability payments.”[1]
This blog is not about the Postal Worker strike. I lead with this story because it is typical of many labor strikes in Canada. In those last fifty years that I referred to, Canada postal workers have gone on strike 19 times, i.e., about every 3 years. Typical of Canadian strike action, it is executed at the least convenient time for citizens, in this case, approaching the Christmas season. Earlier this year, West Jet threatened strike action as the vacation time approached. This is certainly intentional hoping to win the angst of citizens to support the strike.
Many, like John Kennedy boast of the benefits of of labour unions. I would want to concede that without any argument. Others, like my grandfather who eventually strapped on a German bayonet, a trophy from his service in World War I, and crossed a picket line so that my father and the rest of the family could eat, would take a more discerning view. But this is a blog not a book. This blog is not a comprehensive study of labour unions. This blog serves only one purpose: How should a Christian view participation in a labor union and joining in strike action or other such walkouts and lockouts?
Let me define what I mean by a Christian. A Christian is a follower of Christ. They have repented of their
rebellion against God and have sought, by His
power, to live for Him. They see themselves as being
bought with a price and not their own to do as they want. They wish to
please God in all they do and thereby glorify Him. They are indwelt with the
Spirit of God and live under the guidance of the Bible, recognizing it is the ultimate,
authoritative, sufficient guide for their life and their beliefs. How should
that person view their involvement in a labour union?
One presumption that needs to be assumed
in this blog is that the existence of labour unions should be treated as amoral. The fact that one is a union
member is not considered to be wrong in and of
itself. We might even concede the idea that labour unions can be a help to
Christians. A union might ensure religious liberty and the like. So, a more
refined question is: what types of activities should a Christian support
and take part in? To this the Bible is not silent. The Scriptures have
a robust theology of work. As I remind the reader of some of the principles of work
expressed in Holy Scripture, I suggest that it will form a series of checks and
boundaries that are useful to the Christian.
1.
God is the author of work. Genesis 2:15 teaches us that work was God’s idea before sin entered
the world. The Christian will embrace his or her employment as a good thing,
not a thing to be avoided, nor despised, not an
enemy. The Christian employee will stand out as one who engages in work with joy
and as a mission from God. Work is as much a ministry and a pastor labouring in
a local congregation. I will write more on this in Principle 6.
2.
Sin made work hard (Genesis 3:17-19). Because of man’s rebellion of God, work is painful and takes “sweat.”
If a Christian employee has a distressing day at work, their response initially
is not to blame the employer, the system, his or her colleagues, etc., but to
remember that the ultimate cause of their sense of frustration (or whatever) is
sin. If it is sin, then the Saviour is the answer. Consider this: the
proverbial bad-day-at-work drives the Christian employee, not to job action,
but to Christ. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.”[2]
3.
A Christian does not view
his or her boss as the boss (so to speak). Christians
“obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as
you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as
bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”[3] (See also Colossians 3:22-24) It is
interesting that Paul uses the same language for living the Christian life
(“fear and trembling”, Philippians 2:12) as how Christians are to work. It is
not a paralyzingly fear, but a motivating fear. It is a fear that says, “I
don’t want to do anything that brings dishonour on my Saviour.” But more than that, the Christian employee
adopts the attitude that he or she is working for Jesus Christ. They work to
the ignoring of who is watching or who is affirming but doing God’s will for
His commendation. The logic is profound: if your work pleases God, it will likely
please your boss. If your boss is not pleased in your God-pleasing work, then
God’s opinion is what really matters.
4.
John
the Baptist, in Luke 3:14, counselled
soldiers to be content with their wages. This
will be an incredibly provocative principle. Remember, a Christian believes and
looks to obey God’s Word. Note what Paul wrote, “But if we have
food and clothing, with these we will be content.”[4] Would
it not be correct that most union strike actions are
motivated by a desire for more wages, more benefits? Are we not fueled with
dissatisfaction when we learn that those people over there receive more
compensation than we do? Should there not be some internal investigation within
the heart of a Christian that examines reality and decides what is legitimate
justice or what it is sheer greed?
5.
Another question that a
Christian should consider about labour unions is the issue of association. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what
partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light
with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a
believer share with an unbeliever?”[5] When one takes part with a union and he or
she feels the necessity to compromise Biblical precepts and principles, they are faced with difficult choices. The Apostolic
question is critical, “Is it better to obey God or man?” (Acts 5:29).
6.
Finally, and most
decisively, how does the Christian employee wrestle with the Apostle Peter’s
admonition: “Servants, be subject to your masters
with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For
this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while
suffering unjustly.”[6] Our good and faithful work will bring
accolades and promotion, but our godly submission to unjust employers brings
glory to God. It is this factor that will decide who we are working for. It is
this factor that will figure out what our genuine ambition is. Jesus commanded
His followers to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . ..”[7] Literally
the command reads, “As you go make disciples.” It includes “As you go to work,
make disciples.” Our vocation is intended by our
Saviour to be our mission field. Suffering under difficult and unjust
conditions is one way to give glory to God and as Peter will say in that same context
of suffering, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you
for a reason for the hope that is in you.”[8]
Jesus wrote a letter to the Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) The city was a centre of commerce, and the records preserve references to more trade guilds than those listed for any other Asian city. The necessity for membership in a trade guild invited the Christians of Thyatira to compromise and opened the door to many temptations. Admittedly trade guilds were not labour unions. They were work associations that met for mutual benefit and protection. Paul had them in mind when he penned these words, “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”[9] The fact that the Bible does not forbid Christians joining labour unions does not ratify their choice to join and/or take part in all or any of its activities.
Labour unions often perform their duties based upon adversarial approach to negotiations based on discontent and greed. The goal of work disruption is often to gain personal comfort and ease to the discomfort and ease of other citizens. Undoubtedly labour unions have also addressed issues of justice and true equity. The purpose of this blog was not to “throw the baby out with the wash” but to ask Christians clear Biblical questions. Undoubtedly if a Christian finds themselves compromised with the activities of a union, difficult choices will have to be made. They may also face persecution. But the reason I made certain that I defined what a Christian was is to ensure we understood what it means to be a Christian. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”[10] Jesus said this as He was making His way to Jerusalem — to the cross. If you want to follow Jesus, get in line. Join the band of cross-carriers. Join the fellowship of those hated by culture and heading to the cross. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”[11]
“The
place of suffering in service and of passion in mission is hardly ever taught
today. But the greatest single secret of evangelistic or missionary
effectiveness is the willingness to suffer and die. It may be a death to
popularity (by faithfully preaching the unpopular biblical gospel), or to pride
(by the use of modest methods in reliance on the Holy Spirit), or to racial and
national prejudice (by identification with another culture), or to material
comfort (by adopting a simple lifestyle). But the servant must suffer if he is
to bring light to the nations, and the seed must die if it is to
multiply.” - John Stott[12]
“In the end, whether
a Christian should join a labor union is a matter of conscience and sensitivity
to the leading of the Lord. If you are convinced God wants you to join the
union, then join it. It is a personal decision, not something another believer
can place on you. Realize that, if you join a union, you are obligating
yourself to function under their rules.”[13]
My question to your heart is this: Do their rules contradict or oppose the
gracious, holy “rules” of God? That is the sixty-four-million-dollar question.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard
Version (Mt 11:28). (2016).
Crossway Bibles.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Eph 6:5–6). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Ti 6:8–9). (2016). Crossway
Bibles.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2 Co 6:14–15). (2016). Crossway
Bibles.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Pe 2:18–20). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 28:18–19). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Pe 3:15). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (1 Co 10:23). (2016). Crossway
Bibles.
[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 16:24–26). (2016). Crossway
Bibles.
[11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2 Ti 3:12). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
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