Non-Christians seem to be getting more antagonistic toward people of faith in the workplace. It's bigotry, plain and simple, but what is the best way to respond to taunts?

AT ISSUE

A Christian man in his mid-30s said: One of the other sales guys at work knows I'm a Christian and is always making snide anti-Christian remarks. On one hand I'd like to win him to Jesus but on the other I'd like to punch him out. How do I handle this?

OUR INSIGHT

It's no fun being on the receiving end of snide remarks.

However, Christians have been persecuted from the very beginning. Jesus said, "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). Jesus also said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).

Your desire to show your coworker the way to Jesus is great! Very often those who make snide remarks or are abusive to believers in other ways are closer to following Jesus than others. They know you are different or are trying to be different for Jesus' sake, and that bugs them!

Your coworker is probably testing you to see if your faith is authentic. The authenticity of your faith will not emerge by you acting religious or being preachy, but by small acts of kindness. Be sure you are praying for this man and look for opportunities to do good for him and his family.

If you sincerely feel you want to punch this guy out, then you are not close to Jesus and instead you are following the prompting of Satan. If you're going to knock this guy out, do it with the love of Jesus, not your fists.

-DLH