“God cannot give us a
happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there.”
– C.S. Lewis
(1888-1963)
Author
Are you a
Christian coach who coaches non-Christian people? Have you had the opportunity to do a workshop
or seminar for a business or educational institution and asked not to being
religion into the conversation? How do
you handle this and is the spiritual aspect really that important? After all, the principles of success are relevant
whether you are a believer or not. Or
are they?
Like many of you, I have had to
face this issue many times in my coaching career. For me it goes beyond the issues of respecting
the beliefs of another and deals with my personal integrity. If I am being paid to help a person find a
purpose and fulfillment in life, do I not have the responsibility to tell them
the truth?
It is true that the principles
of success are laws that do not change because of a person's beliefs. It is as the law of nature, gravity works
whether you believe in it or not. No
matter what you believe is the order, winter is followed by spring and then
summer and then fall and back to winter.
Never changing the order, never missing one or the other. So it is with the laws of success; if you
follow the pattern you will achieve.
However, part of that pattern is our spirit. To leave it out is like trying to leave fall
out of the cycle of seasons.
How can I help you to fulfill
your purpose in life and leave out the very Person who created you and your
purpose? How can I help you to find
happiness and completion as a person without introducing you to the One who
makes you complete?
The truth is, you (or rather the
client) may not accept that direction.
Just because I tell you about Jesus does not make me responsible for you
accepting Him. That is fully up to you. However, to not tell you of the hope,
redemption, joy and completion Jesus can bring to your life is to not be honest
with you and that is my responsibility.
I find it best to always be
honest and up front with new clients or businesses who wish to use my
services. I let them know that I am not
a preacher or evangelist and that my focus is to help them find success in
their journey. However, I am a
Christian; it is not what I believe or my religion, it is who I am. Being a Christian I know that to find real
fulfillment in life must include your relationship with Jesus Christ, to ask me
to leave that out is asking me to lie and I will not do that.
John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker,
and Life Coach. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books,
training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our
website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.
© 2014 John
Patrick Hickey
Thank you John. I struggle deeply with this and business. I already struggle in life because I hold nothing back in my relationship with Jesus. It makes me stick out like sore thumb. Many people, even Christians, are put off by me. I know that's their issue and it's between them and God. God instructs us to an example of Him to a lost and dying world. That's me. I can't help it if people are disobedient to God. All I am able to do is what I'm called to do. I struggle because I don't know where I fit in. It becomes overwhelming and discouraging. I just have to continue being who I am in God and let God handle the rest.
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