如果要試著找出好雇主、僱員、客戶或供應商的重要特徵，你覺得會是什麼？要列出才華洋溢、能力出眾、誠信可靠和效率高超之類的特質似乎很簡單，那……聖潔呢？

「聖潔」？當我們聽到這個詞時，會聯想起宗教人士和儀式的圖像。例如有人被隔離在一個僻靜的修道院中，在那裡進行與日常生活和工作無關的儀式。但事實上，這不是「聖潔」的真義。

字典把這個詞定義為「聖潔的品質或狀態」，同義詞包括：蒙福、屬神、虔誠、敬畏、神聖…等等。這些字似乎都與商場無關，至少是與21世紀的商場無關。然而，我最近聽到一位講者解釋「聖潔」的字根，其實意謂著「整全」、「正直」和「優質」。

根據該講者的解釋，我們難道不會期待在雇主、雇員、購買我們商品和服務的顧客，以及提供我們資源的供應商身上找到「聖潔」的特質嗎？同樣的，別人不也會期待在我們身上看見聖潔的特徵嗎？

老實說，我幾乎沒碰過會讓我冒出「這個人真是聖潔」的念頭的狀況。但是，我在職業生涯的許多不同場合中碰過成千上萬人，有些人的確表現出獨特而非凡的整全、誠正、優質、謙卑、憐憫、誠實和真誠。他們絕對符合那位演講者對聖潔的定義：「整全」、「正直」和「優質」。

那麼，我們要如何回應這個想法？要如何才能在別人身上找到聖潔？或者我們自己要如何才能培養聖潔？聖經當然提供了一些建議：

尋找並效法聖潔的人。你知道誰擁有整全、誠正、優質或其他符合「聖潔」定義的美德嗎？如果有，請多與這樣的人在一起，甚至追隨他，讓他成為你的導師或老師，然後學習變得像他們一樣，並積極影響他人。「你們在我身上所學習的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看見的，這些事你們都要去行……」（腓立比書4章9節）「你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的，也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。」（提摩太後書2章2節）

尋找不同的思維方式。我們在不知道「聖潔」為何物的環境中工作和生活。周遭的世界希望「形塑我們」，但是透過有意識的行動，我們可以抵抗這種壓力，並爭取更高的思想和行動標準。「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為　神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」（羅馬書12章2節）

讓聖潔成為我們的日常生活的能力。聖經告訴我們，將生命獻上跟隨耶穌基督的人被賦予了新生命，一個過嶄新生活的能力。「就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的；又要將你們的心志改換一新。」（以弗所書4章22-24節）

© 2020. Robert J. Tamasy 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com

備註：如果你有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考(因經文較長，考慮到篇幅和新舊約 經文，您可以參閱下列未列出的經文約翰福音15:1-17)

羅馬書6章4節
6:4 所以，我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀從死裏復活一樣。

哥林多前書5章17節
5:17若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。

加拉太書2章20節
2:20 我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活著；並且我如今在肉身活著，是因信　神的兒子而活；他是愛我，為我捨己。

腓4章13節
4:13 我靠著那加給我力量的，凡事都能做。

歌羅西書3章1-10節
3:1 所以，你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事；那裏有基督坐在　神的右邊。
3:2 你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。
3:3 因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同藏在　神裏面。
3:4 基督是我們的生命，他顯現的時候，你們也要與他一同顯現在榮耀裏。
3:5 所以，要治死你們在地上的肢體，就如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾，和貪婪（貪婪就與拜偶像一樣）。
3:6 因這些事，　神的忿怒必臨到那悖逆之子。
3:7 當你們在這些事中活著的時候，也曾這樣行過。
3:8 但現在你們要棄絕這一切的事，以及惱恨、忿怒、惡毒（或譯：陰毒）、毀謗，並口中污穢的言語。
3:9 不要彼此說謊；因你們已經脫去舊人和舊人的行為，
3:10 穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。

反省與問題討論

1. 當你聽到「聖潔」一詞時，會想到什麼？你是否遇過一個讓你覺得很聖潔，或在生活中表現出聖潔的人？如果有，請描述他是甚麼樣子的人。
2. 你覺得為什麼在當今職場上，「聖潔」是這麼陌生的名詞？
3. 如果你是耶穌的門徒，你是否經歷過聖經所描述的新生活的體驗？請解釋你的答案。如果你還不是耶穌的追隨者，或者還存有疑慮，那麼在精神上獲得新生命（甚至體驗聖潔）的想法是否吸引你？
4. 你是否希望有一天被視為聖潔的人？甚至在職場上也能表現出聖潔？你認為那會是什麼樣的狀況？你如何培養聖潔的特質？

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EXPECTING HOLINESS IN BUSINESS?
By

Robert J. Tamasy

Suppose you were to try identifying the traits you feel are most important for an employer, an employee, a customer or client, or a supplier. What would they be? It might seem simple to list qualities such as talent, skill, dependability and effectiveness, along with some others. But how about…holiness?

Holiness? When we hear that word, it conjures images of religious people and rites, perhaps someone sequestered in a secluded monastery somewhere engaging in rituals that have no connection with everyday life and work. But in truth, that is not what “holiness” is about.

Yes, one dictionary defines the word as “the quality or state of being holy.” Synonyms suggested include “blessedness, devoutness, godliness, piety, piousness, saintliness.” All these terms seem to have nothing to do with the marketplace, at least in the 21^st century. But a speaker I heard recently explained that at its roots, holiness means things such as “wholeness, integrity, and quality.”

In that context, would it not be desirable to find “holiness” in those for whom we work, those who work for us, people who buy our goods and services, and those who provide resources that we need? Would it not be desirable for others to find those characteristics of holiness in ourselves?

I must admit there have been few times – if any – when I thought, “there goes someone who exhibits holiness.” However, as I reflect upon the thousands of individuals I have encountered through my career in many different settings, some people have demonstrated distinctive, even unusual wholeness, integrity, quality, humility, compassion, honesty and sincerity. They certainly would have into  the aforementioned speaker’s definition of holiness.

So, how do we respond to this idea? How do we find holiness in others? How can – or should – we cultivate it in ourselves? It is not surprising that the Bible offers some suggestions:

Seek out and emulate people who model holiness. Is there anyone you know who, in terms of wholeness, integrity, quality and similar virtues, could fit into the “holiness” category? If there is, try to spend time with that person, even pursue him or her as a mentor and teacher. Then seek to become like them and positively influence others. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice…” (Philippians 4:9). “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Pursue a different way of thinking. We work and live in settings where holiness seems an alien concept. The world around us wants to “press us into its mold.” By a conscious act of the will, we can resist such pressure and strive for higher standards of thought and action. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approved what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Appropriate the power to become a holy person. The Bible teaches those who have committed their lives to following Jesus Christ have been given new life, a new capacity to live in a way they could not previously. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

© 2020. Robert J. Tamasy has written numerous books, including Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Tufting Legacies;The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard; and has edited other books. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. When you hear the words “holiness” or “holy,” what comes to mind? Have you ever encountered a person that you regarded as holy, or who displayed holiness in their life? If so, describe what that person is (or was) like.
2. Why do you think the term “holiness” has such an unfamiliar ring to it, especially when considered within the context of today’s workplace?
3. If you are a follower of Jesus, have you experienced evidence of a new life, as the Bible describes it? Explain your answer. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, or are not certain, does the idea of gaining a new life spiritually – even to experience holiness – have appeal for you?
4. Would you like to one day regarded as a holy person, a person that exhibited holiness, even in the marketplace? What do you think that would look like? How could you go about cultivating qualifies of holiness?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more consider the following passages:

John 15:1-17; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 3:1-10

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