2022 was a year of transitions: into new jobs, back into offices, or to post-COVID workplace policies. We’ve all taken large strides into the 2020s post-pandemic decade and have made many gains reconnecting with our friends, families, and communities. And once again, our generous blog contributors were up to the challenge of addressing the issues of this tumultuous time.
Over the years, the IFWE blog has reached tens of millions of readers worldwide, and 2022 expanded that effort by reaching approximately one million unique individuals.
We have certainly been blessed by all of our writers, editors, and contributors who make this blog a successful ministry. None of this would be possible without you, our friends, readers, and subscribers. We hope that you will continue to be blessed by our articles throughout the new year and continue to support IFWE.
One major highlight came in early 2022 with the inspiring series about the Fruit of the Spirit in the workplace by Dr. Joshua Nangle of Regent University, which took three spots on our annual Top Ten list, including the most-read blog published in 2022.
Now, without further ado, here are the top ten articles from our staff and contributors in 2022!
1. Faithfulness in the Workplace
Joshua Nangle
How faithfully are we carrying out the responsibilities the Lord has placed in our lives at this time? Faithfulness requires a willingness to complete the job even when circumstances are not comfortable. Here again, Christ is our example. Read more.
2. The Kingdom of God is Not Just the Church
Hugh Whelchel
Jesus came to earth to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, but few Christians recognize that he also came to establish the Kingdom of God. What does it mean for us and for our vocation if the Kingdom is “now, but not yet?” Read more.
3. Why Christians Should Exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit at Work
Joshua Nangle
As followers of Christ, we have the privilege to carry the presence of God with us everywhere we go. However, to have an effective witness through our jobs, our conduct must exhibit the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. Read more.
4. How Do We Prepare Students for the Real World?
Scot Bellavia
Millennials and Gen Z don’t know how to write a check and aren’t comfortable talking on a telephone, but they know that “the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.” They’re done with the milk of test-prepping, hungry for the meat of how to live on their own. Read more.
5. The Greatest Christian Book You’ve Never Read
Doug Monroe
Michael Novak published The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism forty years ago in 1982. It is arguably the greatest Christian book that most people have never read because it explains the Judeo-Christian essence of the Western world in terms that anyone can understand. Read more.
6. My ALS Diagnosis & the 23rd Psalm
Hugh Whelchel
I was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2020 and given one year to live. The one Psalm I have clung to from the beginning of this strange adventure is the twenty-third Psalm. Read more.
7. Goodness in the Workplace
Joshua Nangle
Every day is an opportunity to demonstrate the goodness of God to our colleagues, but “good” does not mean “less than great.” In this context, good is a qualitative characteristic describing the nature and motive of God. Read more.
8. How Do We Respond if We are the Incompetent Colleague?
Russ Gehrlein
Do you ever feel like you can’t keep up with all of the expectations and requirements of your job? Do you ever get the impression that you’re the weakest link on the team? Here’s what to do when we are perceived as (or actually are) incompetent. Read more.
9. The Theology of Sleep
Renita Thomson-Reed
Many of us brag about how little sleep we need. Some of us talk about how we get up at four a.m. to pray. And those of us who actually do need eight hours of sleep per night feel a little guilty. Yet we were created to sleep by a God who never sleeps. Read more.
10. Kingdom-Transcendent Work is Better than Self-Transcendent ‘Purpose’
Hugh Whelchel
Purpose-driven work is not about what we do but about why we do it. All of our work, even the most mundane things we do, are taken by God and transformed into Kingdom work, and that makes all the difference. Read more.
Honorable Mention: Examining Our Aspirations & Worship in the Great Resignation
Judy Allen
The Great Resignation/Aspiration is complicated, and every individual has unique reasons for leaving the workforce, temporarily or permanently. As we evaluate our jobs let’s consider what God intends for our work, and ultimately, our lives. Read more.
