Is your work really any of God’s business?
My evangelical alma mater frequently delivers good material for reflection. A recent issue of the university news magazine included a story titled: “God’s in the business of our work.” That certainly caught my freethinking attention. The article describes an entrepreneur who found success with an internet company before listening to an inspirational speech that altered his perspective. Hearing that “all work – even business – matters to God,” the businessowner “realized his work in the business world could and should be a way to directly live out his faith, it changed everything.” Believing that “God cares about businesspeople and businesses,” he found that “every business decision becomes a theological decision.”
He now refers to his employees as “souls” and sees each one, along with their family, as blessed. It’s commendable he chooses to pay a living wage, provide full health-care benefits and make his company employee-owned. Through difficult times he learned “my scoreboard as a Christian is based on whether I was faithful to God, not successful.” He explains: “It’s not actually my company; it’s not my work. It’s God’s work that he has given me to do. When you accept that, you have peace and can rest no matter what happens.”
He’s now formed another company that presents films where Christian business people tell their stories of how their faith guides their work. For the directors, this is all about living out “the kingdom of God” by being faithful in work. Even their young son is serving the kingdom as “a faithful son, student, soccer player.” They believe the Christian God calls them to be His followers in any job or situation in life.
Now, some reflection. Jesus sassed back to his parents when he went missing and was found in the temple: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). What was Jesus’s business? Apparently he served as an apprentice carpenter with Joseph, his dad (until his earthly father disappears from his life and history). Then he got busy as an itinerant preacher spreading a message of ... mostly good things ... around a small patch of planet Earth.
Was he successful at business? We’re not sure what happened to the Nazareth Carpenter Shop, but we know the result of the business model of the rambling rabbi: crucifixion. Not a paragon of success. What was the business of his early disciples? From anglers to preachers angling for souls. The hook? God’s business plan. Specifically: to get busy with The Work. What was that work? Depends on whom you ask.
How can someone claim “God’s in the business of our work”? I thought believers are supposed to be in the business of GOD’S Work. Is the divine strategy to make money, to serve the public, or to primarily proclaim your faith by being a “Christian business”? I’ve often wondered what that means. How can a business be Christian? A Christian owner with Christian employees who work within a Christian business model? (There are actually “Christian Yellow Pages” published by Family of Faith Ministries, “providing the most advanced faith based Yellow Pages Business Directory to Christian businesses, organizations, and individuals worldwide.” So, if you want to give your money to specifically sectarian businesses, there’s your righteous resource).
Now, for the rest of us who don’t mind giving our business to any business regardless of the religious beliefs of owners or employees, we may be a bit confused. Should people of one faith buy only from businesses that identify with that faith? According to the Christian Yellow Pages folks, they printed their godly golden guide back in 1975 “to serve the Body of Christ.” So, does that mean that certain Christians should give money only to certain Christian businesses, and if so, who determines who or what is “Christian”? Would a business owned and operated by Mormons, or Christian Scientists, or Catholics or Liberal, mainline Protestants count? What if a Christian owner was Episcopalian or even a Unitarian who leans Christian? Do they count? Would they qualify for a listing, enjoying an influx of Christian customers referred by God’s Yellow pages?
In reference to the original article, the entrepreneur has become a major donor to my alma mater, which presents itself as a “Christian university.” When I was there, my classmates were mostly from conservative backgrounds, yet many of us were learning the world was much bigger than what we had been taught, and what we bought, as kids. I was supposed to get a “Christian education” but discovered value in other religious beliefs and viewpoints – and engaging my mind. You might say I got busy using my brain better. The essential lesson here has to be: caveat emptor, especially concerning the business of faith.
Chris Highland was a minister and interfaith chaplain for nearly 30 years.