Christian Perspective of Business Ethics
From my Travel Album ...

Christian Perspective of Business Ethics

Today I write wearing different hats.. I'm an HR professional and also a Pastor and Worship leader in my church. For over 25 years, I have served in various capacities in church leadership and my faith plays a big part in who I am, my marriage, career, etc. In the marketplace, I have had the opportunity to establish or be part of prayer altars in the business, and with great results as we took different issues concerning the organization to the Lord in prayer. In one organization, I remember us praying for proposals submitted by name and how excited I was to receive the news that the major proposals had succeeded and that with substantial funding to the organization. Prayer works. I have prayed for colleagues on Zoom during my one-on-one calls and prayed for their family members, and I have seen results.

This article is not about prayer, but rather, what is the place of our faith in our jobs, organizations, or business? For me, it plays a big role. This could be different from others.

Religion and reason interact to produce principles, criteria, and guides for behavior, as well as a set of virtues relevant to business activity (Melé & Fontrodona, 2017). Unless an individual has no personal values they live by, rarely will one be able to separate their faith from their daily work or lifestyle, and that includes business. According to Fourie (2012), Christian ethics in its literal sense can be viewed from at least two perspectives: one from the qualifier "Christian," which refers to ethics practiced by Christians, and another which refers to ethics for Christians. According to Fourie (2012), these two viewpoints raise problems regarding the audiences that Christian ethics can properly address.

There may be arguments for or against the aspect of biblical ethics in business and to what extent a Christian should apply biblical principles in the marketplace or business, but this does not negate its importance.

According to Wariboko (2019), the objective of business is to create an environment in which we can collaborate with God to preserve and promote a flourishing life. This entails admitting God's rule over everything a business works with: materials, people, and everything in the environment. The earth and all of its resources are not merely resources to be exploited for profit; they are holy, set apart for God's service (Wariboko, 2019). Whatever we do, we must do all for the glory of God and not please men knowing that we shall give an account to Him as our Master (Colossians 3:17; NKJV).

Some organizations are faith-based and others are not, but you will find some freedom of worship with some workplaces providing a prayer room, or allowing for devotional times during the week. Whether this is present or not, we can all practice our faith in all that we do and be a light and a part of the transformation that takes place in the organization through, not just our skills and experiences, but also incorporating our faith to see success in our organizations.

Does your faith have a role to play in your job or business?

How have you seen 'faith' practiced in your workplace?

I would love to hear your thoughts...

Keep winning and leading daily!

Terry

References:

Fourie, W. (2012). Can Christian ethics be used to engage business? A (South) African consideration. Acta Theologica, 32(1), 46-60. Retrieved March 20, 2022, from https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1015-87582012000100003&lng=en&tlng=en .

Melé, D., & Fontrodona, J. (2017). Christian ethics and spirituality in leading business organizations: Editorial introduction. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(4), 671–679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3323-3

New King James Version (1982). Online Version. Thomas Nelson. https://www.biblegateway.com/

Wariboko, N. (2019). [Review of the book Business Ethics in Biblical Perspective: A Comprehensive Introduction, by Michael E. Cafferky]. Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 39(1), 196-197. https://www.muse.jhu.edu/article/730406 .


Francis Wa Oduori

Teacher at TSC KENYA

2 个月

Thank you for sharing

Lillian Ngala

HR Director | Board Director | Top 20 Disruptive People Leaders KE 2023 | Top 50 HR Leaders Africa 2022 | Top 20 Women Making a Difference in KE 2021 | Founder, Lillian Ngala Foundation

4 个月

Terry S. what a beautiful post! Firstly, it's the Almighty God who places us in those positions! Once that belief is engrained in us we should never imagine even for a minute think that we can do it alone! Without HIM we are nothing. I see God in every facet of my life.Glory and honor be to God my creator, my soul is full with HIS praises. ??

Lydia Nduku

Empowering girls and Communities| Project Planning and Management | Mentor and Life Skills Coach | SRHR Advocate | Passionate about Quality Improvement and Transformational Leadership

4 个月

It does very much....I have Christian values that always guides me at work..They keep me on toes.. Having in mind that work is a blessing,a platform to serve God.. I work in Beacon of Hope which part of organisational culture is daily morning devotion..I find it very instrumental/uplifting as we begin the day.. I have several testimonies about what prayers at work can do..

Anne W. Ngarachu

Marketing | Technology | Sustainability

5 个月

It does ?? First it was finding my identity in Christ and the revelation of my calling in the marketplace. The other major turnaround for me was the understanding of work as worship. And so I began to desire the expression of worship through my work because I didn't understand why this was not reflecting for me. Now, there's no significant difference when I'm doing my personal devotions or when I'm working because of the fellowship I enjoy with the Holy Spirit either way. With this foundation came a surrender and allowing God to lead me through my business or career decisions, and actually yielding to His leadership even though I would have preferred to go a different way. But I'm so glad I obeyed even when it was not easy. This has given me so much clarity and confidence of God's call over my life and the things I'm called to build. The ideas, blueprint, clarity, direction, etc., have all been birthed in the secret place, in prayer and I know that He's graced me for these assignments I could go on and on because this is one of my favourite attributes of God. God, My Senior Partner?? The Lord of the marketplace

Mtware Laban

l Systemic and Transfomative Change Advocate l Design Thinker/ Human Centred Designer/Sustainability. CEO, KISSPROGG HUB & SPOKE LTD, Founder - KISSPRO KENYA.

5 个月

We cannot separate God from Work or Business. He says in Deut 8:18 Remember that I am the one who gives you power to generate wealth (power to produce riches/power to make money). How can we not depend on this God, on His word! What we all want is success in life. Whenever I pray along His Word over what I, or my friends are persuing, it has always worked! Prayer is everything.

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