Issue 45
A BETTER WAY TO THINK ABOUT BUSINESS |
| Business for the Common Good |
| What should a business be, from a Christian perspective? What does that actually look like in today’s competitive, global economy? Professors Kenman Wong of Seattle Pacific University and Scott Rae of Biola University offer a valuable overview of the emerging trends in faith-based business practice, among them social entrepreneurship, comprehensive corporate social responsibility, business as mission, micro-finance and bottom-of-the-pyramid business.
Related: “A Brief History of Doing Well by Doing Good” (video) — five minutes from a Harvard Business School professor on the history of doing business for the common good.
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| How Business Glorifies God |
| In this article, world-renown theologian Wayne Grudem turns his attention to business, identifying several business activities that glorify God. In particular, he makes the case that God-honoring business activities include producing goods, employing people, buying and selling, earning a profit, and borrowing and lending.
Related: An in-depth, 60 minute talk from Professor Grudem (video) on the theology of work and vocation
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| What Makes a Business “Christian”? |
| A professor of theology, R. Paul Stevens is widely recognized for his practical application of the faith to everyday life. Here, Dr. Stevens answers the pervasive question of what makes a business “Christian” by offering ten distinctives.Related: “Finding God in Business” (video) — a succinct, seven minute primer from Professor Dallas Willard. Here’s a representative quote: “Business is a primary moving force of the love of God in human history.” |
| The Purpose of Business: A Catholic Perspective |
| For more than a century, the Vatican has spoken to social and economic issues, from poverty to world peace to the morality of capitalism. Collectively called “Catholic Social Teaching,” these pronouncements also include significant guidance about a proper conceptualization of business management. In this article, Professors Jean-Yves Calvez and Michael Naughton distill for us the essence of Catholic Social Teaching regarding the nature and purpose of the business enterprise. |
| TOOLKIT: “Business as Mission” Resources |
| “Business as mission” is a contemporary term describing the integration of business goals and the call to the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. This website is a hub for articles, books, training and other information about the movement and the opportunities. |