Theology of Business Lecture

Introduction

• Speaker appreciates Redeemer and the faith and work group's work
• Lecture on theology of business is divided into two big questions:
  • Why business matters to God
  • How business should be done from God's perspective
• Main headings: Purpose (why) and Practice (how)

A Theology of Business

Importance of Theology of Business

• Speaker meets community leaders; hears diverse opinions on business
• Non-business perspective: business seen as evil, exploitative
• Business perspective: capitalism equated with Christianity
• Need for a nuanced theology to affirm and critique appropriately

Big Questions

1. Purpose: Why Business?

• Mission statement for business from God's perspective
• Dominant model: Maximizing return on shareholder investment (Milton Friedman)
• Speaker argues this model is insufficient and wrong
• Biblical insights into the purpose of business:
  • Creation narratives show God's intentions before sin
  • Work assigned to humanity (Creation mandate)
    • Tasks: dominion over garden, tilling the ground, naming animals, etc.
    • Work seen as meaningful and creative, reflecting God's image

Purpose Observations

• Work and Relationship: Work set in the context of relationship; God in loving relationship in the Trinity
• Material World: God created real, material things and called them good
• Unfinished Garden: Garden perfect but dynamically resourced; humanity to partner with God
  • Example: Manna vs bread making metaphor
• Business’s Role: Service
  • Internal service: Provide meaningful and creative jobs
  • External service: Produce goods/services to enable community flourishing

2. Practice: How Business Should be Done?

• Importance of constraints and boundaries (levees) in business
• Biblical support for limits: Genesis narratives
  • Humanity made to respect limits; sin as rejecting limits
  • Sustainable operations important; preserving resources
• Sustainable Business: Balancing use of resources without exploiting stakeholders
  • Examples: paying living wages, responsible advertising, managing capital responsibly

Application of Theology of Business

Addressing Critiques

• Does it make a difference? Yes, shifts fundamental questions business leaders ask
• Is this mainstream? Movement in business towards more meaningful purposes is growing
• Competitive viability? Yes, mission-driven companies can be very successful

Importance of the Lecture

• Internal: Solving crisis of meaning in workplace, especially for Christians
• External: Addressing global problems with the unique capabilities of business

Call to Action

• Pray for business leaders to be sent out into the harvest field to do God's work
• Inviting business leaders to engage in creating positive, sustainable change in the world

Conclusion

• Business matters to God; it is vital for Christians in business to understand its purpose and practice from a theological perspective