A Thought

I just realized I did two mindless posts in a row.

So here's something I've been thinking about lately with a little more thought to it (although far from complete) than Star Wars dogs or wooly mammoths.

A few weeks ago, a pastor at my church was preaching on justice (“shalom” in Hebrew: the restoration of Creation) and how we as Christians must work towards justice (shalom) because restoration is the essence of the Good News (Christ coming to redeem humanity separated from God). It was a few weeks ago, so I don't remember all of the details, but I do remember at the end he gave a blessing to those in the congregation who work to end injustice through non-profits, government, law enforcement, etc. However, I noticed businesspeople were inadvertently left out his blessing. That omission is a symptom of the current conversation in the Church today--or perhaps lack of conversation--about the businessperson’s legitimate role in doing justice.

Scripture talks about businessmen and women, how the Lord both blesses them (the businesswoman described in Proverbs 31, Abraham) and takes away from them (Job). An entrepreneur is by definition someone who is others focused. Of course, what people call “needs” may be perverse, but that is the fallen nature of human beings and why the work of Jesus' death and resurrection was necessary. To be "little Christs" (Christians) means to work towards restoration in this fallen world in the context of His Grace. I fully believe business people can do that in their business.

So business in and of itself is not an evil thing. Just like any human endeavor, the content of our heart is what matters to God. In Matthew 7, Jesus talks of those who will meet Him after all is said and done, telling Him they did many miracles, cast out demons, prophesied, and He will tell them He doesn't know them. If doing something as "holy" as miracles isn't good enough, then surely that means our heart is what matters to Him. Likewise, merely being a non-profit employee, or even a pastor, does not automatically make one closer to the ideal of "justice worker" or a true Christian.

As the pastor said, God uses non-profit employees, government workers, et al to do amazing things for this world. However, I encourage you to think of all the needs God meets in your own life and other’s lives through business people: the clothes you wear, the food you eat, technology, etc, etc: The many things that can make our life more wholesome (closer to shalom). However, this is not to say our greatest Need is met in things. Physical restoration or need-filling is only a slice of the justice pie. Restoration is met through Christ’s work.

Both Scripture and experience demonstrate that Christians in business can be conscious and successful in their duty to do justice through trade. There may be many Christians who are missing out on living a more fulfilled life because the message the church so often gives is that business is somehow outside the realm of what it means to do justice.

A note: I don't consider business the end all be all of correct Christian living, but merely an aspect of what we were created for. Each person will be called to a different vocation as parts of "a Body with many members."