I recently wrote a post titled What is Christian Business? because I was thinking about all of my clients who are tentative about letting God into their business world. There are many reasons that make them hesitant. Things like:
- God doesn’t care about my business
- I can’t bring God into something as crass as making money
- If I put a God spin on it I won’t be competitive in the business world
It is easy to pysch ourselves out. We are uncomfortable with letting down our business warrior armor and saying “I am following God in my business”!
The Dichotomy of Christian Business
At the time I wrote that, about 4 days ago, I wasn’t even thinking about the other side of this dichotomy.
The people using Christianity as a marketing tool.
Brian Clark of Copyblogger and Third Tribe Marketing made a comment, answering one of my forum questions, that some people may throw a fish or cross on their business and expect droves of people to come.
This idea is opposite of the myths that keep my Christian business clients from bringing God into their business in any way. This concept stayed in my mind.
But, in thinking about it, I remembered.
Giving Christians in Business a Bad Reputation
I remembered friends saying “I am not hiring a Christian in business (or someone who markets that they are Christian) because these so-called Christians are the first to do shabby work or, on the client side, to not pay their bills.
I didn’t really get this…but, I think these are the same Christians in business that Brian was referring.
We Have It Backwards
If we are trying to publicize that we are Christians in business in order for God to shine a light on our business, we have it backwards!!
God cares about our business because He cares about us. It is NOT glorifying to God to use Him.
(Lean on Him yes, use Him no!)
“Hey I have God over here in my business…you know, the Big Guy….so you should do business with me.”
The Only Visible Sign
Remember, it is all about our heart!
If we remember in scripture:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’” Matthew 15:8-9
then we won’t want to pay lip service to being a Christian in business.
Or feel like others will see us in a higher light just because we claim Christianity as a badge:
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. Luke 11:43
The only visible sign of our faith in our business is that we will have Christian business ethics and values. Much of the benefit of being a Christian in business is all that God gives to us from His truth, strength, and meaning.
It is not about God shining a light on our business.
It is about us doing our business in such a way that we honor our Christ-given values, thus shining a light on God.
Great article Sue!
Scripture tells us to “let our light shine” – we are the ones who have to let it shine. I am not interested in doing business with folks just because they are Christians (been there, done that and not doing it again!) – in fact, if they are Christians, they have to work harder to get my business – they should be doing what everyone else is doing and more as they have a bigger responsibility to man. They should serve. If I don’t see that, I am not interested.
Harsh, but true.
Amen Matt! I am 100% with you and hope others feel the same. I think it is necessary to have that servants heart in order for us to glorify God in our business.
Thanks for commenting.