A Christian Worldview In A Global Business Economy

Total words: 1449

"The purpose of developing a Christian view of the world is not merely to evaluate and judge the world, but to change it," (Boa, 2004). Having a Christian worldview is hard enough in American but add in the entire world and it can be a little trickier. Thinking Christianly has a major impact on how someone would do business overseas, in a global economy. When it comes to a Christian worldview in a global economy there are numerous issues that can come up. Different countries and cultures have different things that they deem acceptable; however, when you are looking at it from a Christian standpoint you may have to handle things in a different manner. Just because something is acceptable or legal in the world does not make it acceptable to someone with a Christian worldview. John 17:17 says that, "The word is truth," so when one is looking for direction and guidance in any aspect of business he will always know that the word of God is truth that he can turn to. Although the field of business has many negative connotations with Christianity there are also positive ones. There are two main issues that this paper will address. The first issue, pollution, can be view negatively. The second issue, job opportunities, can be view positively.

The first issue, Environmental issues play a key role in why some companies do business overseas. A lot of American based companies like to establish their productions in Mexico because of the lower environmental rules. Many third world countries do not have limitations like America on pollutions and things of that nature. From a Christian standpoint, the prophet Nahum wrote about these things saying, "You have increased the number of your merchants till they are more than the stars of the sky, but like locusts they strip the land and then fly away," (Nahum 3:16). Nahum does speak a word of truth for today. The greediness of man has stained the land through our careless taking of profit. It is all too common for humans to take from the land without even thinking of how it might be impacting the earth.

If one is a Christian looking to establish a business in a third world country, instead of just falling into the secular worldview of thinking that it is okay to dump waste into their water because there is no law against it; one might look at from a Christian worldview. The Christian worldview would help one to see that just because something is acceptable by the world or even not against the law, it does not make it okay. Just because the world views something as okay does not mean God does. God has provided this beautiful place for us to live; it is senseless for it to be destroyed by things that could be avoided.

If one wanted to look even further into the pollution issue, as far as dumping waste into water and polluting the air, he would see that in John 6:12 Jesus' commanded us to "Let nothing be wasted." "As the caretakers of God's creation, we need to honor Jesus' command," (Hamel, 2002). Instead of dumping waste into a pond, there maybe some way the company could take what is not being used and us it to produce something else. The company may even be able to make its product out of something recyclable so that it can be reused and not wasted. Environmental issues are just one thing that people working in the business world seem to think are not important, as long as it is not against the law.

The second issue, Job opportunity is something very positive that Global business offers not just to people in ones own nation but to other nations. The Bible tells us to "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (1Thessalonians 4:11-12) Work is God's design. Although He created a utopia in the Garden of Eden, God still commanded the man "to tend and care for it," (Genesis 2:15). The concept of work originated in the omniscient mind of God who Himself labored in the creating of the universe and still works to accomplish His purposes. The heavens are a David put it "the work of your fingers," referring to Gods fingers, (Psalm 8:3). Therefore work of any kind is distinguished because it derives it foundation and meaning from God.

Work is not hard work to be endured but rather a gift from God. "So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God," Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13). God is telling us that he does want us to work, because it is a gift; but he also wants us to be happy and enjoy life. All throughout the Bible we hear things about enjoying the fruit of our labor. Work seems to be something God had planned for His people and wants them to do. Not only for ones own benefit but for His benefit. God has provided the Earth for his people in return they are to keep it maintained for Him.

But we should remember that work in not automatically guaranteed. If you've ever been out of work or known someone who is unemployed, you know how great a blessing work really is. Global business offers jobs to people in other countries. Since America is known as a Christian nation to other countries, this can be one thing that helps Christians not look as bad as most counties view them because, Christians are normally misrepresented by the secular United States. When a Global business provides jobs for people in other countries they are helping fulfill these people dreams, hopes, and ambitions. It may seem to America like they are being selfish and trying make more profit for themselves, but for a Christian it may feel like you are helping or even ministering to someone in another country.

In conclusion, having a Christian worldview in a business world can be pretty hard. It can be even harder when you are looking at the entire world, as in global business. Thinking Christianly has a major impact on how someone would do business overseas, in a global economy. When it comes to a Christian worldview in a global economy there are numerous issues that can come up. The two issues discussed, pollution and employment, are only a couple of many issues that can rise. At this past years "Christians in the Market Place," panel discussion several of the speakers touch on what is probably the most important thing to remember when trying to look at the business world from a stand point of a Christian, and that was living a holistic life. Mr. Andrew Corley, a business man said "I am who I am at work and at home." This can make a huge impact on any aspect of business. Not just wearing one mask to church, another one to work, and a different one at home. Mr. Eric Reynolds, a news anchor for Fox 10 here in Mobile, talked to us a lot about working in the secular world. Mr. Reynolds made a statement that was very good, he told the students that because they where attending a Christian school that more was expected out of them from the world. Since the world knew our school as a Christian school they expect more out of its students as far as integrity and things of that nature. This is a very true statement. As stated earlier other countries expect more out of the United States, because it is known as a Christian nation. Even though we, citizens of the United States, know this is not true. The surrounding nations do not look at it like that. It is refreshing to know that there is a place, a school, that is educating its future global business candidates not to just go out into the world and conduct business with people; but to go out into the world and conduct business with people while still maintaining a Christian emphasis. "The purpose of developing a Christian view of the world is not merely to evaluate and judge the world, but to change it," (Boa, 2004). That is our mission, "Changing Lives to Change the World."

Works Cited
Boa, Kenneth Th.M.; Ph.D.; D.Phil. (2004). Conclusion: Our Challenging Mission. Retrieved April 3, 2006, from http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=3873
Hamel, Maurice(2002). Is Pollution Part of God's Plan? Christians and the Environment. Retrieved April 4, 2006, from http://www.surfinthespirit.com/environment/
Corley, Andrew. (2005, November). Christians in the Marketplace. Speech presented at the University of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama.
Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Illinois: Tyndal Charitable Trust, 1996.

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