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Transforming the Nation through the Marketplace

Transforming the Nation through the Marketplace

By Cheong Seng Gee

God created the cosmos that reflects His glory and goodness (Ps 8:19). Although this creation has been marred by sin and its consequences (Gen 3), God continues a redemptive relationship with it through ongoing creativity and the sustaining of all things.

Man is to co-labour with God as seen in the first blessings and commandments given to Adam and Eve: "be fruitful", "multiply", "fill the earth" and "subdue it" (Gen. 1:28). There is an implicit invitation to enjoy the creation as well as a responsibility to care for its wellbeing. God gives us the capacity to fulfil the task. Adam and Eve were to be involved in the process that would enhance the value of what God created. Work enables the translation of raw resources into food, goods and services for the benefit of mankind. As such, work is an activity of human co-creativity with God and therefore an act of worship - our consecration and giving back to God.

 

Business and the Cultural Mandate

The Bible has much to say about ethical and fair dealing in work and business. It has instructional texts on what is pleasing to God in relation to business, employment, trading, using money, lending and so on. They are applicable in the areas such as quality control, fair wages, good working conditions, reasonable return on investments, corporate social responsibility and the like.

Business provides opportunities for both the entrepreneurs and employees to use their particular gifts in service to others as unto the Lord. It sustains not only those who establish enterprises, but also those who are employed and those who benefit from the goods and/or services provided.

At the same time, work and business also offer opportunities for sinful practices. Exploitation of the poor, dishonesty, greed and materialism are among some of the examples. As a result of ill practices by a few, some may end up losing the ability to support themselves and contribute to others (family, community, etc.). This represents a loss of dignity and is far from God's original design.

Christians are called to play a role in God's restoration process by helping to reclaim the inherent dignity and value of work and business. We are to be ambassadors for God's kingdom in the marketplace, salt and light in and through business. We are to bless all peoples regardless of cultural background and countries through God-honouring business enterprises and reformation of unjust economic systems. Therefore Christians are challenged to consider seriously the redemptive potential of business and employment as missions.

 

The Marketplace Challenges

The 16th century Reformation recovered the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. It included labour as Christian calling to glorify God. The great revival movements of the 18th and 19th centuries promoted holiness and Christian service in all areas of life, including business and the workplace.

The movement of God's Spirit during these last decades has reinforced the integration of evangelism, social concern, work and faith, thus emphasising the redemptive potential of business as mission.

Nonetheless the Church today faces a dilemma. On the one hand, the Church is becoming irrelevant to the world, not because Christians shun everything secular, but because they compartmentalise their lives, never letting their spiritual lives encroach upon their 'secular' occupations and practices.

On the other hand, 'Christian occupations' and practices are being increasingly shaped or reshaped according to the world's mould. For example, the number of church leaders attending management seminars on leadership and personality profiling is growing. Churches continue to search for the best approach to do church.

Some, however, believe that it is matter of interpreting or understanding the concept of the Kingdom of God.

Dr Leong Tien Fock1 argues that our concept of God's kingdom contradicts Christ's explicit teaching. But did Jesus not say that the kingdom of God is "within you" (Luke 17:21), meaning "in your hearts", and that it is "not of this world" (John 18:36)?

Does this not mean that it is spiritual and internal (private/personal) rather than physical and external (public)? Howard Marshall in his commentary on Luke's Gospel suggests, "Nowhere else is the kingdom regarded as something internal….Jesus speaks of men entering the kingdom, not of the kingdom entering men."

 

Transformation of the Marketplace

Here lies the challenge of transforming the nation through the marketplace. The move from private to public and the role of faith in today's society through work and business is ever more challenging.

We will further examine the emerging roles for Malaysian Christians in the public square in the context of business as mission, transformational influence, Christian professionals, and faith-at-work movements which ultimately define the business of the church. (Editor's note: Only the first two - business as mission and transformational influence - are covered here.)

 

Business as Mission (BAM)

The story of Hans Nielsen Hauge, who was born in Norway in the late 1700s, is a classic example of societal transformation. Norway was a poor nation with no democracy. Religious freedom was limited. Hauge travelled throughout the country, establishing businesses as missionary initiatives besides church planting.

His work led to both spiritual awakening and entrepreneurship movement. His contribution to the development of modern Norway was and still is largely recognised. The term "Business as Mission" (BAM) was coined during the period of the Hauge movement.

A modern conceptual framework for BAM is based on "real, viable, sustainable and profitable businesses with a Kingdom-of-God purpose, perspective and impact, leading to transformation of people and societies spiritually, economically and socially for the greater glory of God." 2

BAM keeps four things in mind: (a) God is at the centre; (b) global is the scope; (c) people are the focus and (d) God's glory is the outcome. Its bottom line is best expressed as AMDG or Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam - for the greater glory of God.

 

Transformational Influence

Business or employment in the marketplace can indeed be a transformational tool through the influence and persuasion elements it brings. This however must not be understated as Christians do bring with them the "aroma of Christ" (2 Cor 2:15) besides being the salt and light of the world (Matt 5:13-14).

Body Shop founder, the late Anita Roddick3, believed that business must regard "life as sacred and awe-inspiring," and sought to combine business acumen and moral responsibility. Her workers took part in demonstrations and window displays publicised campaigns on social issues. She herself spoke out vehemently against the purported evils of big businesses.

Donald E. Flow, owner and CEO of the Flow Automotive Companies in car dealerships in the United States, asks daily: "How is my service to Christ infused with the power of the Holy Spirit so that my life truly reflects the Kingdom of God?"

Similarly, his daily prayer would be: "I pray that customers and employees might experience the aroma of Christ as we serve them, and that our service will be infused with the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that we might have the discipline to look to others' needs before we look to our own. I pray for faithfulness to our mission as it relates to fulfilling our call to service. And I pray for forgiveness when we have failed to live faithfully to our calling."4

Closer to home in Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato' Francis Yeoh's achievements are remarkable. He was selected by Fortune Magazine Asia as one of the 25 Most Powerful Business Personalities in 2004, and appointed as member of Barclays Asia-Pacific Advisory Committee in 2005.

Despite his successful business ventures, he has publicly and unashamedly declared his dependence on God. "It is sometimes tempting to believe that I deserve some of these awards but the truth is, God writes the script and is the author of my faith and my life and I'm just a humble, willing little pencil in His hand."5

There lies the sense of spirituality in everyday business - honouring God and honouring people. Admittedly, Roddick, Flow and Yeoh, being humans, have weaknesses and may not always be consistent in walking their talk. Yet, they have presented us some models of living out Christian faith in the corporate world.

 

Defining the Business of the Church

Now, what then is the role of the local Church? Or simply, what is the business of the Church? The business of the Church is ministry in/to the marketplace. How do we come to this conclusion? Well, the Church exists as a community of believers for three main reasons, namely, worship, discipleship and mission.

The mission of the Church is to bring people to Christ, help them grow in discipleship and then send them out to bring the Kingdom of God into their personal spheres of influence.

Therefore the business of the Church is to build the Kingdom of God in the nine primary spheres of society: business, creative arts, education, government/politics, health, justice, media, religion and sports.

However we must bear in mind that the more successful businessmen are, the more vulnerable they become. Pride, fear of man and greed can become issues. Some may not realise that they too are in a spiritual warfare and may not be equipped to fight the battle.

What should be done is to disciple young businessmen to be marketplace ministers, just as we train people to be pastors. Joseph is a good example. He was specially prepared to be the leader he was meant to be, an incorruptible prime minister in a secular world. We have to intentionally undergird vocation with spirituality.

 

Endnotes

1 Dr Leong Tien Fock, "In the World But Not of It", Asian Beacon, December 2005.
2 Ibid.
3 Connecting with Culture : Anita Roddick, Peter Heslam, Director of Transforming Business at Cambridge University, 28 September 2007, www.licc.org.uk/culture/anita-roddick
4 The Business of the Church, OnWatch, Australian Marketplace Connections, Bulletin 2005-07, www.marketplaceconnections.com/archive/2005/business.htm
5 Asian Business Leaders Award 2005 : Tan Sri Dato' (Dr) Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, www.cnbcasia.com/abla2005/finalist6.shtm


This article is an extract and a contribution of the NECF Malaysia Research Commission, of which the writer is a member of. The full article will be published in the upcoming Forum VI - a collection of articles on current issues written by the commission's members.

 



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