Business Ethics and Christian Faith

Business Ethics and Christian Challenges

The relationship between Business ethics and Christianity has become a trendy subject in the contemporary context. This consideration must have been as a result of a quest in assessing possible factors capable of influencing business ethics and environment. Many suggest that Christian faith and business ethics are two parallel entities capable of ruining the benefits or true practice of the other. Others insist they are common and wholeheartedly agree with each other.

We can begin by defining the two terms and properly evaluating the intercepting points of Business ethics and Christianity. Before assessing if there’s positive correlation as alleged by many or a full disagreement. Business ethics are measures or principles applied in business for its growth and the best interest/satisfaction of the stakeholders, shareholders, and the business community. Christianity refers to the life of Jesus, the Son of God. Christians are known as the believers of the Son of God who practice the same life like Him.

The Ten Commandments

It can be deduced that business ethics are not explicitly subjecting any businessman or woman into a deviancy from Christianity since it has no specific outlines of contrary activities. However, when business standards are established for only profits, it would be accepted that business ethics may involve cheating, greed, dishonesty, and negligence of trust or others of its kind which are not in concordance with the Christian faith.

Without being bias in Christianity, business ethics include
• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Accountability
• Integrity
• Impartiality
• Trustworthiness
• Respect and concern for others
• Law Abiding
• Commitment to Excellence

The mentioned business ethics above, however, are fully in concordance with the Christian faith. Aside from those mentioned above, there are other business ethics which promote Christian challenges in the corporate world. These challenging ethics are either induced by the business stakeholders, shareholders or business environment. To an extent, some business requires illegal activities before success can be recorded. However, some of this business ethics are fabricated by the operating individuals to enforce business profit regardless of the religious views or Christian ideology to those decisions.

Christian challenges in the corporate world

The corporate world is more centred at profit-making, and being in the position to participate in a business environment can be challenged by many factors. Aside from your personal decisions to ensure stability to your business and to enforce growth, business supervisors can also contribute to these challenges. Not mentioning those from subordinates.

Let’s recall that Business ethics are measures to ensure the business growth. It does not make a necessary account for the legality of the measure. Hence, some of the ethics not promoting Christianity include the following.

Sales of services or products not supported by Christian faith

Some business ethics necessary in making more sales of a product or services may imply an introduction of a complementary product, which is not endorsed by the Christian faith. These complementary products or services sometimes serve as the principal means of selling. While they remain a service Christians cannot support, it leaves them with practising below the required ethics to flourish in such business. Some of these products or services may include the use of prostitutes to promote brothel business.

Contrary demands from business shareholders or Stakeholders

In business ethics, shareholders contribute to every decision carried out to maintain its growth. But profits are usually prioritized as against religious views or positions. Operating as a Christian business manager may become more challenging when the stakeholders demand that some contrary actions are taken to favour the business growth instead of integrity and honesty. A good example of this position may be operating with an expired license for a certain period, delivering an alternative or substandard product in place of the customer’s demand by changing the pack, etc.

Product hoarding to create inflation and exorbitant profit

Another business ethics by most business owners which are highly beneficial especially when they lack competitors is to hoard the products or make it scarce in the area to enforce a new price. This leaves the consumers no choice but to secure the product or services since they would have to travel a considerable distance for anything similar. Hoarding nullifies trust, integrity, honesty, accountability, among others.

 

Overcoming business ethics not in accordance with Christian faith

The most assuring way to overcome business ethics that are not in concordance with Christian faith is first to accept that they are wrong and not to be practised. This strong disagreement with the wrong ethics gives you an edge to the right position (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Christian faith and business ethics are not to be treated separately by any Christian. Rather, Christianity should superimpose every business ethics to be adopted (Proverbs 3:6, Matthew 6:33). Irrespective of the profit assured by a contrary business ethics, Christians should understand that business environment and ethics should also serve as a medium of teaching salvation. Christians should not forget that every practice awaits rewards. Hence, only good foundations can stand the test of time.




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