My Christian worldview of business begins with the Bible. My Biblical worldview is rooted in what God's Word says about business, God's design for business, and the instructions and principles given in the Bible to guide our daily walk in business.

Business is God-ordained Activity
God created man to be a co-worker with Him in ruling and caring for the physical world that He created. Work was given to man before the fall, and while it was made harder because of sin, work has always been a God-ordained activity. God uses business, the buying and selling of goods and services, to meet the physical needs of people. Not all business is God-ordained. All legitimate work is an extension of God's work. Legitimate work contributes to what God wants done in the world, and does not actively contribute to what He does not want done.

God Owns my Business
As Creator and Sovereign Lord, God literally owns everything. He owns my business. He has entrusted to me as a steward. The steward's responsibility is to manage what has been entrusted to him in accordance with the Owner's Instruction Manual...The Bible.

God’s Established Precepts for Business
God has established precepts for business just as He has for every other activity of life. He has given us a complete set of instructions. In some areas of our stewardship, the instructions are very specific, and in other areas, they are more general. True discipleship is a life characterized by a radical trust in and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Business is Ministry
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 explains that each believer has been given gifts and ministries. For me, next to my wife and children, the workplace constitutes my primary field of ministry. (My Circle of Time Stewardship Theory) Think of the number of people we influence for Christ in business or profession. There are employees, clients, vendors, investors, competitors, and neighbors.

While many people will never go to church or listen to a Christian radio station, everyone interacts in the marketplace, and there is a good chance that God has placed at least one Christian in their midst.

Business is also ministry. Some portion of the profits should be invested in God's work. If I haven't been called into vocational ministry, then I have a responsibility to support those who do.

In contrast to this, Biblical Christian Worldview, there is the Secular Worldview which is a mix of naturalism (there is no God) and transcendentalism (everything, most importantly myself, is a god). It is a misnomer to call it secular since these worldviews are every bit as much of a religion as Christianity.

A third worldview is a combination of the biblical Christian and the secular, which I will name the Non-biblical Christian Worldview. This worldview gives intellectual assent to the tenets of the Biblical Worldview, but in practice reflects the Secular Worldview. Most of the Christian business people fall into this category.

This chart summarizes and illustrates some of the key distinctive of competing worldviews:

Biblical Christian Worldview

Non-Biblical Christian Worldview

Secular Worldview

Business is a God-ordained activity.

I believe that God has called me to be a co-worker with Him in business.

I realize that work was not a result of the fall, but it was made harder because of sin.

I am committed to doing only useful, legitimate work in God's eyes.

I understand that the purpose of my business is to be an extension of God's work on the earth.

Separation of Church and State

I hate work and can't wait until I can retire.

I'll serve the Lord after I become financially independent.

How dare you insinuate that my business may not be legitimate in God's eyes... it's legal!

I've got to make a living too.

Doesn't socialism (to every man what he needs) sound more Christian than capitalism (to every person what she earns)?

Business is a man-ordained, man-centered activity that furthers the interests of man.

God, if there is a God, is not directly concerned or involved in business.

God owns my business.

God reveals and I follow.

I am a steward of God's business, career, resources, and those He allows into my life.

I acknowledge that God has provided everything I have.

I give at least 10% of what God has given me, and He has access to the other 90%, too.

I plan and ask God to bless.

God helps those who help themselves.

It's more like a partnership—I handle the day-to-day details.

I can't afford 10% … is that before or after taxes?

I have to take care of my family first (sounds less selfish, even noble, when expressed this way).

Man owns what he can build, buy or take by force.

The one with the most toys at the end wins.

It is the survival of the fittest.

God has established precepts for business.

I'm committed to doing business God's way, studying and applying what the Bible teaches regarding business and money.

I'm a disciple of Jesus; that includes my business life.

I am going to do business God's way even when it counters conventional wisdom.

I understand that persecution and suffering may result from doing business God's way.

How does this relate to 21st century business in America?

I don't know how to find answers to business questions in the Bible.

I would surely fail doing it God's way. It's a jungle out there!

That sounds pretty radical to me. God certainly wants me to fit in doesn't He?

Discipleship scares me...I think I'll stick with the Savior and give this "Lord" thing some time.

Doesn't God want all Christians to be prosperous?

The ends justify the means.

All intelligent people reject the Bible as a bunch of myths and stories. It's irrelevant to business.

Only wackos think they talk to and hear from God.

Business is ministry. Work is Worship.

My workplace is my mission field.

One purpose for my business is to fund non-profit, kingdom ministries. To be a mission powerhouse.

Create a work environment that develops men and woman spiritually.

Isn't there something in the constitution about separation of church and business?

Won't my employees and customers think I'm weird?

I might get sued.

I always thought someone else was funding these ministries.

Huh,
Say what?