Whether we like it or not, when we own or manage a Christian business, our lives - both personal and business - are on display for all to see. Our activities and attitudes will be judged on the basis of our Christianity. The conduct of our businesses has a direct relationship to our witnesses as Christians. Christian businesses are indeed the church in the marketplace.

Thus there is a responsibility that comes with carrying that name into the business arena. A business or an individual's role within the business environment can become a creative instrument to serve God as we have been called to be salt and light on the earth. This could also serve as an effective agent for evangelism and the opportunity for people to recognise that God is among us.

WHAT IS GOING ON?
In reality, however, Christian businesses are not always such a good advertisement for Christianity. They are often not what they are meant to be and there is little or no distinction between a business run by a Christian and one managed by a non­Christian.

The following are comments that have been made about Christian businesses. As you go through these comments, try to assess whether any of them could be applied to your business or someone else's, for the Bible encourages us to examine ourselves.

:: They are disrespectful in their conduct
:: They never pay their bills on time
:: They take my business for granted
:: They treat me as if they are doing me a favour
:: They always think they are right
:: You never get a direct answer to a question when you contact them
:: The cheque is always 'in the post' and it never is
:: They do not keep their promises
:: The fact that he's a Christian means nothing to me
:: They are dishonest in their business dealings

Why aren't our businesses distinctively different from those of unbelievers? Why are we not out­standing?
Here are a few suggestions:
:: We have conformed to the world's way and standard of conducting business
:: We have become complacent in the discharge of our businesses
:: These acts and attitudes have become a bad habit
:: Our faith does not follow us into the business environment.

Whatever, the reasons, there is a need to change and reflect the distinctiveness that we have been called to walk in. Our light should so shine that people are attracted to our brightness. Both believers and unbelievers should be queuing up to conduct business with us.

So what are the hallmarks of a Christian business, those characteristics that should set our businesses apart? While this is in no way a comprehensive list, it does serve in directing us towards the path of excellence that is expected of us as Christians.

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN BUSINESS?
A Christian business is one where the decisions that govern the day to day actions are made on the basis of the word of God, whether this proves popular or not and regardless of circumstances, feelings or its social acceptability. It will have at its core a commitment to do things according to biblical principles, in much the same way that some of the old laws governing the company were made on a biblical basis.

PURPOSE OF THE CHRISTIAN BUSINESS
The purpose of a Christian business is to glorify God. Again, while this is not an exhaustive list, it provides food for thought about our roles and responsibilities as Christians in the marketplace. We are called to live as the people of God in a secular world.

1. We are to be salt and light. As our lives reflect our personal relationship with God the Father, we "fertilise" others, stimulating their spiritual growth, enabling them to taste and see the goodness of our God. Without saltiness, what remains has little value to anyone. As children of God, we should let our light shine so that non­-Christians may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven (Matt. 5: 16). The business arena provides an excellent context for this.

2. We are His distinctive people. When God called the children of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land, He made it clear that they were to live as His people and be different from the nations surrounding them. "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth"
(Deut. 7:6).

Our businesses are representatives of the Lord whose name we carry. A successful Christian business reflects the goodness of God towards His chosen people - those who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light to which unbelievers will be drawn.

3. We demonstrate His presence among us. Our continual dependence on Him, together with a flow of supernatural gifts and abilities demonstrates God's presence among us. God will continue to give us creative skills to run our business. He asks us to call on Him and He will show us great and mighty things. These things will set us apart as the children of God.

4. We establish His kingdom. The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God among us. It is the ushering in of His rule and authority on the earth and the fullness of God bursting into everything that we do. When the Lord reigI1s in our businesses, we bring His rule and authority into the business arena.

5. We are a source of blessing. God's charge to Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 12: 1- 3, is to go to the land that He will show him and he will be made into a great nation and be a blessing and all the peoples of the earth shall be blessed through him. In the New Testament, we are reminded that we are the children of Abraham and that the promise is also for us. God wants us to be a channel of blessing. As we honour Him with our wealth and the first fruits of our businesses, He promises to bless us in return. From these profits, we can be a source of blessing to our families, employees and those belonging to the household of faith.


** Culled from The Christian Business Magazine

:: Ola Aroyehun, the editor of this magazine has a passion to see Christian businesses raised up and developed in a way that earns the respect and attention of the business world. She advocates that biblical principles can succeed and win in today's business environment as long as Christians are ready to stand up and do not compromise their faith.