Christian Ethics in Business

Paper Summary:

Ethical behavior is essential to conduct in business. However, the standards that are agreed to by a business are not established in a vacuum; they must be grounded in commonly held social principles in order to be valid in the context of a business environment. The paper explains that many communities in the United States are predicated on a Christian value system. Even when community residents do not profess faith in the teachings of Christ, the residual effect of centuries of Christianity creates an intuitively Christian world-view in America and many other countries. The paper shows, however, that common perceptions about Christianity and the perceived adverse effects of "fundamentalism" within Christian communities has resulted in a re-questioning of Christianity in the workplace; active measures have already been taken to eradicate it from many schools. However, the manager is still able to act at his own discretion and a Christian manager must always face moral dilemmas that accompany conduct just as individuals have always faced moral dilemmas. This paper examines what underscores Christianity and this applies in the context of a business environment, which is considered by many to be secular. The paper uses Larry Burkett's "Business by the Book" and Peter Hess' "Management: Responsibilities for Performance" as references.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps Christian values are best employed in a business environment in that they condition responsible behavior. Christians tend to reflect more upon their actions and look to scripture for guidance. The gospel uses allegories in order to demonstrate Christian behavior, and Burkett emulates this style when he presents his own ideas. Such values include honesty, fairness and the divination of God's will in the presence of diversity. Prayer can achieve introspection; Burkett most often speaks of a culture in which regular prayer is ubiquitous. Through prayer and a careful, thoughtful read of the Bible, Burkett believes that one can more carefully chose one's actions as they reflect the will of God as well as the interests of the company. Burkett believes that one has to first develop a relationship with Christ with reference to his or her personal goals and then from them engage in devotional work, asking God for ways of developing Christian business practices."

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