Business and Christianity: A Winning Combination

February 20th, 2019

By Katelyn Elrod

Serving God doesn’t always look like preaching from a pulpit. Though pastors and other ministers are crucial in spreading the love and message of God, followers of Jesus in every profession are absolutely necessary in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth.

Christians in the business world have an opportunity to infuse their work with the kindness of Christ and reach people who may have never stepped foot in a church. These aspects, along with many others, make Christianity and business a winning combination. Dr. Steve Sloan, one of MACU’s business professors, seems to think so, too.

When your faith is applied to your work in the business world, every decision you make is influenced.

“It can help you have a positive outlook,” Sloan said. “Hopefully making a profit will not be your only priority — service will be a part of it.”

Sloan hopes that Christians in business prioritize quality in everything: product, service, and workplace. In a world full of schemes and rip-offs, a business that pays close attention to quality and integrity stands out. And being distinct in the world is an integral part of Christianity.

To Sloan, standing out as a Christian business does not simply mean including a cross or fish on your business logo or putting Christian language in your name. Anyone can say they are a Christian, but words mean nothing if they are not defined by behavior. 

“It all boils down to how you treat your employers, your customers, and people like suppliers — everyone you come in contact with," he said. 

Treating people with love and kindness is one of the greatest ways Christians can spread the message of Jesus. Sloan said the biblical concept of being salt and light in the world is important for Christians in the business world. That means being a moral example to other businesses, looking out for your employees, serving the community, and helping the poor. According to Sloan, a current secular trend in business is community service, and he hopes Christian businesspeople are following suit by donating their time and money.

Christians often combine service and evangelism, and many Christian business people make this combination a priority. Over the past few decades, it has been a trend for Christian businesspeople to help individuals who wish to start their own organizations in countries where owning a small business is uncommon, Sloan said. Christian businesspeople who do this not only help local people learn how to support themselves, but also have the opportunity to evangelize.

This method allows one to follow the footsteps of Jesus, who met both the physical and spiritual needs of others.

Sloan recalled his cousin, a Tulsa native who works as a biologist. He crafted a breakthrough test that is used in modern medicine, but he doesn't use the resulting wealth solely for his benefit. He travels to Cambodia about three times a year, where he sponsors a church and pastor. 

"He's a businessperson who uses his business to do evangelistic work all over the world," Sloan said. 

Christianity certainly should influence one as a business person, but a knowledge of business also helps one be a better disciple of Jesus. Sloan said that Jesus often used business concepts to teach principles of Christianity, so understanding business concepts can help you better understand Jesus’ teachings.

“A concept of business is debt,” Sloan explained. “When you realize that Christ died on the cross for you, and He’s paid your debt, it really puts things into perspective. Just think if all your debts were paid off, and you don't owe anything anymore. That would be awesome. That’s kind of what Jesus did as far as salvation goes — He paid our debt. That’s a business concept.”

Being a Christian in the business world is beneficial in numerous ways, but Sloan knows that it can come with its challenges, and he doesn’t shy away from addressing this in his classes.

“Sometimes you get challenged to do things that are illegal,” Sloan said. “Sometimes in the workplace, you’re challenged to do things that go against your personal beliefs, and that’s something we talk about in class. You have to work in a job that you believe in. If you try to work in a job that goes completely against what you believe and against your morals, you’re going to be miserable.”

Being a Christian in the largely secular world of business can be tough sometimes, but Christian businesspeople have the opportunity to influence countless people for Christ. Conducting business with love and grace, especially when those around you don't personally know Christ, is a testament to the transformative power of Jesus. To Sloan, being a Christian in business all comes down to prioritizing God.

“Hopefully Christians that are in business seek God first and above everything else.”

And that’s a principle every Christian should be able to get behind.