Believing at Work: Three Models for Integrating Religious Faith and Business

My dear friend and neighbor, Stefan Lanfer, just had an except from his thesis published on Trinity Forum:

http://www.ttf.org/index/journal/detail/believing-at-work/

With so much discussion about the integration of faith and politics, there is little discussion about where we spend most of our waking hours during the week: at work.

The piece is an excellent one in speaking about the integration of faith, business and wealth. From a Christian perspective, I think its extremely difficult to integrate great material wealth with a deep faith: At one point Stefan quotes a Christian investment broker:

I know a guy at a high level with Focus on the Family. He talks about these successful guys who come in. They are making a bunch of dough, but they are worried about missing their calling. They ask him, “Can you use my skills? I just want to serve God.”

He tells them, “Sure, we can use you. But let’s think about this. You’re making a million dollars a year, and you want to work for us for fifty thousand. Look, we want you to be fulfilled, but there are also people God has called as money horses—people to whom He has given the ability to create wealth.”

That is ministry. But I say that with big caution, because to ask someone just to be a source of funds is demeaning. But what a big thing it is, if God has blessed you to be able to write that big check.

Sounds like Focus on the Family has lost its spiritual grounding or are just not reading the word of Jesus very closely. So many churches depend on these high net worth individuals that they are loath to condemn the pursuit of riches. Yet Jesus demands all of us and asks us to give our wealth away completely as it is an impediment to reaching the Kingdom. Anything less is a compromise and I believe for the wealthy, a compromise that is not generally made.

As Christians we are called upon to integrate our faith with all aspects of our life, family, politics, business, community. Such integration can mean different things in different spheres. Many of us involved in the religious left feel a certain calling. When we started CrossLeft it was quite powerful for me as for the first time i felt as though I was living holistically. No longer was my faith something that didn't square with my politics. God does want us to take care of his earth, to ensure that the sick are healed and to be peacemakers in our communities and in the world. This more integrated journey continues to deepen my faith while strengthening my commitment to social justice.

Which brings me to my buddy's conclusion:

In the latter cases, the ultimate goal, or “calling” is not merely to achieve personal happiness or corporate profit, but to advance justice in the world. We may think of this as an individual shift from superficial “happiness” to transcendent “fulfillment” or, in business terms, from marketplace “success” to worldly “significance.” It is in this shift that faith has the greatest potential to become a source of advantage in the marketplace—and beyond.

May each of us find such fulfillment through an integrated life.