Most of us spend almost 40% of our waking time at work. In contrast the average Christian spends less than 2% at church during their working years. Yet the church puts most of its energy into that 2% and almost nothing into the world of work. --Calvin Redekop


The call of the believer in the business world certainly involves that of witness and evangelism - but also of living and acting in integrity, of influencing the lives of employees, and often the stewardship of wealth. How can believers be equipped for their involvement in the marketplace, Monday to Friday?

For many Christians, there is a growing sense that the marketplace has changed. The evolution of a more aggressively competitive marketplace, combined with the erosion of many traditional Christian values, has left people confused about the foundations for ethics in the marketplace. Yet the largest mission force of God is already mobilised everyday of the week and interfacing with the world in the workplace. How can we resource them?

What is our theology of work? How do modern trends relate to Biblical truth? Spirituality is in in many business circles, often non- or anti-Christian in spirit. How can we introduce true spirituality into circles of largely unregenerate people?

How do we address the widespread phenomenon whereby many Christians keep their business and spiritual lives separate, even living by different moral values in their two compartments? While the conflict between capitalism and socialism seems (at least for the present) to be largely over, what are the theological/philosophical roots of the laissez-faire and social-market forms of capitalism? What should be a modern Scriptural witness (i.e. prophetic challenge) to these - in both Western and post-communist transitional environments?

How (in very practical ways) can Christians be effective as salt and light, both in the conduct of their own business lives and in influencing values and behaviour in the business world as a whole, especially in the professions and in major organisations?

Team:

Coordinator(s):