CHAPTER XVII — The Christian in Business

CHAPTER XVII --- The Christian in Business XVII. THE CHRISTIAN IN BUSINESS
By Orvai FIlbeck The greatest and only genuine movement the world has ever known to remedy sin is that of Christianity. Christ per- foimed his great mission in a world abounding in sin. He walked and talked with his disciples, associated with publicans and sinners and directed them to a higher life. Jesus could see the evil practices of sin and witnessed the wreckage that inexorably visited greed, deception, hypocrisy and all manner of sin. -'he Son of God commissioned his apostles to lead people from the paths of error. They were to take his message to sinful men, for “they that are whole need not a physician.” No other person had seen the way of dealing with soul-sick men. As early as the third century of the Christian era, it is said that people, and possibly many genuine Christians, began to leave society and live as hermits to escape the association with sinful people. These hermits practiced severe austerities and often engaged in self-torture, believing that such represented discipline conducive to spiritual perfection. This eremitical life developed into the monasticism of the fourth and subsequent centuries. The early inhabitants of the monasteries thought they were living in a realm far removed from sin. But they lost sight of the means that Jesus used in healing men of their pernicious disease. No one can hide and lead others. He must walk purely and courageously through the sin-infested field to lead others to the realm of light. The misconception of God’s plan, characteristic, of mon-asticism, should be observed thoughtfully. As long as man remains on this earth he must of necessity associate with sinners, though the Christian refrains from sin itself. In 1 Cor-inthians 5 :9, 10, Paul said: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.” Jesus said: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). Thus we will of necessity have certain contacts with sinful men as we endeavor to teach them, though we must not engage in their evil operations. The problem of engaging in business in the commercial world is of paramount importance to God’s people. There is a multitude of Christians engaged in as many professions— such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, merchants, farmers, journalists, salesmen, executives, and a number of other enterprises. The great question is: Can a Christian conduct a business enterprise or be employed and remain a faithful child of God ? This question involves more factors than some have been led to believe. In a complex world there are so many things that tend to detract one from right. Constant vigilance is imperative in maintaining a purity of life when one encounters so many obstacles that would deter him from righteous action.

Reinhold Neibuhr says that "the field of politics and economics is particularly strategic testing-ground of the adequacy and relevance of a religio-moral world view.” The solution to this vital problem must be found in the Christian way of life if we expect people to follow Jesus. Yes, we must live, work and be a Christian.

One writer has said that "the harm done to the public welfare by selfish politics is a minor matter compared with the harm done by selfish business.” A former federal judge has described the sinister influence of graft: "Corruption ’Reinhold Neibuhr, Anx Interpretation of Christian Ethics, p. 139. “Durant Drake, The New Morality, p. 163. "does more than filch your tax money. ... It imperils health, wrecks families, steals homes, paralyses governments, and costs the lives of hundreds of people.” These observations must not be accepted lightly, for they are related to powerful forces molding and shaping the world in the present and future. The Christian finds himself in a commercial world filled with evil forces. He may question as to his duty in being honest and his chances of remaining in business. Doubtless those in business can assist in the solution of the complex problem. A company president said: “Without competition, business would quickly degenerate into a system of guilds and monopolies. The level of prices would soon get out of line with national purchasing power, and the State would have to take business over to make it function effectively as a service to society.”'1 Another business man speaks of the need for honesty in the commercial world: “After selling many kinds of merchandise, from books to vehicles, a prominent direct-mail advertising man tells me that a selling letter which admits a defect in the goods will always outpull a letter which claims perfection.” If the “salt of the, earth” and the “light of the wrorld” are not courageous enough to be honest in business and are not willing to subordinate self-interest to the good of other people, the church will suffer. The blunt truth is that wre as members of the church must be fair, honest, and considerate in our business relations. The Word of God is replete with principles that direct Christians in business life. Jesus said: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). No just criticism has ever been directed at this teaching. It can and should be taken as a universal principle of action. For example, if an individual should will to tell a lie, he could not wish that others lie to him, for such would be a contradiction. This principle holds true in regard to stealing, cheating, and deceptive practices of every description. The truth of this great teaching (Matthew 7:12) will not be demonstrated to be vitalizing and dynamic by hiding within walls of seclusion, but by energetically facing the trials of life. This eternal principle of Jesus precludes the using of another individual for a means to an end, such as the gaining of a sum of money in an unjust way. We must be conscious of the thought of “duty” as it is found in Jesus’ teaching. This means a recognition of responsibility as one deals with his brethren and other people. The real problem comes when one actually deals in a business world, characterized by the profit-system, and has resolved to be a consistent child of God. “Can a successful salesman be a brother? If so, to whom? To the manager who expects him to get results? Or to the people whom he persuades to buy?”0 Is not the answer to be found when one is loyal to the principles of Christ? People in this country expect the price they pay for merchandise to include profit for others. But if the profit is exorbitant in abnormal times, such as when there are extreme shortages of products, the practice is highly questionable. When we are governed by Christian ideals extreme inequalities are removed. Profit and the accumulation of wealth must not govern life. Jesus said: “For a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). What then is the measure of life, especially in the commercial world? It must be measured by such attributes as honesty, truth, love, service, and other qualities. Just as we expect social services from a public officer, even so, the Christian should expect to be a servant to his fellow-men. Not a slave, but one who places the value of life above material things. When service to others becomes a guiding principle, other factors in life tend to settle to their proper level. Selfishness, greed, and deceptive devices are removed. This was the life of Jesus, for “the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When one hears a Christian charge that a brother has dealt unjustly in a business transaction, the only conclusion to reach is that one, or both, has dealt in an evil way. This very often happens in the church. Abraham’s historic statement, “for we are brethren,” should remain in the mind of him who is consummating a business transaction with his brethren. The Christian will elevate in his life the spirit of good-will toward men, even under discouraging circumstances. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for engaging in litigation with God’s people before pagan tribunals (1 Corinthians 6:1). Would he not rebuke one who exacts an exorbitant profit from his brethren? Would he not reprehend one for falsely representing a product, such as an automobile, a horse, or a cow? The followers of Christ cannot become more like their Master through misrepresentation, evil desire, and other evil machinations.

Some one may feel that we are living in opportune times to make a high profit on merchandise. Says he, “Others are making all the money possible, why not myself?” It might be valuable to suggest that the Sophists of Greece, the fifth century B. C., propounded a relativity of morals. Protagoras said, “Man is the measure of all things.” But such would make truth and right purely relative. There would be no way of comparing your truth and mine. Each man’s mind is the jury that determines truth. It further means that there is no way of establishing a principle as true and necessarily
valid. But Jesus viewed man and the world and consciously presented principles that are universal in nature. He did not use the power to gain great financial returns as the criterion for determining a successful life. When such great principles as truth, justice, and honesty are dealt with lightly and relatively, the actions of the individual tend to become questionable.

Attitudes toward the gaining and possessing of wealth constitute a powerful factor in the making of one’s life. Paul said: “For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.” An inordinate craving for the increase in wealth is a constant danger to the Christian’s life. It is a well demonstrated fact that increase in material possessions does not usually allay the yearning for them. Solomon said: “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The truth of this statement is axiomatic. At the present time the world contains too many people who are craftily devising means of appeasing their insatiable craving for more wealth. But Jesus gave himself, not for self-gain, but for the redemption of man and the alleviation of physical distresses.

One may well consider as to the kind of an attitude a Christian should have toward the gaining of money. It must certainly be tempered with a profound respect for the rights and welfare of other people. A salutary view is portrayed in the following: “Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain” (Proverbs 30:8-9). The commendable spirit of desiring to live and see others live can well be applied in business life. For example, a Christian cannot reprimand an employer for paying poor wages if he insists on buying the product at the cost of production or below. To live decently and fairly necessitates one’s allowing the other individual to live similarly.

Let us ever remember that Christians are representatives of the Son of God. We cannot glorify him by hiding from the world, but by faithfully and confidently walking down the path of time. Only by upholding and practicing his righteous principles, applicable to all life, can we deliver ourselves with clean hands to God. Only by such can we portray our appre-ciation for the gift of Christ to the world. May the Lord help us to be faithful and bless us in our practices that are right.

Bibliography
(as to Orval Filbeck’s lecture only.) The Bible
Aspley, J. C., “Be Thankful for Your Competitors,” The Rotarian. Dec. 1941.
Drake, Durant, The Nezv Morality, New York: The Macmillan Company. 1928.
Giles, Ray, “Good Sportsmanship Makes Good Business,” The Rotarian. Sept. 1941.
Johnson, George E. Q., “How Graft Hurts You,” The Rotarian. Dec. 1941.
Neibuhr, Reinhold, An Interpretation of Christian Ethics. New York: Harper and Brothers. 1935.
Smith, Gerald B., Principles of Christian Living. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1924.