The purpose of this paper is to show that Revelational Christian Ethics is a viable metaethical approach to Business. This ethical theory is a prescriptive and a concrete expression of objective reality. It exemplifies the core values and teachings of Jesus Christ as the foundation of morality and guiding principles for ethical conduct, treatment of others, as well corporate leadership decisions that affect the environment, community, and economics.
“Business ethics is the application of general ethical ideas to business behavior” (Lawrence & Weber, 2017, p. 94) and it’s through these ideas that good, bad, moral, and immoral decisions are made based on the foundation and framework of how we view life. For this reason, our moral compass when based on a biblical worldview should influence how we approach making decisions as it pertains to business ethics (Porter,2013).
The world around us is constantly progressing; meaning ethics and social responsibility will become increasingly fundamental towards long term business success. There are many different principles on which to reflect when it comes to moral reasoning from a Christian worldview as it relates to business. The three basic pairs of principles are integrity and sustainability, competence and compassion, along with unity and participation. Christians are should exhibit personal ethics that represent the image of Jesus. Personal ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a person's behavior. Living and maintaining a Christian identity in the workplace can be very challenging in today's society. Far too many Christians leave their faith and religious beliefs behind as they handle business matters. However, this is unacceptable in the eyes of God. Christianity is a lifestyle; not a piece of clothing that can be put on and taken off at any given time. Matthew 10:32 clearly states that, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven”. Morally Christians are held
Ethical standards in business are important for every leader to know and understand. The book Ethics 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by: John C. Maxwell discusses ethics in the world today. When people make unethical choices, the reason they do because of three main pitfalls. People do what is most convenient to them, people tend to do what they must do to win, and people rationalize their choices with relativism. In this summary, Maxwell’s definition of business ethics will be framed, examples of ethical standards and guidelines, the meaning and contrast of ethical thinking and ethical behavior, and how to avoid these major pitfalls to live an ethical life. The
It is important that ministry leaders live morally, with intentional and faithful diligence. Leaders are parable of Jesus. They are Jesus' hands and feet, eyes and ears, heart, and sometimes mouth on earth. Jesus clearly reflected the heart of the Father in his lifestyle, actions, and responses to people on earth. He is the pattern for our morality! He gives us the spirit that makes ethical living possible.” Finally, Trull and Carter convey, “The term integrity best describes the ethical wholeness of life demanded of the Christian
Alexander Hill’s Christian Ethics for the Marketplace in my view point focuses on ethics as it relates to business which also includes the Christian element. Hill outlines the scripturally grounded ethical structure of holiness, justice, and love for business practices. Hill also connects his Christian ethic to the dominant methods of ethical practice in the world of business. Lastly, Hill uses the analysis of case studies in lieu of his proposed Christian ethic. Although questions in regards to ethical behaviors remain conclusively unanswered, several find ethical structure valuable when dealing with difficult situations.
This is a study about one’s ethical and moral behavior and Christian World View as related to personal and professional growth and development. This study examines my personal views of moral behavior and Christian World View as it relates to my expectation of what a manager in a leadership position should posses and why. Growing up in a African-American Baptist church and ultimately landing in a diverse Christian Church has shaped my life and viewpoint when it comes to values and beliefs. There are 5 characteristics that I believe a Manager should possess: Authenticity, transparency, empowering, trustworthy and competence. These five characteristics help to build rapport and trust in a manager, which are good qualities to possess when leading a team.
White utilizes the Biblical verses to present his plan on business ethics. The reason for that is because he has a strong desire to convey to the reader’s view that God has already given us the principles that we need to monitor for everything in life including business. He states that it “is God we serve and it is God to whom we are accountable” (White, J., 1978). The logic for his principles is to display to the reader that business and God can be collaborated together. I think many people are unconnected to God throughout every day in life and say that to succeed in business you cannot cohere to moral standards. White is trying to prove that this is not true and that if you want to succeed then you need God. Caux uses foundational concepts to present their principles (Caux Round Table, 2010). This is because they feel that “good ethics” are “good risk management” (Caux Round Table, 2010). As a choice of good ethical practices presenting a few difficulties to succeed at business and completely some of the risk
Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business
As a Christian business owner, the standard to which I am called exceeds that of the traditional business ethics model in that I am called to honor God first and foremost. This is achieved by actively pursuing God’s blessings on business through prayer, and trusting Him to provide strategic direction, resources, and earnings (Casey, 2013). One way to honor God through business is to establish trust in all interactions. Trust emanates from the direct relationship Christians have with God. Proverbs teaches believers to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”
This paper is a review of the book, Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic Models of Morality by Wyndy Corbin Reuschling. This book addresses the misconceptions of Christian ethics and why it needs to be revived. Reuschling writes as a Christian social ethicist who understand the language, the communities, the commitments, and the moral and spiritual practices valued in evangelicalism.
Good and virtuous leaders are exemplified throughout the bible, but what was required of these early church leaders and are the requisites applicable to modern leadership? As leaders continue to incorporate a biblical ethical component to their leadership practices, it is hoped that good ethical leader succession will be duplicated. This applied exegetical paper will utilize a socio-rhetorical criticism approach to convey what was expected of the early church leaders and how those expectations can relate to modern leaders. I will analyze Titus 1 a Pastoral Epistle written by Apostle Paul through the process of Social and Cultural Texture analysis. Then, the analysis will explore the virtue and ethical leadership ideas of the Apostle Paul. Lastly, this paper will highlight how the ethical concepts are applicable to modern leadership practices.
This essay will argue that the eschatology of the Book of Revelation forms an integral part of John’s attempt within the pages of his book to form a literary world in which the forms, figures, and forces of the earthly realm are critiqued and unmasked through the re-focalization of existence from the perspective of heaven. It will attempt to show that, in response to the social, political, religious, and economic circumstances of his readers, the Book of Revelation forms a counter imaginative reality. Through drawing upon an inaugurated sense of eschatology and evocative imagery, John is able to pull the reader in and show them the true face of the imperial world and consequences of its ideology, forcing the reader allegiance to fall
Plato once asked whether you would rather be "an unethical person with a good reputation or an ethical person with a reputation for injustice." Ethical leadership has long been a debate in regards to its importance and place in the universal business world.
This broader concept of ethical leadership empowers leaders to incorporate and be explicit about their own values and ethics. The following list provides a framework for developing ethical leadership. It is based on the observations of and conversations with a host of executives and students over the past 25 years, and on readings of both popular and scholarly business literature. Written from the perspective of the leader, these ten facets of ethical leaders offer a way to understand ethical leadership that is more complex and more useful than just a matter of “good character and values.”