How should the Church view business? Are they separate spheres of influence that have no common ground, or should business be viewed as an extension of the Church's mission? The following is an excerpt from a report by Business as Mission (BAM) Global. For a complete reading, download the report from here.
Over 2022-2023, Business As Mission (BAM) Global supported a Consultation on the subject of BAM and the Church, continuing their call to the ‘Church worldwide’ regarding business as mission. A group of men and women from around the world met over a period of 14 months and produced a BAM and the Church Report as a resource for the business as mission community and the global Church.
This work focused on encouraging the global Church and local church expressions to equip and disciple business people to do their business as to the Lord, with the particular application to business as mission in mind. Church leaders have a unique role in equipping, mobilizing, and supporting those business people in their congregations who will start and run BAM companies.
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The report aims to build a bridge between the leaders of local churches and those Christians called to be ‘marketplace ministers’—and to help them re-engage and find common ground. To this end, the report focuses on four main areas:
1. Overcoming Theological Hindrances: Exploring some of the significant theological beliefs that have hindered the church from fulfilling its role as an equipper of disciples in the marketplace and how to overcome them.
2. Identifying Structural Obstacles: How the local church is structured has significant impact on what it does or does not do and the report examines the impact of structure on message and methods.
3. Recognizing Cultural Challenges: Acknowledging the marvel of the Church in its international and ethnic variety, the report examines some of the unique cultural challenges that impact various national and ethnic environments from each continent.
4. Sharing Case Studies: Giving real examples to illustrate the positive impact when the church gathered and the church scattered reengage with each other.
The report also contains recommendations and resources, including a self-assessment tool for both pastors or church leaders, and church members.
The Business as Mission (BAM) movement highlights the potential for every Christian in every marketplace to be ambassadors of the gospel – priests in their own parish – as they do their business as an act of worship, with the backing and covering of the local church.
The local church can effectively disciple and equip their members to have a positive influence on the marketplace – and especially the spheres of business and economics – with the complete understanding that God said it is ‘very good’.
There can be confusion and disagreement on the specifics of how the Church should live out its mission in the business world. The theological waters concerning economic issues can get muddied by differences in Scriptural interpretations, and it can sometimes be difficult to get consensus on what we are to do.
The BAM report recognizes these difficulties and has addressed them in the four main areas listed above. The report also states that:
From a biblical perspective, business is designed to multiply wealth, provoke innovation, create dignified work, steward resources, and produce goods and services that contribute positively to human flourishing.
This view is aligned with the practices of Better Capitalism and how we believe the Church should understand the connection between theology and economics. So how can we then encourage these ideas to be accepted by the Church as a whole?
The BAM report lists a number of ways in which Church leadership can focus on, teach about, and encourage business as mission with their congregants. We will share some of their "Promising Practices" in our next blog to give some practical suggestions for how to develop an ethic of mutuality with legs at your own church. Meanwhile, we encourage those in Church leadership to turn away from their busy work and turn toward their important work, such as teaching good theology to help guide good business.
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