The Kingdom of God & Business

Something I have been giving a lot of thought to recently is the Kingdom of God and the place of business within it, more specifically the place of business as an agent in bringing it. I think that there is a very significant movement which is coming from within the business community which is on this same train of thought. There are already a few organisations which exist to make this happen, but I sense this is going to be a really grass roots thing; At least I really hope it is. The Kingdom always comes at the grass roots (think Jesus' preaching on the mustard seed etc.). Sadly this is something which is less and less obvious from the preaching of the church, which too often relies on the 'big event' to make things happen.

Anyway, there is good theology behind the place of business in bringing God's Kingdom, but to see what it is we have to go back to the role of the church. Bonhoeffer said that 'the church is only the church when it exists for others'. Some other chap said that the church is the only organisation which exists for those who are not yet members. This is all to say that the church should live to serve the world, and if it is not doing this then it is not the church. This is actually the point of the whole gospel, that we find meaning, wholeness and life through serving God, our neighbours and enemies in the same way as our Jesus did. This may lead us to our death in one sense or another.

To a large extent we have stopped doing this in the church, with the consequence that our preaching is now completely irrelevant in the world. Just look at the church attendance figures if you want any proof. The church as we know it is dying and it needs to find another way to function, or it needs to rediscover the old way. This is where business has some fruitful involvement.

Good business functions on the premise that there is a need in the world that can be fulfilled, a service which can be provided. Sound familiar? Whilst business is functioning well it will always be trying to serve its customer base better, providing for their needs more efficiently and accurately. It doesn't always do this, but when it does it is fulfilling the same calling as the church, at least to the extent that its 'product' is wholesome and holy.

I'm not saying business is the answer to all our questions. It is responsible for many of the worlds problems too, when it is subverted by greedy people. But isn't this the same as the institutional church? What I am saying is that business' goals are not in opposition to the church's goals. In fact they are concordant. I am also saying that the church as we know it is not any more valid as a tool for ushering in the Kingdom of God than business. There is nothing divinely ordained about the way we do church. There are elements within the churches life which are divinely ordained, but these can be expressed in any environment. In fact, I am suggesting that they must be expressed in many other environments, if we are to be faithful to the gospel and if we are to share the good news with the world into the next generation.

More to come on this. Have a great weekend. Jonny x