What does being Christian (or Jewish or Muslim) have to do with the bottom line?
The correlation between faith and the bottom line deals primarily with integrity. We reap what we sow. If we use and abuse people, it eventually washes out and causes our demise. It’s like building a business on a foundation of sand. If we apply the Golden Rule and treat people well, it’s far more likely we will enjoy a profitable, long-term business. It’s like building a business on a foundation of rock.
Do the secular and nonsecular need to mix in the working world?
I lead two workplace ministries: I serve voluntarily as regional director of The Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (www.FCCI.org), which is aimed at business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. It encourages leaders to be Christ-like and to lead their businesses in a Godly fashion, according to biblical principles. My second ministry is Northeast Christians At Work (www.ChristAtWork.org), a volunteer group that makes, motivates, and matures Christians across New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It serves anyone who goes to work, regardless of job function or type of organization. Between the two, we serve the full spectrum of working people in the Northeast.
Are they more networking groups or bible groups?
While both organizations bring working people together, neither are networking groups. The deeper purpose is to inspire, challenge and equip employers and employees to be more Godly.
According to your Web site, greed contributed to the current economic mess. What Christian approach would have avoided this mess?
Our economic mess was largely self-inflicted through greed. If we exercised more self-control, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, listened to wisdom and our consciences, which come from God, then we’d be in much better shape today. Think about Bernie Madoff. What part of “Thou Shalt Not Steal” did he not understand? Think about our financial gurus on Wall Street. Does allowing a company to have a debt-equity ratio of 30:1 make any sense? Do multimillion dollar compensation packages to CEOs who ran their companies into the ground sound ethical and honest to you?
In many instances, even bankruptcy has become legalized theft. Greed is a sin, and it always leads to destruction. We cannot build a strong economy if we’ve become a nation of white-collar thieves and we’re busy stealing from each other. That’s economic quicksand.
What kinds of problems can Christian workers encounter at work?
The most common issues tend to revolve around (1) having Christian items in their workspaces, such as Christian screensavers, posters, calendars, Bibles, pins, and clothing; and (2) having prayer and Bible studies during breaks.
What biblical quotation best explains the goals of your groups?
Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” We are all imperfect human beings, but by God’s grace, He can empower us to overcome evil with good.