Reprinted from The 313.
See the links below for discounts of 50% or more on the titles in this review!
Andrew Lynn’s recent study of the faith and work movement over recent centuries worried a bit in the end that the rediscovery that “God loves your work” might unintentionally reinforce the status quo—merely motivating Christians to have a good attitude while accepting work as it is. The implications are that Christians need more and deeper formation in the distinctives of Christian values and ethics so that in our varied workplaces we can “salt” and “light” those places, not just have a good spirit and attitude and maybe share our faith when possible and appropriate.
Workplace Discipleship 101 breaks with this minimalist approach by challenging us to a vital, growing relationship with God, Scripture, and Christian community which we then express in our daily work by (1) participating as much as possible in God’s own work as creator, sustainer, wisdom-giver, justice-advocate, and redeemer, healer, and liberator, (2) demonstrating a distinctive beatitudes-shaped character, (3) sharing the rich trove of biblical work insights, (4) sharing our faith commitments when appropriate, and (5) overcoming conflict and wrong-doing. But to equip us more fully in our understanding of biblical values and principles we really need to go further. Here are three other books that will take you there.
Becoming Good: Building Moral Character is what we call a “virtue ethics”—an exploration of what Jesus and Scripture teach about our character, about “who we are” day-in-day-out. Building a strong and distinctive character is what Jesus’ Beatitudes and Paul’s faith-hope-love are all about. That distinctive character is a message and influence all by itself without needing to say anything. Jesus said it makes us the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” But it is also like “getting in shape” physically in order to “play the game”—run the plays, execute the movements. A weak character simply cannot make wise judgments or carry out the principles. It is a grave mistake to skip over this biblical guidance.
But good character is not the end of the story. We also need to know, understand, and follow God’s guidance about what we do, how we act. It is not either/or—either character or action. I used to tell my students that ethics is not just “do” or “be”—it is “do-be-do-be-do.” Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles is a thorough exploration of biblical teaching on God’s guiding principles for our decision and action. It explores the Ten Commandments as “ten words” or “ten principles” of love, justice/righteousness, and freedom—the way Jesus and the New Testament teach us to interpret the commandments. This “thicker,” fuller understanding of our ethics and values is precisely what workplace disciples need to bring to the office, studio, factory, laboratory, school, home and any other workplace. Sadly, many workplace Christians do not know the Decalogue even in its simplest form.
It’s About Excellence: Building Ethically Healthy Organizations takes everything a step further by exploring how these biblical values and perspectives can be translated (from Bible-speak to business-speak) and applied in pluralist, diverse, general-market businesses and other organizations. This book is not about an ivory-tower theory but about in-the-trenches experiences of MBA ethics teaching and ethics consulting for various companies. Christians are a distinctive people with a distinctive calling and character. But we are to be “in the world” while “not of the world.” Our presumably “salty” and “luminous” presence is not just for ourselves but for all those around us, for our organizations. Here is some practical help in influencing and leading those organizations in helpful biblical directions.
• Wipf & Stock Publishers is offering a 50% discount on Becoming Good, Doing Right, and It’s About Excellence this Spring (through June). Go to their website and use the discount code DWG1946.
• Hendrickson/Tyndale Publishers is offering an even bigger discount on Workplace Disipleship 101 (no code needed).
The Green Room 