Just Business: Christian Ethics for the Marketplace. By Alexander Hill. IVP Academic; Revised edition (January 10, 2008), 276pp., $11.29 Paper. Chanel Mahone 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. Hill begins by suggesting holiness is a significant component of an ethical lifestyle. He debates that the meaning of holiness consists of four parts which include zeal for God, purity, accountability, and humility. Hill writes, “The crucial point is that holiness is fundamentally about priorities. So long as a business is a means of honoring God rather than an end in itself, the concept of holiness is not violated.” (p. 25) In short, business involves more than a competition around the highest profits. Therefore when holiness is a priority of a businessman, the business is then reoriented around effectiveness for others and not solely around making money. Hill also points out that
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.
People from all walks of life face many ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas have consequences. Our worldview determines how we deal with these dilemmas, and guides us to the right decisions. In this essay, I will examine an ethical issues through my Christian worldview. I will also present other viewpoints, and compare them to mine.
Shaw, W.H. (2014). Business ethics: A Textbook with cases, (8th ed.). Boston, MA : Cengage.
The author Robert Solomon argues that ethics has to an integral part with regard to business management. He does not believe that business management must include unethical or illegal methods to be able to succeed. Solomon preaches that business management is not as simple as obtaining revenue. “Businesses need to abide by fair policies and their owners have to be ethical in dealing with their customers” (Shaw p. 37). The author acknowledges that while illegal practices in business management could bring positive results at first, eventually the business is bound to fail. This is why Solomon recommended eight important policies that can help businesses in integrating ethics into their operations.
“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).
Christians are called to the higher purpose of fulfilling a spiritual life in accordance to God’s will (II Timothy 1:9 New Living Translation, NLT). At the same time Christians are a part of society and therefore participate in the wealth of the economy. Although some have challenged business is morally neutral, business can be a wonderful way to bring glory to God (Grudem, 2003). This is possible when Christians apply their Christian worldview and abide by a code of conduct constructed from this worldview (Ruddell, 2004). This paper will examine the process of constructing an ethics program based on a Christian worldview.
In today’s business environment, consumers aware of unethical behavior affecting small and large-scale businesses. In most cases, organizations suffer damage reputation, shareholders options decline, revenue decline and employee moral suffers. In order to prevent unethical behavior organizations should consider Christian Principles when developing policies and procedures to prevent unethical behavior. The role of business in God’s creation is not only the institution that human beings operates in, it is an environment that people are task with carrying out specific duties and responsibilities according to specific laws and regulations. The paper will examine why business matters to God and concepts of Agnosticism, Annihilation, and Adoption.
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
The article make a link between the nonspiritual and Biblical principles within which business that will be considered responsible and just should follow to. It is going to draw from principles enlisted by the Caux Round Table and those by White. (White, 1978) Caux focus mainly on the secular section of the principles without putting any emphasis on any one religion but rather as a guidance for proper business dealings for the improvement of society and not just benefit the one conducting it alone White drew his principles from teachings in the Bible therefore caters to those business with practicing Christian stakeholders. These two are drawn from what can be seen as
Dr. Wayne Grudem is a New Testament scholar turned theologian, author, and Research Professor of Bible and Theology at Phoenix Seminary, Arizona ("Wayne Grudem," ). In lieu of many of his great accomplishes, Dr. Grudem has also written numerous books and articles. Among those books, he is the author of Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, which advocates a Calvinistic soteriology, the verbal plenary inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, the body-soul dichotomy in the nature of man, and the complementarian view of gender equality ("Wayne Grudem," ). In 2003, Dr. Grudem released a book titled “Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business”. Within this work, Dr. Grudem tackles
This paper will explore what a Biblical Worldview is and present a Biblical Worldview process of contracts, ownership and responsibility.
This will be an over view of ethics as it relates to business in our society. Concepts from Philosophy will seek to describe the correlation between actions that are classified as morally right or ethical in our dealings with each other as human beings. Clear and concise examples will be given as well as ways in which to improve upon business ethics.
We must change the focus of business ethics away from primary emphasis on Western ethics toward a deeper understanding of value systems that stem from different conceptions of human nature. We need to abandon the project of universalizing ethics along Western lines.
In their personal and professional lives, people can and, unfortunately, sometimes do go against their moral and ethical standards. Ethical standards are what it means to be a good person, the social rules that govern our behavior. Ethics in business is essentially the study of what constitutes the right and wrong or the good or bad behavior in the workplace environment. A business is an organization whose objective is to provide goods or services for profit. The organization has a group of people that work together to achieve a common purpose. The moral challenges that these men and women face each day along with a whole range of problems that could occur, are why ethics plays such an important
In the modern world, two things are most sought after: goodness and prosperity. However, given the innate nature of mankind, and his compulsions towards greed and selfishness, complete morality is impossible. This idea has roots in the definitions and ideals found in utilitarianism, a term that will be defined later, and has led many to call business ethics an oxymoron. “In the US generally, the ethical road that is paved with good corporate intentions and constructive programs includes some bumps,” (McClenahen 60). Although bumps may exist, many companies are striving for excellence in this area as statistics show ethics are related to customer loyalty 's. These businesses have found that improvements can be found through understanding and action. Business leaders can increase morals by understand utilitarianism, leadership, correct forms of communication, and how these affect customers.