Business as Missions—NOT Life is Mission - YEP!
Pastor as missions. That just doesn’t sound right becasue it’s not. If I’m called to be a pastor vocationally, then it is my mission—not something I use for my mission. I hate that phrase business as mission. I think it’s an insult to businessmen. It’s like I really want to do ministry, but I can’t do that so I’m going to use my business. The idea is use your job to do missions. That’s wrong. The Biblical idea of the kingdom is my life is mission and my vocational call is living out my life in mission. It’s not semantics. The metrics are different and the end result is different. What do you think?
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Oct 1, 2007 at 12:26 PM
You're right Bob! It is more than semantics. Getting a hold of this would help put an end to all the compartmentalization we see in the lives of believers here in the states. Thanks for a great post!
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Oct 1, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Why did God make us - His "image-bearing creation-caring-for creature on planet earth" - in the first place?
I suggest it is to advance His glory via our advancing, via our individual and collective stewardship of our spheres of influence during our mortal lives on planet earth, that creation (including our human societies and culture) while enjoying a direct relationship with Him, each other, and other aspects of creation.
Genesis 2:5 makes clear that God's intent with creation on planet earth (and by extension, the known universe, which is arguable all necessary to have a planet earth) would not be complete "without man to work the ground."
When talking about vocations, Genesis in the primary text, in my opinion, for answering the "whys."
Oct 2, 2007 at 02:13 PM
I agree, we were and are created for mission, therefore each and every part of my life and the life of each disciple is to be about that mission at work,rest or play.
Oct 9, 2007 at 08:00 PM
I believe "business as mission" is a misnomer and is often used interchangeably for a variety of activities.....many of which are "wrong." It has become a greatly overused and abused term. As a business man and entrepreneur myself, I am aware that God created me for worship and to live missionally (another often misunderstood term). This applies to every aspect of my life without compartmentalization. However, I believe I can be intentional about my business life and how I direct my company for strategic Kingdom purposese. Case in point......my recent travels to places like Afghanistan, Morocco, China, etc. have allowed me unusual access and extraordinary influence through my business experience and credentials. This opened doors for communication and discussions out of the ordinary in those circumstances. Opportunities have arisen for a variety of businesses in these places. I believe God is directing these opportunities. BAM, to me, means seeing and seizing these as they are presented. BAM means being aware of God's calling to live missionally, even (and perhaps especially) through the marketplace. BAM, if properly presented, simply raises the awareness of this possibility and challenges business people to have a greater vison for where God has placed them!
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