DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will be presented with
questions in Discussions. The student is required to answer the question in each Discussion with at least
1 citation in current APA format. Each Discussion thread must be at least 300 words. The student must
also reply to one classmate’s thread and the reply must be at least 150 words.
Theology of Business
What God thinks of business
Why business matters to God and how?
In his thought-provoking video titled "Why Business Matters to God," Jeff Van Duzer presents a
compelling argument for the importance of business in the eyes of God. Van Duzer, a professor of
business and ethics, shares his insights on how business can align with God's purposes and contribute to
human flourishing.
One of the key points Van Duzer emphasizes is that business is fundamentally about serving others. He
challenges the prevalent notion that business is solely driven by profit maximization or self-interest.
Instead, he suggests that businesses have a higher calling to serve society and promote the common
good. Van Duzer highlights that by providing valuable products and services, businesses meet the needs
of individuals and contribute to the overall well-being of communities.
Furthermore, Van Duzer emphasizes the transformative power of business. He asserts that business
has the potential to bring about positive change and address societal issues. By creating employment
opportunities, fostering innovation, and generating economic growth, businesses can alleviate poverty
and promote social justice. Van Duzer emphasizes that business leaders have a responsibility to use their
influence and resources to make a meaningful impact on the world around them.
Van Duzer also challenges the separation between the sacred and the secular, arguing that business can
be an avenue for spiritual growth and expression. He suggests that the workplace provides an
opportunity for individuals to exercise their God-given talents and virtues such as integrity,
stewardship, and compassion. Moreover, Van Duzer argues that business can serve as a context for
relationships, where individuals can demonstrate love, care, and grace towards others.
Another significant aspect of Van Duzer's message is the importance of ethical conduct in business. He
acknowledges the presence of unethical practices and encourages businesses to prioritize integrity and
justice. Van Duzer argues that ethical business practices not only align with God's values but also lead to
long-term success and sustainability. He advocates for businesses to embrace transparency, fairness, and
accountability in their operations.
In conclusion, Jeff Van Duzer's video, "Why Business Matters to God," challenges traditional perspectives
on business and offers a compelling vision of how businesses can contribute to God's purposes. He
emphasizes the importance of serving others, addressing social issues, integrating faith and work, and
upholding ethical standards. Van Duzer's insights inspire business leaders and professionals to view their
work as a means to positively impact individuals, communities, and the world at large. Ultimately, he
encourages a holistic and purpose-driven approach to business that is aligned with God's intentions for
human flourishing.
Why Business Matters to God
In the video “Why Business Matters to God,” Mr. Jeff Van Duzer provides a compelling argument
for the importance of having God in business. One key point provided by his seminar is that business is
about serving others. He challenges Milton Friedman’s economic theory that business is solely driven by
maximizing profit or self-interest. He suggests there is a higher calling to serve its community and
promote good in the world. He also advocates that businesses can have a transformative power to bring
positive change and address societal issues. This can be accomplished by creating jobs, fostering
innovation, and creating economic growth. Ultimately, businesses have the power to alleviate poverty
and promote social justice, thus making a meaningful impact on the communities and individuals around
them.
He also states that businesses can set the platform for people to express their talents and
virtues, such as displaying integrity, stewardship, and compassion. Businesses can serve as a framework
for relationships to foster love, care, and grace toward others. Kim, Fisher, and McCalman (2009) state
that business ethics and biblical scripture are similar. Researchers and business leaders seek ethical
standards and rules that originate from the bible. For example, Mo, Zhao, and Tang (2023) state that the
book of Genesis presents the stewardship model to protect and preserve our environment, a social
responsibility for businesses.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Mr. Duzer signifies the importance of ethical conduct in business. As he stated at the
start of the video, we’ve all heard of the old saying that business is a necessary evil. But here, he argues
that this is not the case. He insists that a business should be designed and operated to promote the well-
being of everyone involved, including the employees, customers, and community. Finally, business
success should not just be measured on its profitability but on the overall impact it makes. In agreeance
with Mr. Van Duzer, business does matter to God, not just for its money-generating aspect but for its
potential to contribute to society and its individuals.
References
Center for Faith & Work. (2012). Jeff Van Duzer - Why Business Matters to God [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3m0q2d8Dq4
Kim, D., Fisher, D., & McCalman, D. (2009). Modernism, Christianity, and business ethics: A worldview
perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 90(1), 115-121. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27735228
Mo, Y., Zhao, J., & Tang, T. L. (2023). Religious Beliefs Inspire Sustainable HOPE (Help Ourselves Protect
the Environment): Culture, Religion, Dogma, and Liturgy—The Matthew Effect in Religious Social
Responsibility: JBE. Journal of Business Ethics, 184(3), 665-685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-
022-05131-z
Jeff Van Duzer, a prominent speaker on integrating faith into business practices, presents a provocative
argument in his talk titled "Why Business Matters to God". He contests the traditional perception of
business as a secular realm and posits that it inherently holds spiritual value. The crux of Van Duzer's
argument lies in the conviction that business is not merely a profit-generating endeavor, but rather, an
avenue for service, societal improvement, and ultimately, a conduit for fulfilling God's intentions for
the world.
Van Duzer commences his talk by juxtaposing the age-old dichotomy between 'business as a necessary
evil' and 'business as a virtuous calling.' He identifies the core problem with these opposing views – they
reduce business to an overly simplistic construct. Instead, Van Duzer argues that we should regard
business as a complex and multifaceted entity, riddled with challenges and opportunities for moral and
spiritual growth.
Using a biblical perspective, Van Duzer suggests that business serves two primary purposes: providing
goods and services that society needs for its flourishing, and offering opportunities for individuals to
express their creativity and ingenuity – both attributes made in God's image. Hence, the business
becomes a conduit for both societal contribution and personal development. From this viewpoint, the
pursuit of profit, while important, becomes secondary to these higher callings.
Furthermore, Van Duzer insists on the significance of a business's impact on its community. He suggests
that businesses ought to be designed and operated in ways that promote the well-being of all
stakeholders, from employees and customers to suppliers and the wider community. This expansive
perspective asserts that business success is not merely measured in terms of profitability but also in the
overall positive effect it generates.
At the heart of Van Duzer's presentation is the profound idea that business and faith are not separate
realms. Instead, they can and should coexist harmoniously, each enriching the other. He envisions
business as an instrument for furthering God's purposes on Earth - an active participant in the divine
plan.
In conclusion, Van Duzer's talk, "Why Business Matters to God", illuminates the intersection of faith and
business, thereby challenging the conventional perception of business as solely a profit-making venture.
He successfully highlights the fundamental role of businesses in God's grand scheme, underscoring that
they are an essential vehicle for service, personal development, and societal betterment. Through this
perspective, one can conclude that business indeed matters to God, not for its capacity to generate
wealth, but for its potential to contribute to the overall well-being of society and the growth of its
individuals.
Hi Ashley,
I agree with the observations you’ve made based on Jeff Van Duzer’s video, “Why Business
Matters to God.” The core of Mr. Duzer’s argument is that business should offer more than just be a
profit-making organization and has a greater purpose than just profit maximization.
The insight you provided on Mr. Van Duzer’s “creation mandate” was compelling. The
assignment for Adam and Eve to work in the garden did indeed suggest that as humans, made in the
image of God, are designed to be productive. In this context, business is a platform to exercise and
manifest these abilities given by God. This point of view ultimately alters the perspective of business as it
places the importance of doing God’s work and fostering social responsibility in the business context.
Your reflection on how Mr. Van Duzer discussed how the material world matters to God was very
thoughtful. The metaphor of an incomplete garden as an invitation for humans to work makes us re-
think the purpose of business to be more of a collaborative mission to complete, grow and prosper what
God has given to us.
Ultimately, in line with your biblical reference, 1 Corinthians 10:31, the work we do in business
should always aim to glorify God, and the motivation to do the work is not just to generate wealth but
also to align His values to serve others in our community and further progress his divine plan.
Your insight into the 'creation mandate' as interpreted by Duzer is
particularly compelling. The divine assignment given to Adam and Eve to
work in the garden indeed suggests that human beings, made in the image
of a working God, are designed to be productive. Business, in this context, is
a platform to exercise and manifest these innate, God-given abilities, talents,
and proclivities.
Duzer's assertion, as you pointed out, that "Business exists to create
opportunities for individuals to express their God given identities in
meaningful and creative work," completely alters our perspective of
business. It places a renewed emphasis on the importance of fostering
meaningful work and relationships within a business context.
I also concur with your thoughtful reflection on the role of the material world
in God's plan. The metaphor of an incomplete garden being an invitation for
humans to co-create is profoundly insightful. This analogy makes us rethink
the purpose of business as a collaborative endeavor with the divine to bring
about completion, growth, and prosperity.
Your reference to Duzer's analogy of creating ovens and baking bread clearly
embodies the myriad facets of business – capital investment, innovation,
operations, and logistics. It portrays business as a holistic process meant to
serve communities and foster their prosperity. Duzer's assertion that the real
value of a company lies in the creativity and commitment of its workforce,
and not in its tangible assets, further underscores this.
In line with 1 Corinthians 10:31, our work should indeed glorify God, and the
motivation to strive for excellence should be rooted in this divine calling.
Duzer's perspectives, as you've beautifully articulated, offer us a new lens to
view business not merely as a means for economic gain but as a medium for
expressing our God-given talents and serving our communities.
