Greenwashing, as you know, is a taboo term given to companies that use marketing language and loopholes to appear earth-friendly when further research actually displays their environmentally harmful practices.
On the other side of the coin is Social Washing. If you didn't know, social washing describes a company that markets fair trade and fair labor practices but doesn't actually uphold them. Things like fast fashion come to mind.
And while I love to support businesses that treat God's earth with care while also prioritizing the very people that help it to be successful, I think pretty much everyone can agree that greenwashing and social washing are bad (regardless of what side of the political aisle you stand on, we all want good things for God's creation).
But, if a heathen and a Christian can agree on that standard... then have we as faithful Jesus followers fallen short?
Is ethical really what we're all shooting for?
As a faith-filled business, is ethical enough?
Praxis has done some excellent thought leadership on this topic. But here is the essential idea: are we called to be morally acceptable? Or, are we called to collaborate with Christ in the renewal of all things?
Are we designed to ethical? Or, are we actually called to be redemptive.
I know we know the answer. But, as entrepreneurs, we don't actually spend much time thinking about it.
We sort of allow ethical standards to give us the "bar" we have to reach. And, we stand on the foundations of standards our industry set long ago.
Typically, we assume that ethical standards have been built over a long period of time and the way our industry defines "ethical" is basically right.
So we don't break the law. We try to be ethical and have good integrity. And, because we love Jesus, we try to be kind and nice and good Christian people.
And that's that.
The mandate for Christians in the marketplace is not to be ethical. It's to be redemptive.
Read any scripture about the renewal of all things, the re-edening of the earth, and you'll find a clear call to a much higher purpose.
Matthew 19:28-29
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Our story ends and begins at the ultimate re-beginning. The renewal of all things is where we're going. It's what Jesus is about.
Consider 1 John:
1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. That means as carriers of the Holy Spirit and children of God we are not just here to do business as usual.
Our "industry standard" in car dealerships for withholding information do not reflect the renewal of all things.
Our "industry standard" in the marketing world for emotional manipulation do not reflect the renewal of all things.
We're here to turn the world upside down.
We are partnering with God to bring Heaven on earth here and now. Will come in fullness until Jesus returns? No.
Do we just sit around and be nice people and wait for His return. No.
We have so much more work to do than that!
As entrepreneurs, we are Paul and Silas.
Don't forget, we are the disruptors.
In Acts we read of Paul and Silas visiting Thessalonica. These apostles had been going from town to town, region to region, causing all kinds of trouble.
When they arrived in Thessalonica they found a synagogue and began preaching to the Jews, but the leaders in this church were *not* happy about this.
They formed a mob!
The mob showed up at Jason's house (the person of peace that received Paul and Silas) and tried to drag the apostles out.
Acts 17:6-7
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
Friends, we are built to turn the world upside down!
We are disruptors, you and I.
Who wants to be merely ethical when we have a much more fantastic challenge ahead of us?
The Lord is moving in the lives of entrepreneurs all over the world. He has a job for us that we've been sleeping on. But He's waking us up! And Amen to that.
So, let's join in the renewal.
Let's start asking:
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What does it mean to be redemptive in a space that has never seen the reconciliation of Christ
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What does it mean to be redemptive in a market that has no imagination for a perfect love that casts out fear.
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What does it mean to be redemptive in an industry that creates isolation?
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What does it mean to be redemptive in a land where depression and despair are king?
Where can the Kingdom invade and take root and create a pre-taste of Heaven for your team, for your customers, and for your community?