Either you thought of it or someone you know has tossed it up to you.  Either way, it is a valid question.  After all, based on the news and political issues all around us, it appears that the last thing you want to do is associate your business with anything Christian.  It is too polarizing, right?

Barna Group Study

Surprisingly, it is not as big an issue as you might think!  According to a study conducted by Barna Group (check out the details of the study here), the people that may be offended with any Christian connection to your business are actually a very small minority.  Let’s look at the results.

When asked in two different ways about the likelihood of their doing business with a company that was managed according to Christian principles or embraced and promoted the Christian faith, roughly 55% of these consumers indicated they were indifferent!  In other words, the connections to Christianity did not affect their buying decisions in either direction.  Of course, while this is good news, it really does not tell us what we want to know.  Let’s dig a little further.

How about those that would be more likely to do business with a Christian company?  These responses to the question made up roughly 40% of the total responses!  Two out of every five consumers surveyed said that a company’s connection to the Christian faith would make them more likely to do business with them.  In fact, almost 25% said they would be a lot more likely to do so!

Fantastic News!

I see both of these results as fantastic news!  While I do not believe we are to market and advertise our Christian faith in our business (some may argue this), I am glad to know that the vast majority of those who see the connection are either indifferent or more likely to do business with us!

So what percentage of the responses is left over?

How many people are less likely to do business with a Christian company?

According to the Barna Group study, only 3% – less than one in thirty – of the respondents said they would be less likely to do business with a company that has overt connections to Christianity.  Only 3%…is that really a large enough population to cause concern?

Our Experience

While I have not conducted an official study like Barna, I have been outspoken about the Christian foundation for our business for almost fourteen years now.  I have never been confronted by anyone claiming offense at our beliefs.  I have had a couple of email complaints (literally 2 or 3) stating they would not purchase from us due to our Christian witness.  I am also certain that we have had customers walk away, but just not voice their opinion.  I don’t doubt that at all.

But really, how many do you think make up that group?  If your experience DOUBLED that of the Barna study, would 6% kill your business?  Do you really fear the size of that group more than you trust God at His Word?  He promises to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19).  He promises if we will seek Him first, he will add “these things” (Matthew 6:33).  God is faithful to make good on His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9).  Trust Him to do just that!

What are you really afraid of?

Isn’t your God bigger than that fear?

What should be your next step?

Photo by AntonioGuillem / iStock

“If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.

If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.”

– 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

What Will Survive the Fire?

Here, Paul talks about our “work” in building our lives on the foundation of Christ. Whatever we build during our lives that survives the fire on the Day will bring us reward. Whatever is consumed by the fire is lost.  What would you say will survive the fire?  Will our homes, regardless of size, survive the fire?  What about our cars?  Our stocks or other investments?  If you are like me, you see that none of this will survive the fire.

If that is true, then I am assuming our businesses will not survive either.  So what will survive the fire?  What about lives we have impacted for eternity?  What about our words, deeds, and relationships that have pointed others toward God?

Where Is Our Focus?

If this is the case, then what reasons could we have for dedicating so much of our time, treasure, and talents to the sole purpose of building our businesses?  Of course, we could say we do it to provide for our families and to enjoy the finer things of life.  Or we could say that we do it because we are wired to do it.  We may even feel we have no other choice but to do it.

Regardless of your reasons to this point, you need to ask yourself if your reason aligns with Scripture.  Are you running your business to produce results that will survive the fire or be consumed in the fire?  If it is the latter, then what are your choices?

What Are the Options?

You could sell the business and go into full-time ministry or even become a missionary. Certainly either of these choices could produce results that would survive the fire, right?  I see nothing at all wrong with these choices.  However, I see another choice you need to consider.

Turn your business over to God.  Let Him show you how He wants to use it. Turn your business into an eternity-impacting machine!  We will talk more later about what that looks like and how to do it.  For now, just consider it.

Let me know your thoughts.  

Do you agree with this perspective?

If not, on what are you basing your perspective?