Is there a better way to do business?

Last week I started with an exploration of what's broken with business today. Let's review.

Some businesses harm their customers (manipulation of children through advertising, misguiding customers about products to increase sales, selling customers products they do not need, etc.)

Some businesses harm the environment (pollution, CO2 emissions, habitat destruction, etc.)

Some businesses harm their employees (toxic waste, layoffs, sweatshops, 24-hour work shifts, etc.)

Some businesses harm their shareholders (using creative methods to hide debt and increase share prices in the short term leading to long term loss of shareholder value, etc.)

So to sum it up, businesses harm everyone and everything in the world. If (and when) aliens contact Earth, I'm sure businesses will find some way to harm them as well. Perhaps that is why aliens have stayed away from Earth... because they are scared of evil corporations (which may not be a terrible defensive tactic again alien invasion, but I digress).

At this point, I think the question becomes, "Is this method of doing business acceptable to us? Or is there a better way?" Many Christians in business that I have talked to have responded, "Sure. Businesses can do a lot of harm. But they do a lot of good as well. Plus, I don't know of a better way to do business. So let's just try to do as much good as possible and minimize the harm." Others respond differently, saying that there must be a better way. In fact, the protest-turned-riots last summer at the G20 summit in Toronto was largely response to the frustration many people felt toward the evils of corporations and large businesses.

For many years I have turned a blind eye to the evils of businesses. Here was my line of thinking, "So what if businesses are taking advantage of low cost labour in Asia? They are providing jobs. And the labourers are making a choice to work there, which means it is a better alternative for their life. If businesses do more good than harm, then it is okay. Things will fix themselves eventually." But recently, this argument has not been good enough to convince my heart that these wrongs are justified. God is slowly awakening me to care and to take action.

NDP leader Jack Layton, who led Canada's Official Opposition, passed away early this morning. A CBC article mentions that he used one of Tommy Douglas' quotes often: "Courage my friends, 'tis never too late to build a better world." Jack included this quote in every email he sent.

I agree with the late Jack Layton's heart. If we can make the world better, then we should. Not only for our sake, but for the sake of future generations. My wife and I are expecting a child in December and we want to leave behind the best world for her to live in because we love her. And this includes transforming business for the better, because the business world impacts every person. Everyone is a customer. And the majority of families depend on a the salaries that businesses provide to survive and thrive.

Redeeming the business world will take much courage and hope, perseverance and endurance, passion and commitment, and a deep dependence on Jesus, from people of all walks of life. It is possible.

Do you believe that changing business to honor God will change the world? If so, why?