Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons^™

Gleaning As A Transformational Business Model For Solidarity With The Poor And Marginalized, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

“Gleaning” refers to the mandate within the Mosaic Law that harvesters should leave behind “gleanings” for the sake of the poor who subsist on the literal and figurative margins of society. Although this biblical mandate is generally neglected and considered irrelevant in modern business practice, it holds powerful lessons to help guide modern businesses into transformational solidarity with the poor and marginalized. This paper interprets the biblical significance of gleaning, to discern how the principles of gleaning, though rooted in ancient agrarian culture, might be applicable to modern business which is generally far removed from agriculture. The exegesis and analysis …

Entrepreneurship As A Sign Of Common Grace, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

Entrepreneurship benefits society in many ways. It delivers obvious and tangible economic blessings. The spiritual blessings of entrepreneurship are harder to see, and yet these are essential in order to arrive at a more complete understanding of the role entrepreneurship plays within a virtuous society. This paper considers common grace as a helpful lens through which to view the spiritual reality of entrepreneurship and to discern the intangible contributions it provides to economic shalom. Viewed from the perspective of common grace, we can see that entrepreneurship bears witness to the beauty, creativity, power and the responsibility bestowed upon God’s image …

Best Biblical Career Advice From Joseph, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

The biblical character whose story best illustrates what we might think of today as a “career” is Joseph. His story fills roughly nine chapters in Genesis (37 – 45), a very large portion of the history of the patriarchs. Joseph’s path is an epic story of rising from the bottom to the top. In terms of vision, management and public service, he must be considered a standout success. But is this an example of “career”? It depends what you mean by “career.” Although the Bible does not offer much by way of prescriptive career advice, we can glean practical wisdom …

Capital In The Twenty-First Century: A Tale Without Morality, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

Thomas Piketty has given economists a lot to argue about, but their arguments miss the point of the book’s success. “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” is not a bestseller based on its economic merits. It’s a bestseller because it speaks to a deep moral anxiety. Confidence in capitalism has been shaken. The crisis of 2008 exposed weaknesses in the financialization of our economy. Piketty makes a valiant contribution to economic theory and history, but his empiricism succumbs ultimately to the same flaw John Paul II diagnosed in Marxism—it leads to an incoherent statement of moral order.

Free Markets With Caritas: A Transformational Concept Of Efficiency, Bruce D. Baker

SPU Works

The logic of caritas transforms conventional concepts of economic efficiency in a direction conducive to the health and sustainability of a market system, by distinguishing between economic activities which are additive or extractive toward the common good. The beneficent power of the market to serve human flourishing is based not in a morally tacit concept of economic efficiency as a cardinal good, but rather in a gift-bearing efficiency aligned with caritas. This thesis is explored through three business case studies: (1) patents related to pharmaceutical drug design and marketing; (2) “monetization” strategies in recent internet-based business models; and (3) …

Acts And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Aaron Kuecker

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Acts
2. The Beginning of God's New World (Acts 1-4)
   • A Community with a Mission (Act 1:6)
   • An Orienting Vocation for the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:8)
   • An Orienting Identity as God's Kingdom Witnesses in Daily Life (Acts 2:1-41)
   • An Orienting Community that Practices the Ways of God's Kingdom (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-38)
     • The Economics of Radical Generosity (Acts 2:45; 4:34-35)
     • The Holy Spirit Empowers Radical Generosity With Every Kind of Resource (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-38)
     • A Just Community Is a Witness to the World (Acts 2:47; 6:7)
3. A Clash of Kingdoms: Community and Power (Acts 5-7)
   • Ananias and Sapphira: A …

Matthew And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Jonathan Pennington, Alice Matthews

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Matthew
   • The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near (Matthew)
2. Working as Citizens of God's Kingdom (Matthew 1-4)
   • Why Should We Listen to Jesus? (Matthew 1-2)
   • Jesus Calling (Matthew 3-4)
3. The Kingdom of Heaven at Work in Us (Matthew 5-7)
   • The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
     • "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3)
     • "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4)
     • "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5)
     • "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6) …

John And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Sean Mcdonough

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to John
2. The Word's Work in the World (John 1:1-18)
3. Calling Disciples/Friends (John 1:35-51)
4. The Wedding Planner (John 2:1-11)
5. Jesus' Hand in All Things (John 3:1-36)
6. Water Works (John 4)
7. Who Works When, and Why? (John 5)
8. Bread of Life (John 6)
9. Seeing and Believing (John 9)
10. Life, and Looming Death (John 10-12)
11. Servant Leadership (John 13)
12. Farewell Words (John 14-17)
    • Work and Relationships (John 14-17)
    • Work and Productivity (John 14-17)
13. Stranger in a Strange Land (John 18-20)
14. Beloved Disciples (John 21)

Luke And Work, Theology Of Work Project, Aaron Kuecker

Theology of Work Project

1. Introduction to Luke
2. The Kingdom of God Shows Up at Work (Luke 1-5)
   • God at Work (Luke 1, 2 and 4)
   • Jesus Calls People at Work (Luke 5:1-11; 27-32)
   • John the Baptist Teaches Workplace Ethics (Luke 3:8-14)
   • Jesus is Tempted to Abandon Serving God (Luke 4:1-13)
3. Healing in Luke
4. Sabbath and Work (Luke 6:1-11; 13:10-17)
5. The Ethics of Conflict (Luke 6:27-36; 17:3-4)
6. God's Provision (Luke 9:10-17; 12:4-7; 12:22-31)
   • The Shrewd Manager and the Prodigal Son (Luke 16:1-13; 15:11-32)
7. Wealth in Luke
   • Concern for the Wealthy (Luke 6:25; 12:13-21; 18:18-30)
   • Concern for the Poor (Luke 6:17-26; 16:19-31)
   • Generosity: The Secret to …