Alexander Hill, Just Business Christian Ethics for the Marketplace. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2008. Paperback. $14.95Jessica Burt Alexander Hill’s Just Business: Christian Ethics for the Marketplace, explains how it is a Christian’s duty to do the right thing. Hill uses Christian values and morals as a way to explain the behaviors and actions that should be taken into consideration for every situation, whether it is personal or business. Hill states that we must “act in a manner consistent with God’s character; if not we act unethically” (p. xiii) The entire book is broken into three parts, concepts, false exits, and topics. Hill describes that there are three characteristics that should be made during a Christian’s decision making …show more content…
process. The three are holy, just, and loving, and each should be taken into account when a decision is being made. These three characteristics “have direct bearing on ethical decision making, as in the Bible” (p. xv) and they also display Christian business ethics. Hill identifies the fact that business ethics are not always holy, just, and loving, and regularly crash with the view of Christian business ethics. On the back cover of the book, Hill states that “Common responses to business fall short of a fully Christian response.” The beginning of the Just Business, Hill uses the methodology of holy, just, and love as concepts in contrast to a three legged stool with each characteristic, “like one leg on a three legged stool, balances out the other two legs.” (p.
xvi) On the same exact page Hill states, “Christian ethics does not involve either or analysis as if we could choose between holiness, justice and love, but rather a synthesis in which all three conditions must be met before an action can be considered moral.” The Bible recognizes this concept by saying, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” (Hebrews …show more content…
10:26) The second section of this book began with a question from Hill, “Are the ethical standards set by holiness, justice and love too high for the marketplace?” (p. lxvii) Hill clarifies and breaks down this question by addressing what he means when he says false exits. False exits simply consist of issues such as dual morality, commandment and action. Hill refers to it as false exits “because they deposit ultimate ethical authority in human instrumentalities, business culture, government and corporate management; rather than God’s character.” (p. lxvii). I somewhat disagree with this section of the book. Hill cannot simply state that everyone can be held liable for being unethical if they are following the way of life that was put before them. Every individual was not raised exactly the same, as well as, some may have been raised in the same household but turn out totally different. The Bible speaks of how to become yourself and do what is right, and not to follow behind others. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will be—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Toward the ending, Hill introduces case studies on important issues such as employer and employee dealings, affirmative action, discrimination, and environmental damage.
Hill points out that all of these topics are in today’s business market. They should be addressed and recognized by Christians today. For most people, their work is a key factor in their self-worth, family esteem and identity. Workplace ethics and behavior are a central part of employment, as both are aspects that can help assist a business in its efforts to be gainful. Every business in every industry has certain guidelines and procedures to which its employees must follow. We must always remember that no matter who you are, where you come from, or where you are going, you are no better than the next person, when it comes to making mistakes and sinning. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans
3:23) All of Hill’s findings set the example of the way Christians should present themselves in a business setting. Nevertheless, it should be known that Hill wrote Just Business with a Christian point of view and that not every colleague in the work force or business will come from a Christian outlook. “The foundation of Christian ethics in business is not rules, but the changeless character of Go d.” (p.xiii) “When we behave in a manner consistent with God’s character, we act ethically.” (p. xiii)
In chapters 11 and 12, Every Good Endeavor closes out by emphasizing while work can be good, it all depends on the worker behind it. In chapter 11, Keller focuses on ethics and how it is more than just right and wrong, but it also a trust issue between us and God. Committing an act that is unethical in the work place is essentially saying to God "I don't trust all that you have done and have planned for my life, so I feel the need to take things into my own hands and cut corners to reach my purpose.” Committing an unethical act in the workplace can seem like it has such microscopic consequences, but when we zoom out and look at the long term affects, we see that it can cause a terrifying amount of damage. When we keep sin and secrets in the
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, ed. Readings in Christian Ethics: A Historical Sourcebook. Edited by J. Philip Wogaman and Douglas M. Strong. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.
Currently I am working for a Christian preschool as a co-teacher for a class of eleven 3 year old children. Working for a Christian preschool you would imagine that having and displaying good morals and ethics would be a must, however just like with any workplace there are those who sometimes break or they may say bend these ethical rules and display behavior that should not be revealed in any type of situation, especially in the workplace. The text book describes ethics in the workplace as “Ethics of business is just that, ethics- a sense of right and wrong when dealing with coworkers, employers, employees, customers, shareholders, and the general population”, basically saying that ethics allows you to
Being ethical or not? Always doing the right thing? These are all questions and thoughts, which arise in a business on a daily basis. However, I personally feel that the answer lies within us. If we choose when to be ethical, and when not to be, does it actually make us a good person? Albert Carr discusses some of key aspects of his theory in the article “If Business Bluffing
In my conclusion, business ethics is the key to a successful business. Personal values plays a main factor to help you in business. “Whatever you do, work hearty, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). In my business and personal life, I will make sure everything I do is from the heart and for the Lord. I will never put materialistic things over the works and calling of the
Ethical behavior is behavior that a person considers appropriate. A person’s moral principles are shaped from birth, and developed over time throughout the person’s life. There are many factors that can influence what a person believes is right, or what is wrong. Some factors are a person’s family, religious beliefs, culture, and experiences. In business, it is of great importance for an employee to understand how to act ethically to prevent a company from being sued, and receiving criticism from the public while bringing in profits for the company.
Throughout the article Solomon discusses how ethics plays a key role in how businesses are run. He mentions several ideas about what ethics and morals businesses should follow and how they should deal with their customers. After reading this article I would say that I mostly agree with what Solomon is saying.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Roman 12.2, New International Version). This paper will show the similarities and differences between the Caux Round Table and White’s biblical principles. It will discuss how if any White’s principles more than Caux can impact organizations, employees, customers, and other stakeholders. Also, this investigation will discuss how suitable it can be to use scripture as a basis for ethical business decision making for global managers and what challenges or problems might exist for the Christian manager using White’s five
In other words we are living in a society that is not exactly moral, a society which misuses Christian clichés to justify its lawlessness and immorality.” (Merton, 2013, p. 207). The quote states, when threatened people in charge are the first to go against the law or set it aside for their personal interests. In Accounting, there is a lot of fraud involved because many Accountants want to gain more personal interest. However, in Accounting you have to avoid fraud at all cost even if it is a great personal interest to you. This relates to the the Seton Hill mission because it is centered around Judeo-Christian values, which help students to think ethically. As an Accountant I will always have to use these values and think ethically in order to avoid all temptations of performing
The term “ethics” is often used within business environments to promote and encourage organizational employees to make fair and honest business decisions daily. However, some scholars argue that, a majority of organizations in today’s business environment use the term “ethics” loosely to meet the current social status quo of business practices, but do not actually enforce the importance of ethical practices with their organization. In order to explore this argument further, a sample business ethics issue will be examined and a Christian worldview will be applied to the ethical issue as a method to correct the business ethical topic.
Business ethics are a set of moral rules that govern how a business operates, how people should be treated within an organization, and how business decisions are made. They are a crucial part of employment and in managing a sustainable business, mainly because of the serious consequences that can result from decisions made with a lack of regard to ethics. Even if you don’t believe that good ethics don’t contribute to profit levels, you should realize those poor ethics have a negative effect on your bottom line in the long-run. Every business in every industry has certain guidelines to which its employees must stick to, and regularly outline such aspects in employee handbooks.
Shaw, W. & Barry, V. (2010). Moral issues in business (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage
Shaw, W. H., & Barry, V. (2011). Moral Issues in Business (Eleventh ed., pp. 230-244).
Fortunately, there are ways to lessen these three unethical behaviors. The use of scripts can be decreased by rotating tasks and keeping employees from performing repetitive work. Distractions can be lessened by leaders modeling the virtue of temperance. Leaders should enjoy employees to properly balance their work and professional lives. Finally, incidences of moral exclusion can be lessened by exposing employees to individuals who have been morally excluded. These business practices will help ensure good p...
Ethics in the workplace is a very important thing to have. Without a sense of ethicality in the workplace there are many things that could go wrong. You could even end up losing a job because of a lack of ethics, or other consequences could be felt due to a lack of caring or morality. The workplace is a place that you should show respect and dignity, and a deeper sense of ethics is very important in order to uphold these senses of morality. Workplace ethics, which include such things as behavior, integrity, commitment, teamwork, and other things, are important, if not required, in most workplaces and can help to improve performance and morale for workers and employers.