7 Reasons Why Christians Thrive in the Marketplace

[Moses joel Adetokunbo]

IF GOD HAS CALLED YOU INTO BUSINESS,  PLEASE DON'T WISH YOU WERE CALLED SOMEWHERE ELSE....  THESE ARE MY REASONS


If you believe God has called you to business, don't wish for a different calling. The marketplace is an ideal place for Christians right now. Here's why:

Reason #1: The marketplace is where most non-Christians are.
Church attendance rates are declining rapidly, with less than 20% of Americans regularly attending church and even lower percentages in European countries. However, these individuals still wake up every morning to work alongside their Christian colleagues in the marketplace.

Reason #2: The majority of Christians can be found in the marketplace.
Around 85% of Christian workers spend a significant portion of their waking hours at work. In addition to serving our families and local churches, the marketplace provides an incredible opportunity for us to use our spiritual gifts collaboratively. Imagine the impact we can make when we utilize our unique gifts for ministry!

(If you're unsure about your spiritual gifts, my upcoming book will include a spiritual gifts assessment and guidance on how to use them effectively in the marketplace.)

Reason #3: Discipleship happens naturally in the marketplace.
Critics often blame church leaders for inadequate discipleship and spiritual growth among congregations. But let's cut them some slack – how much discipleship can truly occur during a two-hour Sunday service? Real growth happens through everyday life experiences. While Sunday events have value, they pale in comparison to spending an entire workweek with coworkers and clients.

Reason #4: The marketplace showcases authentic Christianity.
When shopping for a car, you visit showrooms but also take test drives before making a decision. Similarly, local churches serve as showrooms while the marketplace becomes our test drive area. Our unbelieving coworkers observe how we handle pressure, treat others, and live out our faith daily – this authenticity speaks volumes about what it means to follow Christ.

Since fewer people attend traditional church services (as mentioned in Reason #1), marketplace Christians now serve as both the showroom and test drive of Christianity.

Reason #5: The marketplace demands the Church's full capabilities.
Personality-driven and super-pastor approaches don't work in the marketplace. Having Christians on the sidelines won't transform it for God's glory, even if a local church grows numerically.

Most teachings about "marketplace ministry" overlook people's unique spiritual gifts. For instance, someone with an apostolic gift may view it as ascending to conquer the business world for God, while someone with a pastoral gift might focus on caring for employees' personal needs.

To truly impact the marketplace, we must leverage all Christians' spiritual gifts within it. A one-size-fits-all approach only leads to self-condemnation and ineffectiveness when operating outside our God-given gifts.

Reason #6: Denominational divisions have less impact in the marketplace.
While we have the freedom to choose which type of church to attend, such as Baptist, Pentecostal-Charismatic, Presbyterian, or Non-Denominational, most of us don't have the luxury of working exclusively with Christians who share our theological beliefs. However, the marketplace has a way of minimizing these differences and creating opportunities for collaborative ministry beyond our local churches and traditions.

Reason #7: Marketplace funding drives everything.
All money originates from value created in the marketplace, and it is ultimately business professionals who decide what projects receive funding. These individuals need to understand God's plan for their lives in order to make righteous decisions regarding finances.

Although business is often seen solely as an economic engine for the Church, I hope that we can recognize its full potential for transforming society and bringing glory to God.

[Ayotunde Esther]

Thanks for this enlightening piece