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My friend Matt wrote this post a few days ago (emphasis mine):
There are a few [tag]lazy [/tag]businesspeople in every niche in the US economy (and probably elsewhere) that are involved in ‘X’ industry, but do not provide a product or service remarkable enough to have an edge. However, if they slap ‘Christian’ in front of their [tag]business [/tag]name, then they believe they have a competitive advantage.
What do you think? Do [tag]Christian [/tag]businessmen/women have an unfair advantage over non-Christians?
Let’s visit Matt and let him know!
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Bill, in my vast experince, [-( ,the name of your business is something that just needs to get peoples attention.
I haven’t seen that the title of a company in it’s self is likely to make people believe the companie’s claims are truthful.
I would guess “The Sexy X” will work at least as well as “The Christian X” in getting people’s attention.
After that it’s all up to companies sales force to get people to believe in the product.
So… then “The Sexy Christian X” would really get people’s attention. :”>
Sexy Christian Housepainting, Sexy Christian Car Rental, Sexy Christian Travel Agency….
A few thoughts I left at Matt’s blog.
First, there’s that scripture that says that a Christian should not be “unequally yoked” to a nonbeliever. This refers to marriage, however the words after it — “what communion has light with darkness?” etc. — suggests that the real issue is being in a close relationship with someone who is not in fundamental agreement with you. When I used to be a Christian, I remember someone saying that this heuristic could also be applied to a close business relationship, hence a preference for dealing with a Christian business.
Second, it seems natural to me that Christians would want to show bias towards fellow Christians and support them in business where possible. I suppose it’s similar to buying “Australian Made” (or whatever your nationality is). When one identifies as a member of a group, what benefits the group indirectly benefits you. Foremost in the Christian’s mind should be the spreading of the Word, and by implication, the well-being of those who can do that.
Third, I think the most compelling reason would be that Christians believe that non-Christians are non-Christians not because of an honest mistake, but because of wickedness. For the scripture says, Romans 1:18:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
And later (v29 onwards) we are described as follows:
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
If I was a Christian and believed these things, I wouldn’t want to do business with me either.
When I was a Christian, I tended to favor doing business with people who were Christians.
I wish I hadn’t, because one of those people in particular - although as best I could tell he was as much of a Christian as I was - turned out to be greatly lacking in character. I was very happy when I got out of my relationship with him (back in 2001 - I’m not talking about anything recent).
I’ve learned my lesson; when I’m looking to do business with someone I no longer care what they say they believe: I care whether they are honest and hardworking. I wish I could say that everyone who claims to be a Christian is that way - it certainly seems that they should be. However, in practice that’s not what I’ve found.
I would never decide to NOT do business with someone because of their religious beliefs. I think there’s something wrong about that.
So if you are consciously choosing a Christian doctor by finding them in the Christian yellow pages or something, how is that action any different from saying “I won’t go to a Jewish doctor”?
Of course, people don’t think that way. They think only on the positive side of that equation: “I’m giving work to Christians! YAY!” They don’t think about the negative side of the very same equation. Keep your mind off the negative side of anything, and you can convince yourself you’re not making an immoral choice.
I’d hate to think that some people wouldn’t hire me or contract with me because I don’t share their religious beliefs. They’ll walk on by my store and go down the street to the guy with the icthus on the store window.
Of course, everyone has the right to be discriminatory in their shopping choices. But I don’t ask people’s beliefs before I hire them as a plumber, a doctor, a whatever…. It’s immaterial.
I’ve heard of this one but I’ve never found the quote for it. I have found a part of one of the letters in the New Testament (NT) which (paraphrased) said that individuals married to a non-Christian should not divorce them because them being married to you will help them to get into heaven (If I remember correctly).
athenabelle, here’s the verse:
2 Cor 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Hi Bill,
thanks for the mention.
Richard,
You may be onto something. “Sexy Christian Plumber” would give me a far better idea of what type of service I’m getting than if I dialed “Christian plumber”.
Of course, the point of my post wasn’t to “dog” my brothers and sisters in Christ, because I don’t know of anybody alive who is 100% honest and forthright in their business dealings.
I’m a marketer by trade and am all about helping my clients find their USP and relate that to their customers, but there are some areas best left alone… like when it could involve associating God’s name with even more questionable activities than it sometimes is.
Great conversations around this blog… nice change of pace from all the tech blogs I’m stuck reading