Can a Christian CEO of a secular corporation set an ethical tone for the company without compromising scriptural principles and at the same time avoid offending the diverse religious beliefs of potentially thousands of employees? (ch. 14)
Justify your reasoning with a minimum of 2 scholarly references and 1 journal article. Please ensure you provide a biblical perspective and reference the below book. Lawrence, A. T., & Weber, J. (2020). Business and society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education
The People Side of Business
For years, there have been heated debates on spirituality and ethics in secular corporations. On the one hand, some hold philosophical opposition to introducing spirituality in the business environment, arguing that firms should remain secular (Lawrence & Weber, 2020). On the other hand, others believe that spirituality is part of a person’s life and, to a greater extent, may influence their behavior and decisions in the workplace. If the latter perspective is embraced, it raises further questions on religious values and beliefs that company leaders should adopt to accommodate the spiritual diversity in the organization. While religious beliefs vary from one employee to another, it is indisputable that a Christian CEO of a secular entity can set an ethical tone for a company without compromising scriptural principles and offending diverse beliefs because religious ethics complement principles and both have similar approaches to ethics.
Whether from a religious or general perspective, ethics are intertwined, implying that a Christian CEO can implement them without offending employees with diverse religious beliefs or compromising their scriptural principles. Christian ethics draw from the biblical teachings of Christ and Apostles to determine what is morally wrong or right (Mele & Fontrodona, 2017). On the other hand, business ethics is viewed from a lens of what is ethically right or wrong in business situations (Crane, 2019). As is evident from both descriptions, the religious and worldview of ethics address what is morally wrong or right. For example, respect for human dignity is an ethic promoted in all religious contexts and businesses. This example substantiates that a Christian CEO can set an ethical tone acceptable in the industry and spiritual environment because what is morally acceptable biblically is likely to be accepted in the business context too.
Moreover, a CEO can set an ethical tone without compromising scriptural principles and offending the diverse religious beliefs of thousands of employees because biblical ethics complement what is morally acceptable in business. For example, regardless of their religious orientation, all employees are expected to comply with some business ethics, such as respect for human dignity, which does not clash with personal values that people may hold towards humanity. On the other hand, biblical scriptures such as Matthew 6:24 state that “ye cannot serve God and mammon” (KJB, 2017). When interpreted, this scripture promotes the ethic of advancing human dignity and serving higher human needs rather than pejorating business vision (Mele & Fontrodona, 2017). When analyzed closely, the biblical perspective of human dignity reinforces business ethics. Therefore, if a Christian CEO chooses to borrow ethics from biblical perspectives and use them to set an ethical tone in business, they would only complement rather than conflict with what is generally acceptable in the business environment.
Furthermore, the biblical and business approaches to ethics are similar, which implies that a Christina leader can implement an ethical tone without violating people’s religious beliefs. Notably, both Christians and businesses scrutinize ethics based on command, consequences, and character. On the one hand, enterprises determine what is morally right by evaluating what the corporate rules say, the results of their actions, and how they wish to become or be perceived by customers. Similarly, biblical ethics are determined by what the bible says, the consequences of specific actions as outlined in the scriptures, and the type of person one wishes to become. A similar biblical and business approach to ethics implies that one can implement ethics in an organization without compromising the other.
In summary, because general and religious ethics have similar approaches to ethics and complement each other, a Christian CEO can set an ethical tone for his firm without compromising scriptural principles and offending diverse beliefs. This premise implies that the leader can draw ethics from a biblical lens and formulate business ethics. Similarly, business ethics set in a firm cannot violate diverse religious beliefs because the former complement workplace ethics.
References
Crane, A. (2019). Business ethics managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Johanneshov: Mtm.
King James Bible (2017). King James Bible Online. Retrieved from https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-6/#24
Lawrence, A. T., & Weber, J. (2020). Business and society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy. New York, Ny: McGraw-Hill Education.
Melé, D., & Fontrodona, J. (2016). Christian ethics and spirituality in leading business organizations: Editorial introduction. Journal of Business Ethics, 145(4), 671–679. doi:10.1007/s10551-016-3323-3
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