How should Christianity mix with commerce?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:08 pm by Richard Ostling

How should Christianity mix with commerce? 2015-03-13T22:08:03-04:00 Richard Ostling

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

MICHAEL-ANN ASKS:

Businesses like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A overtly follow Christian principles and thus promote Christianity. Is it profitable for them to have this ‘brand,’ or do you think the CEOs have some deeper evangelical goal?

THE RELIGION GUY ANSWERS:

These two remarkable corporations are the largest in the U.S. that operate on an explicitly “Christian” basis, and both have been in the news lately.

The Hobby Lobby craft store chain won U.S. Supreme Court approval June 30 of the religious right to avoid the new federal mandate to fund certain birth control methods the owners consider tantamount to abortion.

September 8 brought the death of S. Truett Cathy, billionaire founder of the Chick-fil-A fast-food empire. His “New York Times” obituary said that to some he was “a symbol of intolerance” and “hate.” Such journalistic labeling stemmed from Cathy’s son and successor Dan criticizing same-sex marriage on biblical grounds in 2012. Afterward, the firm cut donations to groups that back traditional marriage. No-one claimed Chick-fil-A discriminates against gays in hiring or customer service.

With both companies, Christian commitment is accompanied by prosperity, and the question suggests their religious image may be calculated for “profitable” advantage. But The Guy concludes that the companies’ unique cultures result only from evangelical Protestant convictions. Both firms surrender huge revenues by closing all stores on Sundays, and give away sizable profits to charity. As privately-held family operations they’re free to do such things with no need to appease public stockholders. No question the self-conscious Christian stance gives these firms a special responsibility to uphold ethical business practices and by most accounts they do so.

Truett Cathy, a devout Georgia Baptist who taught 8th grade Sunday School for 52 years, was named for George W. Truett, a venerable pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas. Cathy opened a small restaurant following U.S. Army service in World War Two. He launched his first chicken outlet in 1967 and the company has posted sales gains each year since. It counted 500 restaurants by 1983 and 1,000 by 2001. In 2012 Chick-fil-A bypassed KFC to become America’s top chicken chain in sales.

Cathy always practiced Sunday closing, a somewhat common practice when he instituted it in 1946 but rare today. The company explains that all its employees “should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so. … It’s part of our recipe for success.”

A 1982 plaque at Atlanta headquarters proclaims the firm’s purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” Optional devotions are held at the building each Monday. Chick-fil-A has donated some $68 million to 700 charities. In 1973 the firm started giving employees college scholarships, for a total of $32 million to date. Its WinShape Foundation aids youths and families through 13 foster care homes, camps, and marriage retreats. Chick-fil-A also gives medical grants and its people often turn up with free food during emergencies.

Hobby Lobby’s similar self-definition says “we value our customers and employees and are committed to honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles.” It adds, “We believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured.”

The Oklahoma City-based firm was founded in 1972 by David Green, part of a noted Pentecostal clan and the son of a Church of God of Prophecy pastor, though his son and company president Steve is Baptist. Revenues from its 640 stores are in the $3 billion range. The growing company donates 10 percent of profits to charity, and pays a minimum wage of $15 an hour compared with the federal minimum of $7.25.

In the 1990s the Green family began a new focus on Christian outreach through the company, buying full-page newspaper ads to celebrate Easter and Christmas with toll-free numbers for spiritual help, distributing 380 million copies of its “Book of Hope” to present biblical teaching, and purchasing $200 million worth of properties for churches and other non-profits. Hobby Lobby supports a 640-bed homeless shelter, promotes Bible study in public schools, and in 2017 will open a museum near the U.S. Capitol for the Greens’ impressive collection of historic biblical texts and artifacts.

Numerous smaller firms also conspicuously apply religious ideals. On The Guy’s own northern New Jersey turf we find the unusual Atlantic Stewardship Bank, which states that it “stands on solid Christian principles.” The bank’s 13 area branches have $674 million in assets. Devout business executives created the bank in 1985 with the purpose of donating 10 percent of profits to Christian and community non-profits. The firm has given out $8 million to date and does well by doing good, prospering in bottom-line terms. Something more businesses might emulate?

Chick-fil-A site: www.chick-fil-a.com

Hobby Lobby site: www.hobbylobby.com

Washington Post on Greens’ Bible museum: www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/hobby-lobbys-steve-green-has-big-plans-for-his-bible-museum-in-washington/2014/09/11/52e20444-1410-11e4-8936-26932bcfd6ed_story.html

N.J. bank’s tithing plan: www.asbnow.com/home/about/tithing

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 7, 2014

Do people who take their own lives go to Hell?

Next Post

September 20, 2014 What religious stuff provoked interest the past 22 months?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian holiday celebrates Jesus’ birth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Easter Pentecost Good Friday Christmas