Enterprising Spirituality
Introduction
“Grace is always surprising.” Who anticipated that the 18th century Evangelical revival would happen outside of churches, or that the Pentecostal revival of last century would begin with a one-eyed black preacher? We shouldn’t imagine that the next major move of God in our midst will flow from prestigious churches (Eph 3:20). On area in particular where I see the Lord moving to stir my spirit is in the marketplace. I was reading a magazine devoted to the Church and mental health and came across an article describing the setting up of a luxury medical centre in Brisbane, The Banyans. This establishment is largely run by Christians, but the part that touched me most was their foundational purposes incorporate the passing on of significant profits to a struggling Christian rehab serving the most miserable members of society. Fresh Start here in Perth. This arrangement might normally be called a “social enterprise” Broadly speaking, a “social enterprise” is a good works business venture that generously helps the broader social good of a community. What I am calling a “spiritual enterprise” has at its core goal the manifestation of the life of Jesus. Which is the greatest holistic good that can happen to any society! The shape of these sorts of enterprise carries a powerful revelation for the Church and the world because it corresponds to the divine structure upholding creation (Heb 1:3).
The Pattern of Creation
People just know, especially young people, that there’s something wrong with the way we are shaping the world. A photo on the front page of the site, Extinction Rebellion, shows a teenager holding up a placard with “Paradise Lost” on it. This is grievously true, for when God created the world, he gave humanity glorious gifts whose multiplication would have made the physical and social deprivation we see across the planet today impossible (Gen1:26-28). Sin sustains such scarcities in human life not merely through individual acts of selfishness but through corporate distortions of the original divine pattern. The profit motive is seemingly ineradicably embedded in every human heart. People of faith can see beyond such bleakness, providing we allow the scriptures to correct the lens of our warped thinking.
Most Christians think of the coming of Jesus as a strategy to repair an emergency. God created all things good, sin entered the world, so the back-up plan was to send Jesus. This is a degrading way of thinking of the wisdom and majesty of God. In scripture, Christ is the one and only plan God ever had. Jesus is, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev13:8) of whom Adam was only a “pattern” (Rom 5 verse 14) of the coming Lord and Eden a mere shadow of the Lamb’s city of God (Rev 21-22). The absolute priority of Jesus for divine and human thinking (1 Cor 2:16) means voluntary risk and suffering for others is woven into the fabric of God’s way of ordering the universe.
Start with the End
People usually start a career path, or a business, with the aim of making a profit, and work to that end. Even most social enterprises retain the profit goal, then when this is achieved sift out some of the proceeds for others as an act of charity. Even where this appears necessary in a Fallen world it is not the way of God’s heart. The Father created the universe with our blessing in mind knowing how much it would cost him to get us to heaven. Therefore, genuine spiritual enterprises from their beginning will be focussed on the goal of giving to others. Even if to survive in this world it will be necessary to retain some of the fruits of their labours. This way to live is strong medicine. Godly friends told me I was “crazy” for taking a certain direction and that it would all be too hard for me and the household. These proved to be signs that I was actually in the will of God. A spiritually enterprising business will involve steps of faith that appear foolhardy to the purely commercially minded. I am not advocating principles, not even “kingdom principles”, but articulating the pattern of the life of Christ.
Being Buried Alive
Jesus described the divine necessity of the upcoming shape of his own life, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24). When he became the grain lying in the dark tomb out of the sight of all ordinary eyes no one believed his life would be multiplied amongst the nations through resurrection. But limitless sacrifice birthed limitless new life. So it has been wisely said of all the ways of God in us, “There is the birth of a vision, the death of a vision and the resurrection of a vision.” The film “Faith Like Potatoes” tells the story of South African farmer Angus Buchan, who against all local advice plants potatoes into the dry ground and in face of economic massive risk trusts God. Since potatoes are an underground crop, it is only at harvest with a yield of giant spuds that Buchan’s faith is vindicated. All enterprise, of any sort, for God must go through dark tunnels to emerge into resurrection light. Aussie believers seem to find this very hard.
Take the Risk
Like the unbelieving servant in the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30), most Christians are too cautious and fearful to fully release the gifts God has given them for multiplication to expand his kingdom. We bury our talents in the risk-free environment of a local church or safe job, so the dazzling light of Christ remains hidden (Matt 5:14-16). I am preaching a challenge not only for business but for the pattern of life itself. When we do take Spirit led steps of faith to release spiritual capital into humanly predictable areas of likely loss, we are promised kingdom multiplication that is truly supernatural (Mark 4:27).
Conclusion
Is your first thought in going forward with God daily, giving or getting? Do you ask the Lord what is most important to him, then with his grace enact it? In Christ we know giving not getting is the substance of life and all things (Luke 12:15). But the consumer culture is suffocating the Spirit, even in the average local church where we “tithe to ourselves”. I.e. most Christian giving supports ministries that minister to the giver! It may be that the next spiritual reformation will begin with marketplace apostle-entrepreneurs willing to risk everything to bring hope and healing to those who don’t yet know Jesus. Since the foundation and goal of all spiritual enterprise is this sort of unconditional love such ventures are one with the fabric of the universe and irrefutably reveal God’s character in Christ. May we by God’s grace see more and more of them.