Biblical Principles

The philosophy of Christ@Work flows out of the wealth of biblical understanding of how the marketplace can function with Jesus Christ as Lord. The following basic scriptural principles serve as the foundation on which we believe every Christian CEO/Owner/Executive needs to build his or her company.

• The Priesthood of the Believer,
  
• No sacred secular split in living out the Christian faith,
  
• Eternal values always take precedence over temporal values,
  
• A Christian company is not necessarily better than a non-Christian company, it must be different,
  
• Christians are stewards not owners.
  

THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER
All believers are identified in scripture as "a royal priesthood," "ministers of our God," "a holy priesthood," "a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father," and "priests of God and of Christ." At FCCI we believe that the CEO/Owner has a special call as a "believer priest" to serve God in and through their company.

• "…a kingdom of Priests, and a holy nation…" (Exodus 19:6)
  
• "…priests of the Lord…ministers of our God…" (Isaiah 61:6)
  
• "…a holy priesthood…a royal priesthood…belonging to God…" (1 Peter 2:5,9)
  
• "…a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father…" (Revelation 1:6)
  
• "…priests of God and of Christ…" (Revelation 20:6)
  

FOR THE BELIEVER, THERE CAN BE NO SACRED/SECULAR SPLIT IN LIVING OUT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Mixing religion and business DOES work. In fact, for a Christian there is no difference between the sacred and the secular. We are called to be the same person wherever we are, at home, in the church, in our businesses. "It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is WHY he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act." (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.)

• "…do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "yes, yes" and "No, no"?…our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." (2 Corinthians 1:17-18)
  
• "No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)
  
• "…Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:1-17)
  
• "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:6-7)
  

ETERNAL VALUES ALWAYS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER TEMPORAL VALUES
Believers are called to live within the KINGDOM mentality expressed by our Lord in Matthew 6:33. This perspective must directly influence our perspective on all life issues.

• "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
  
• "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…" (Matthew 6:19-20)
  
• "…set your hearts on things above…set your minds on things above...not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:1-2)
  
• "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…" (Philippians 2:5)
  

A CHRISTIAN COMPANY IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER THAN A NON-CHRISTIAN COMPANY, IT MUST BE DIFFERENT
All human measurements are faulty. The scripture teaches us to avoid comparing ourselves with others. Paul specifically refers to this process as unwise and foolish. Biblical evaluation begins with God who evaluates all Christians on the basis of fruit produced in and through their lives by the Spirit.

• "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)
  
• "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)
  
• "By their fruit you will recognize them…" (Matthew 7:16)
  
• "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self control…" (Galatians 5:22)
  
• "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else…" (Galatians 6:4)
  

CHRISTIANS ARE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS
As stewards of all that God has created, our role is defined as SERVANT. Servant leaders serve Christ in everything they do. A business should be considered a gift from God to be used as a platform for sharing Christ. Because we are called to work in all areas of our life "as if we were working for Jesus" our businesses should reflect the fact that we are willing to attribute all glory and honor to God.