How Do We Define Success?

If our sole success criterion is church planting and growth, Rwanda was probably the ultimate success story in the history of church and missions. It went from 0 to approximately 90 percent of the population becoming members of various churches in about 100 years. But in the spring of 1994 about one million people were killed in just a few months. The Rwanda genocide was literally Christians killing Christians. Rwanda had people in church, but not church in people. The gospel had not transformed ethnic relations, politics and media.

These tragic events forced me to review how I think about missions and discipleship.  What is the mission of the church? How can we serve people and nations towards a holistic transformation, believing that God can transform individuals and communities, churches and nations? How can we disciple new believers so that their faith is seamlessly integrated into every aspect of their lives? What does it mean to be a Christian in the marketplace? How can we do business as mission, law as mission, education as mission, and city planning as mission? How can we serve God and the common good? What does it mean in practice and what are the lessons learned regarding seeking the Shalom and prosperity of cities and nations? (Jer. 29) How do we affirm, equip and deploy business people to exercise their gifts of wealth creation for the nations? (Deut. 8)

Businesses have proven to be strong holistic transformational agents, and they can lift people and nations out of poverty. Business can create different kinds of wealth: financial, social, spiritual, cultural, intellectual, etc. Business can also be a bridge builder, and bring healing and reconciliation – also across ethnic and religious borders.

But the life blood of business is investment - not donations. Therefore, we need to re-think our understanding of wealth, investments and deployment of capital. We can help businesses based on biblical principles to provide fair wage employment, provide education, health care and other social benefits to workers. Through their good practices they will earn the right to share their personal journey of faith.

20 years ago, we could not talk about a global missional business movement. Today – by the grace of God – we can. There are communities of Christians around the world who are talking about and facilitating redemptive business practices, and creating investments that capitalize great commission companies.

We need to be on a learning journey of Biblical truths on investing, work, justice, business, profit, and creating in community for community. May this lead to a reformation, as we also shape and reshape wealth management for God and the common good.