Over the course of my life in the working world, I have been blessed to work in both secular and sacred settings. I use the term “blessed” intentionally. I will admit that there have been seasons when I did not feel particularly blessed, but, in retrospect, I can honestly say that even the more challenging times were very educational.
I could write volumes about the things I have learned, but I want to focus on one specific area. I want to share how, even in the most secular settings, I have seen biblical principles implemented.
In the secular settings, these biblical principles were not always recognized as such. In fact, rarely were they recognized at all. Yet they were implemented – many times as if the person putting things in motion had full cognizance of the source.
On occasion, the implementation of biblical principles made me smile. Mostly because the person implementing them was thoroughly secular – on occasion even atheistic – in his/her management theories. What made me smile even more was when the principles were implemented effectively resulting in success!
I have the opportunity, in the form of this book, to share how biblical principles are applied successfully in both secular and sacred settings.
My thesis is that biblical principles apply in all of creation. We, as Christians know that fact – at lease we should. But I am not always convinced that church folk believe that the secular should intersect with the sacred.
For example, many say that politics and religion do not mix. Separation of church and state is, ironically, sacred to many a political scientist, and to many in the church. In fact, this separation is a creation of humanity – politicians, in particular.
In fact, politics and religion do mix, every day, on Capital Hill, Washington and across the USA and around the world. Our faith intersects with our lives on a daily basis – and it should.
So, I posit, the principles I discuss in the following pages are relevant for every day. As people of faith, we are all members of this sacred “corporation.” And, as members of the corporation, we are charged with being active, productive members of the team which is responsible for the products created in the corporation.
Successful business plans in today’s world focus on mission, vision, strategies and tactics. While considered a secular pattern for effective strategic planning, the scriptures reveal that God had a mission, vision, strategy and tactics in his plan for creation.