Christian Ethics BA 616 Business Ethics Definition of Christian Ethics A system of values based upon the Judeo/Christian Scriptures Principles of behavior in concordance with the behaviors of Christian teachings Standards of thought and behavior as taught by Jesus. Discussion What are some of the “ethical” attributes presented in the teachings of Jesus? What are some ethical attributes presented in the teachings of other religious persons? Quotes about Christian Ethics Quotes on Christian Ethics Recognize the value of work “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:22). Do not give the poor the food, rather allow the poor to work for themselves Discussion What are examples of the value of work? Today, some U.S. state governors are trying to get those “able bodied” individuals to work for welfare. They are meeting great resistance politically, why do you think this is? The value of work Confirmed by Elton Mayo Fulfills social, psychological and economic needs of the individual “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) Christian Ethics The fruit of a people that have inwardly committed their lives to Christ and are outwardly aligning their actions with His teachings. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalms. 90:17). Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics Welcome accountability Happy to show their efforts A system of checks and balances Sees possible training moment Fosters collaboration with management “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense” (Proverbs 12:11) Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics Not motivated by greed Work is its own reward Measure success in a non-monetary way Seek payment for the work they do Money is second to obedience “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics Are highly productive Are work focused Work hard throughout the day Find value in completing assigned tasks Understand that they are there to work “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24). Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics Have a strong work ethic Believe in a Biblical perspective of work Reliable Recognize the value of work Relate their job to their faith “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23) Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics Bring a cooperative spirit to the workplace Supportive of management Strong contribu.

1. Christian Ethics
BA 616 Business Ethics
Definition of Christian Ethics
A system of values based upon the Judeo/Christian Scriptures
Principles of behavior in concordance with the behaviors of
Christian teachings
Standards of thought and behavior as taught by Jesus.
Discussion
What are some of the “ethical” attributes presented in the
teachings of Jesus?
What are some ethical attributes presented in the teachings of
other religious persons?

2. Quotes about Christian Ethics
Quotes on Christian Ethics
Recognize the value of work
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap
your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the
gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor
and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus
23:22).
Do not give the poor the food, rather allow the poor to work for
themselves

3. Discussion
What are examples of the value of work?
Today, some U.S. state governors are trying to get those “able
bodied” individuals to work for welfare. They are meeting great
resistance politically, why do you think this is?
The value of work
Confirmed by Elton Mayo
Fulfills social, psychological and economic needs of the
individual
“If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians
3:10)
Christian Ethics
The fruit of a people that have inwardly committed their lives to
Christ and are outwardly aligning their actions with His
teachings.
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the

4. work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our
hands” (Psalms. 90:17).
Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Welcome accountability
Happy to show their efforts
A system of checks and balances
Sees possible training moment
Fosters collaboration with management
“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those
who chase fantasies have no sense” (Proverbs 12:11)
Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Not motivated by greed
Work is its own reward
Measure success in a non-monetary way
Seek payment for the work they do
Money is second to obedience
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for
the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).

5. Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Are highly productive
Are work focused
Work hard throughout the day
Find value in completing assigned tasks
Understand that they are there to work
“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in
forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24).
Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Have a strong work ethic
Believe in a Biblical perspective of work
Reliable
Recognize the value of work
Relate their job to their faith
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to
poverty” (Proverbs 14:23)

6. Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Bring a cooperative spirit to the workplace
Supportive of management
Strong contributor to teams
Are kind to everyone in the workplace
Relates well to customers
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In
your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of
speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you
may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us”
(Titus 2:7-8).
Employees with a Christian Code of Ethics
Do not find their joy in temporal things
Understand that God wants them to work
They bring joy to the workplace, they do not seek to find joy in
the workplace
Flexible, easy to motivate
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish
your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

7. Benefits of a Christian Work Ethic
We should work cheerfully, without complaint because we are
working for the Lord.
A good work ethic can also be a witness to others
The world takes notice of our efforts and wonders why we do
what we do.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is
in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
A Christian Work Ethic is not
A license to be a workaholic.
We do not work merely to amass worldly wealth.
We also do not work ourselves into the ground or to the extent
that our health is damaged or our families suffer.
“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal” (Matthew 6:20)

8. The Protestant Work Ethic
A sociological theory, stating the value attached to hard work,
thrift, and efficiency in one’s worldly calling, which, especially
in the Calvinist view, were deemed signs of an individual’s
election, or eternal salvation.
Components of The Protestant Work Ethic
All men must work, even the rich, because to work is God’s
will.
It was the duty of men to serve as God's instruments here on
earth, to reshape the world in the fashion of the Kingdom of
God.
Men were not to lust after wealth, but were to reinvest the
profits of their labor into financing further ventures.
Earnings were to be reinvested over and over again.
Seek unlimited profits is good
Major forces in the Protestant Work Ethic – John Calvin
1509-1564
Born in France, lived throughout Europe

9. Studied for the priesthood, but dropped out
Developed the Calvinist branch of Protestant Church
Credited with developing the Protestant Work Ethic
Major forces in the Protestant Work Ethic - Max Weber
German sociologist Max Weber, in The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism (1904–05), held that the Protestant ethic
was an important factor in the economic success of Protestant
groups in the early stages of European capitalism; because
worldly success could be interpreted as a sign of eternal
salvation, it was vigorously pursued
Discussion
Do you believe the Protestant Work Ethic is still valid today?
What is your opinion of the Protestant Work Ethic
BA 616 Business Ethics
Why do people behave unethically ?

10. Why do people behave unethically?
There are basically 3 reasons why people deliberately behave
unethically.
Greed
Ego
Misguided thinking
This discussion does not include inadvertent unethical behavior
such as not knowing the local customs or laws
Greed
The number one cause of unethical behavior
Greed can be personal or corporate
An excessive desire for more of something than is needed for
survival
Money
Power
Position
Money Quotes
“I will tell you the secret to getting rich on Wall Street. You try

11. to be greedy when others are fearful. And you try to be fearful
when others are greedy. --Warren Buffett
“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a
man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it
makes one”. --Benjamin Franklin
Discussion
Talk about the 2 previous quotes
Quotes on Greed
“If your conduct is determined solely by considerations of profit
you will arouse great resentment.”― Confucius
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you
feed it is never enough.” ― Janwillem van de Wetering
“A house built on greed cannot long endure.”
― Edward Abbey
Discussion
Discuss all 3 quotes on the previous slide

12. Ego
Can be defined as:
The “I” or self of any person
A person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing
itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
Self esteem
Self worth
The Modern Age
Now, more than ever we live is a self-centered world.
People are taught to bolster their ego
Children are indoctrinated in self-esteem will help them
succeed, but reality is the opposite
Self-help and self focused programs are all the rage
Ego in action
In reality life is not about ego, but of giving and sacrifice
“He who has found his life will loose it, and he who has lost his
life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39)

13. Egotism
A person’s sense of self worth
Often become so blinded by ego they cannot see the reality of
the situation
Have a deep seeded need to be in the “spotlight”
Egotists
Prideful
Hateful
Quick to anger
Arrogant
Slow to praise others
Seek to blame others for problems
Ego
Fuels competition
Win/Lose mentality
I need to be perceived as better than everyone else
Win at any cost

14. Cheating is justified
Discussion
Is win at any cost really bad?
The ends justifies the means
Misguided Thinking
When you commit unethical behavior following a “cause” you
think is just
Nazi Germany
Charles Manson
Joseph Kony (The Lord’s Resistance Army)
Discuss
The misguided thinking of Charles Manson’s followers