In his book, Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures, Darrow Miller speaks of a kind of faith that can transform individuals, families, communities, indeed entire nations. It may also be called entrepreneurial faith.
Miller quotes the book of Hebrews concerning Abraham and the practice of faith:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God … These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:8–10, 13)
Miller adds:
Faith sees God’s good intentions for men and women, families, communities, nations, and the world. Where the land is barren it sees a garden. Where there is filth it recognizes the dignity of man in God’s image and builds a latrine. Where there are bare walls it sees beauty and paints a picture. When it dreams of distant lands it builds a ship and sails there…In contrast, people in poverty are dominate by fear. They have a gut-level understanding of Jesus’ words of warning that “to him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Unfortunately, this is how most people throughout history have lived.[1]
Consider the chart at right from Miller: The comparison of language is stark. The Bible gives man the language of faith, hope, responsibility, development (while respecting the past). Fatalism, a perspective commonly found in Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and tribal societies is diametrically opposed. In the rest of his book, Miller compares the biblical worldview with the secular and animistic worldviews. He demonstrates how only Christianity offers a sure foundation for the “development ethic.” Only Christianity’s God gives man this kind of rational basis for responsibility and divine stewardship in a transcendent story.
Some observations:
- Entrepreneurs have a mindset of faith—the antithesis of fatalism, which is a mindset which keeps people in poverty and oppression in many nations the world over.
- Entrepreneurs have a unique calling in this world to develop, innovate, create jobs and wealth—in short, to transform the world.
- Christian entrepreneurs have a corresponding calling to use their skills on mission with God. Could it be that Christian entrepreneurs have a very special role in helping to bring the life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the world?
- Because so much of Christian mission is about transformation, entrepreneurs and leaders who recognize their destiny in God’s Story have an unusually significant role to play in helping change the world for the joy of all peoples (Matthew 28:18–20).
- Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs and professionals who are followers of Jesus Christ are marginalized in the world Christian movement. This must be remedied! I believe there are a huge number of Christian entrepreneurs who have so much to offer but are on the sidelines of the greatest enterprise on the earth.
Are you a Christian and an entrepreneur? Would you like to use your skills—your entrepreneurial faith—to help change the world? You can do this through a learning journey we’ve developed called The Beauty of Partnership. It is designed specially for entrepreneurial leaders. For more information contact me, Werner Mischke, at werner@mission1.org.
