Business relationships with non-Christians

Christian Business

Doing Business with Non-Christians

The United States is a pluralist society, and anyone living in this country must be prepared to work with others who come from different backgrounds and have fundamentally different beliefs. This can set up questions for Christians who do not want to come into contact with those of other faiths. However, is this a reasonable, biblically centered belief? What does Scripture actually say about the propriety of doing business with members of other faiths?

The most direct advice that Christians have in this area comes from Paul in Corinthians. It is important to note that his advice to Christians does not forbid Christians to associate with others, something that many Christians do not realize. Indeed, he argues that it is certainly improbable and perhaps even absolutely impossible for Christians to avoid contact with non-Christians. This may be the case, he notes, even in the context of worship. Rather than forbidding non-Christians to worship with Christians, he advises Christians not to drive away those who might be well instructed by hearing God's word (1 Cor. 14:22-24).

Paul also addresses the question of whether it is acceptable for Christians to engage in business with non-Christians, the subject that is directly at issue here. Once again, he offers no blanket condemnation of such associations, arguing once again that it would be highly impractical if not absolutely impossible for Christians to avoid all business relations with non-Christians. However, he does urge Christians to consider very carefully how close a business relationship they should enter into with a non-Christian. One commentator offers the following summary of Paul's thinking on this issue: "Whereas I believe it is biblically permissible (necessary?) to do business with a non-Christian, entering into a legal partnership with one calls for discernment and caution" (Storms, 2008).

As to whether it makes a substantive difference whether a Christian enters into a partnership or a corporation with a non-Christian, Scripture does not offer a clear-cut answer to this. Paul advises in 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not equally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" This might legitimately be construed to mean that one should not enter into a business partnership because this implies a relationship of equality. However, it is equally valid to come to the conclusion that the equality that Paul is referring to here is a spiritual one. So long as a Christian does not try to engage on an equal level in spiritual matters with a non-Christian, then she or he can engage in matters of the world.