Reformation Ministries International Corp

Historical perspective - More from Mats Tunehag

"The BAM concept is holistic in nature, believing that God has the power to transform people and communities; spiritually, economically and socially. The dichotomy between sacred and secular is not Biblical, but this false dichotomy has deeply affected our views on work, business, church and missions. BAM is a part of a wider global movement, recognizing and responding to God's call to take the whole gospel to the whole man in the whole world.

"During its first 400 years of existence the Church grew to become a major influence in the world, thanks in part to people who lived their faith in the market-place. Lydia was a businesswoman who lived out her faith by sharing the Good News (Acts 16.15). It is highly likely that Christian business people in the early church travelled to new lands to ply their trades and introduced the Gospel to other people.

Current reality

"The church and its mission work still suffer from the self-imposed dichotomy between spiritual and secular, and the distinction made between clerical and lay ministries. God has called some people to start and run companies. Sometimes, Christians have denigrated them or held the view that their work is irredeemably secular or only vouchsafed them approval if they gave their money to spiritual works through the church or a mission agency. But in the same way that God calls and equips people to be bible translators or evangelists, he also calls and equips people to do business in order to serve him and other people. And the world needs these people ? in areas "where the name of Jesus is rarely heard" there is a desperate need of entrepreneurs.

"Unfortunately we often think and act as if there was a pyramid of Christ, instead of the Biblical concept Body of Christ. To be a pastor is often seen as a higher calling, a spiritual ministry, we even use the term "full time ministry". So if one really wants to serve God one should aim at climbing the pyramid, towards the "higher callings", to be involved in full time ministry. Thus business people are often viewed as not serving God, but rather dealing with Mammon. But absolution can be granted if money is given to the church and to missions.

Pyramid of Christ

"This is of course a non-biblical view, but nevertheless it is very common and permeates most churches on all continents. Business as Mission recognises the Body of Christ, that we all have different gifts and talents. We are to serve God and fellowmen in and through our work and through business.

"So Christians in business need to be affirmed and challenged: God has given them unique gifts, vocations and experiences to meet great needs and opportunities. Business as mission is a calling to be prized.

Jesus constantly met physical needs

We are to "mirror" Jesus' life and mission, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20.21). It is a mission in which evangelism and social responsibility go hand in hand. God is concerned about us as human beings within our social and environmental contexts. Jesus' ministry is clearly one of both preaching and demonstrating God's Kingdom (Isaiah 58.6-7; Luke 7.22).

"Most people who came to Jesus did so with emotional, physical and social needs, and Jesus constantly and consistently met such needs. Nicodemus, an intellectual who had "spiritual" questions, was the exception, not the rule. Importantly, Jesus never said to those who came to him with various needs, problems and questions: "You have the wrong need! Don't worry, after all it could be worse! Really, you should not bother about the blindness, hunger and injustice. Just pray!"

"Jesus even stated that healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for those with grief, etc, were a part of God's Kingdom being manifested. He even taught us to pray: May your Kingdom come. BAM is about being an answer to Christ's prayer - in and through business - that physical, social, emotional, economical and spiritual needs may be addressed and met." Mats Tunehag, Lausanne Senior Associate for Business as Mission.

What others are saying

"New leadership is needed in the 21st century, as we look at effective and holistic mission strategies. Business has historically been a key frontier in extending the Kingdom. The Lausanne think-tank has the potential of making a significant contribution to the churches rediscovery of empowering its business community to engage enthusiastically and proactively with its role in establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth!"

Stuart McGreevy, Chairman, Transformational Business Network, UK

"The use of business in global outreach is a strategy of choice for the context of the 21st century mission. People involved in entrepreneurial tentmaking, kingdom business, and transformational development through business, should partner with Mats Tunehag-a respected global mission leader-and his colleagues, as they are leading & organizing a Lausanne think tank on Business-as-Mission."

Ted Yamamori, Lausanne International Director and Senior Associate for Holistic Mission and Co-editor of On Kingdom Business: "Transforming Missions Through Entrepreneurial Strategies"