READ VAN DUZER'S BOOK

Van Duzer's book

Van Duzer's book

Van Duzer's book is centered on business while being bathed in theology that follows a classic creation, fall, redemption, and consummation formula. The first chapter discusses creation and life for Adam in Eve before the fall. The reader is reminded that creation was declared “good” by God and that the material world matters to God. It is stressed that humans are made in the image of God and that work was part of life in the garden. The author concludes from the first three chapters of Genesis that business has two roles in this world: (1) “To provide the community with goods and services that will enable it to flourish”and (2) “to provide opportunities for meaningful work that will allow employees to express their God-given creativity”. Chapter 2 presents the entrance of sin into the world.

A common list of troubling business issues are covered (environmental damage, wealth inequality, advertising to minors), along with the story of the fall's consequences for work. The chapter concludes that the market system was something that developed after the fall. Market systems primarily function as a rationing device amidst scarcity. Since abundance was the rule in the Garden of Eden, there would have been no need for a market economy. The author next skips to the end of the story where God restores humanity and the world in a New Jerusalem. God never intended the Garden of Eden to be static. His desire is for humans to innovate and build in an expression of God's own creativity.

The author connects the current role that work and business play with the future coming of the New Jerusalem. Christians tend to be in one of three camps: agnosticism, annihilation, and adoption. These three views are presented and a conclusion is drawn that some form of adoption is probably representative of God's perspective. Thus, part of our work will contribute in some way to the Kingdom of God. With this in mind, the role of business through the Christian end-time lens should be to serve.

Van Duzer next presents Richard Niebuhr's typology concerning culture and Christ andthe role institutions play in God's plan. Five positions are presented, but there is not a clear 109 conclusion on which is most favorable for business. The author does believe that Christians ought to engage the world, but realizes there is tension about how best to do this. The key is that Christians are called to work for redemption and reconciliation. Much of the remainder of the book deals with issues of profits. Business practitioners and academics are keenly aware that maximization of shareholder wealth is the primary goal of financial management.

Many believe strongly that there is not another goal superseding this duty of financial officers in the corporate setting. Milton Friedman is famous for stating that all members of society should seek to maximize their financial return since it is in everyone's best interest to have a productive ...