Is Jesus Bad for Business?

I actually thought of this while having my quite time and reading the Bible, but I want to start with something I saw on Facebook.

SAY IT, OR ELSE!


The American Family Association (http://www.afa.net/) has published a "Naughty or Nice" list of retailers that will, or will not acknowledge "Christmas", instead of Holidays, Seasons Greetings, etc.  I am not against boycotts, per se.  If a retailer openly mocked Christians, or God, etc., by all means I would avoid spending money to support their retail efforts; however, I have a number of concerns about this type of boycott.

1. What do we accomplish by holding secular companies hostage financially, because they refuse to use the word "Christmas"?  Do they all of a sudden repent of their sins and believe in the Christ, because they were forced to say certain words?  I do not want to be overly dramatic, but how does this differ from what the Catholic church has done throughout history?  When people who read the Gospels for themselves, understood who Jesus is differently that what the Catholics taught, they were subject to physical torture, until they recanted or died.  "Confess!  Confess!".  Many people have "confessed" what the torturer required of them, just to make the torture stop.  Rather than a true confession, coming from the heart, people may, and do say whatever the torturer requires to relent.
2. Does forcing a company to say "Merry Christmas" convey that they now how some sort of peace with God?  I mean, the Christians are now happy with what I'm doing, so I must be okay!  Is that all that is required for peace with God?
3. Does it help Christians in any real way, when a retailer uses the word "Christmas", in order to sell you more stuff?  

What is wrong with a lost world acting like a lost world (1 Cor. 5:12 )?  Why do we expect anything different?  Is forcing a secular retailer to say "Merry Christmas" a form or function of the Great Commission?   I think by forcing retailers to acknowledge Christmas, we force them to be false prophets, because it makes us feel better about commercializing Jesus.   As the Apostle Peter warns us that false prophets will tell people what they want to hear, so they can "make merchandise" of them, as the KJV says.

^{(2 Peter 2:2-3  NASB)} Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; ....

"Merry Christmas" Christians are saying "Lie to us!  Lie to us!", so they feel better about what they are doing. In this situation, Jesus is "Good for business", because it externally placates Christians to spend their money.

This battle becomes more about us and less about Jesus.  Saying "Merry Christmas" makes us feel better, but it does little to exalt the King of Kings.


JESUS IS HURTING MY BUSINESS!

There are examples in the Bible, where the real Jesus and business' have come in contact.  These have resulted in a detriment to the business.

When Jesus heals the  man who was possessed by many demons near the tombs at Gadarenes, He made them go into swine.  The swine ran down off a cliff and drowned.  ( Mark 5:1-17 ).  The people who were responsible to feed those swine ran to tell people in the city and country what Jesus had done (v.14).  After they came and saw the result of His miracle, they did not ask Jesus how He did it.  They did not stop to consider His Creative power to perform this act that revealed His Sovereignty.  Instead, they asked Him to leave (v.15).  Why?  He was bad for business.  Who's pigs are they going to feed now??!?  They're out of a job!

Another example is in Acts 19:23-41   Demetrius was a silversmith who made silver shrines for a goddess they worshiped in Ephesus.  He gathered other craftsmen together and began to plot against the Apostle Paul.  Why?  Because Paul's preaching was hurting their business (vv.24-25, 27).  Paul was preaching that there was no such thing as a god made with man's hands.  You can see how that would be bad business who made a great deal of money by making statues and shrines for such a god.


CONCLUSION:


We cannot accomplish a spiritual renewal, by forcing a person to say something, whether that is "Merry Christmas", or repeating a "sinner's prayer".  This can only be accomplished by God renewing a heart.  Only God can save. It is not our responsibility to dress up this world, so it is more in line with what we think it should be.  It is our responsibility to teach who Jesus is and to humbly follow Him.  By that, others will gain a better understanding and see the effect of what it means that Jesus was born in the flesh.

Second, we (self-included) must be mindful of how we use our faith in business.  We must examine our motives for saying "I'm a Christian!".  Even in telling some of my customers I will be out of town for a week, because I'm going on a mission trip.  What is my motive for that?  What about thanking God for the weather, before a race that we put on?  What is my motive for that?  Am I seeking to "make merchandise" of my customers?  Every thought and motive must be held captive to His Lordship.  He should be exalted by everything we claim to do in His name (2 Cor. 10:5 ).

 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.  (1 Cor. 10:31-33)