How Should a Christian Businessperson Respond to the Election?

by Dave Kahle

The recent election may have set the record for the amount of emotional reaction it has generated.  It seems like everyone has an emotional response, from the dispirited folks who say they are leaving the country on one side, to those set on retribution on the other.  

     The depth and breadth of the emotional response presents Christian businesspeople with a unique opportunity. This reaction to the election represents a rate opportunity for Christians in the business world to impact the world.  It was Rahm Emmanual who was reported to have said, during the Obama administration, “Never let a good crises go to waste.”  That applies to Christian businesspeople as well. 

     First, realize that you are in a unique position. It is a world where many of the things we trusted have flittered away that trust to the call of politics:  No one trusts the media, government agencies appear to be purely political, and many universities seem to have lost their purpose.

     But business has been immune to that trading of trust for political advantages.  The Edelman Trust Barometer recently released its 2023 report.  Based on interviews with 32,000 people across 28 countries, it found that people trusted business more than the media, government and NGOs.

     According to author Dave Samson, “According to this year’s Trust findings, business remains the only trusted institution at 62 percent. And business is now the sole institution that respondents perceive as both ethical and competent …” In other words, in a world where we no longer trust people and institutions, we still view business, and business people, very positively. 

That puts you in an advantaged position.

     As a businessperson, you are more respected and viewed as more competent than your colleagues in other lines of work.  You are, therefore, in the view of most people, more influential. Not only do you have influence on those stake holders in your business – employees, vendors, customers, etc.  but you likely have greater influence on the community represented by all those people who come into contact with you and your stakeholders.

     So, what do you do with the responsibility that comes with this gift of respect and trust?

     Take it up a notch.  Begin with prayer, asking God to show you how and what you can do to make a greater impact in these uncertain times.

     You have always been a model for the folks in your sphere of influence.  Now, with prayer and intentionality, decide to more visibly model what it means to be a Christian in uncertain times.

Demonstrate peacefulness. While peace is noticeably lacking in the secular world, the people around you can sense... CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE