format) (Biblical reference and integration of scripture is a must) (Explain how specific scripture relates to the topic)
1. Discussion Board Post- Why Business Matters to God
View the following video and provide your comments.
(Original Content Only) (300 words for the post) (APA in-text citations are a must) (APA format) (Biblical reference and integration of scripture is a must) (Explain how specific scripture relates to the topic)
2. Discussion Board Post- What Not to Produce
Comment on the following statement: “A company should produce and sell any product as long as there is a market for it.”
Additional information:
“It [the wood] is man’s fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it” (Isaiah 44:1517, NIV).
“The facts about smoking…
Cigarettes cause cancer. Smoking is the number one cause of deaths due to lung cancer, emphysema, and other serious diseases.
For every person who dies of smoking-related illness, 20 more suffer from a chronic disease due to smoking.
Smoking doesnt just hurt you. Second-hand smoke from your cigarettes is a serious danger to your children, family, and friends” (www.ffsonline.org).
“Alcohol Facts: Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented, a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner or antiseptic; however the kind of alcohol that people drink is ethanol, which is a sedative. When alcohol is consumed, it’s absorbed into a person’s bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing”
(Original Content Only) (150 words per reply) (300 words total) (APA in-text citations are a must)
According to Milton Friedman, “Business has only one social responsibility to make profits (as long as it stays within the legal and moral rules of the game established by society). Few trends could so thoroughly undermine the very foundations of our society as the acceptance by corporate officials of a social responsibility other than to make as much money for their stockholders as possible.” Explain why you agree or disagree with such a statement.
1. I agree with the statement made by Milton Friedman within the strict contexts of society, as his assertion was made regarding the social responsibility of business as dictated by society. Society, absent of God, is motivated largely by self-interest, therefore, the direct translation of this idea to the scope of business is natural. The idea expanded upon in the statement is one established in partial by the ideas of John Locke, in that the law is a social contract to be upheld by members of society, its violators go against that upheld by society to then be punished by society. Therefore, man is free to pursue his self-interests within the social contracts established. It is possible self-interest that motivates man to uphold these social contracts, as there is a sense of responsibility for corporate impacts created (Graafland & Bovenberg, 2019). Assigning businessmen social responsibility aside from making money, strays the social requirements of general business, making business a part of the social realm and therefore, subject to different, additional rules.
2. Businesses are operated and function to provide a product or service to the market. When the product or service is seen as a value to the market, this allows for an increase in demand which further leads to an increase in profit. I agree that business possesses the responsibility to make a profit which is done by serving others first to continue an income and profit. The scripture provided in the additional information, Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Philippians 2:4) relates to Friedmans quote as there have been illegal acts and morally wrong occurrences in business for the business to gain an advantage. An example of this would be the Enron scandal where booking keeping and financing input were incorrectly stated to gain an advantage in their performance. EMBO reports states, But when examined critically, a rather different financial situation emerged, which was followed by a sharp dive in ENRONs share price and the ultimate collapse of the company (Gannon, 2022, pg. 805). The executives of this business were looking into their interests as opposed to making morally responsible decisions for others such as their shareholders. This is why there are laws set in place for businesses to abide by to be fair and moral. When markets are aware that a business makes illegal or morally wrong decisions, this causes a loss in demand which businesses ultimately want to avoid. Businesses are to make a profit off of their market by serving it with a true solution to its wants and needs. Laws such as The Federal Trade Commission Act are set in place so that businesses may not deceive their market to gain an advantage or profit. Scripture discusses the significance of serving others as it states, As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (1 Peter 4:10). When businesses are successful in their responsibility to serve, they will be successful in its ultimate responsibility to earn a profit.
Changing the contexts of this statement to the social responsibility of business as dictated by God, I then disagree, as this assertion fails to acknowledge the law and commands God has given to man. While still subject to the legal and moral rules of society, the ultimate authority is the law and commands God has given man when making decisions and determining practices. The fundamental motivation within this context also changes, as decisions are no longer determined by ultimately determined by mans self-interest, but rather by the interest of man to glorify God. This does not negate the responsibility of a business to make money, however, it does change the weight of this responsibility when defining the activity of a business. When the eternal God is in the business perspective, the duty of social responsibility becomes second to the Biblical responsibility God assigned to man. Under current social responsibility alone, business is not Biblical, and assigning its activities with the sole motivation of making money minimizes Gods intentions and ability.
References
Graafland, J., & Bovenberg, L. (2020). Government regulation, business leaders’ motivations and environmental performance of SMEs. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 63(8), 1335-1355. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.1663159Links to an external site.
620 DB Social Responsibilites of a Firm.docx
References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/Links to an external site.
Gannon F. (2002). Learning from ENRON. EMBO reports, 3(9), 805. https://doi.org/10.1093/embo-reports/kvf186Links to an external site.
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1. My week two discussion Board is on Mark 2: 1-12. Scholars in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have tended to read Gospels rather like Pauls Epistles. In the commendable quest for historical contextualization of a Gospel, they have adopted the model that a Gospel, like an epistle, is addressed to the specific needs of a particular Christian community, be it Rome (Mark), Antioch (a frequent choice for Matthew and Luke), or Ephesus (John). deSILVA 2018, 177). These two centuries has largely embraced this tradition and sought to read Mark specially as a word on target to the Roman churches in conjunction with the situation of persecution under Nergo (deSILVA 2018, 176) There is some internal evidence to confirm a setting in Rome ( or at least in the western part of the empire). First, while several of the Latinisms (Latin loan words) present in Mark are common to texts around the Mediterranean (even appearing in rabbinic writings emerging from Palestine), at two places Mark specifically explains a Greek term with a Latin one (deSILVA 2018, 178)
Mark 6: 6-13 (The Message)
The Pentateuch can be defined as the first five books in the Bible, but before this class, I had never heard of it. The Pentateuch includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Bible’s first five books have also been called the Book of the Law.
This text was about a lame man whose friends believed that Jesus could heal him. At last they found a way to get their friend before Jesus by opening the roof and letting him down by ropes attached to his bed. But Jesus didnt heal the mans lameness he forgave his sins ( Feazell, 2003). When Jesus forgave the man, the teachers of the law didnt like it, and with good reason. How could a mere man forgive sins, something that only God had authority to do? Jesus knew their thoughts, and he asked them a question, Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Get up, take your mat and walk?( Feazell, 2003)
Its a rhetorical question. Both statements would be impossible for anyone but God. If Jesus had authority to make the lame walk by merely uttering the word, then he also had authority to forgive sins, because the power to do either was in Gods domain, not mans. (Feazell, 2003)
The keywords/meanings that contribute to the overall message of Mark 2: 1-12 is Healing. Which means the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again (Oxford Dictionary). As a believer in Christ God, One of the most profound and meaningful aspects of our faith is the belief in the healing power of God.
how this passage can be applied to Christians and/or the church today by reminding them that our Faith moves the heart of God in our situations. Faith is not normally thought of as something one can physically see; what Jesus saw were clumps of dirt falling. The friends do not say a word in Marks account, but their faith is nonetheless evident, and Jesus chose to see the faith that motivated their actions.
Bibliography
deSILVA, David. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
2. During Jesus visit to his hometown, he was looked upon as a mere man, a carpenter, the son of Joseph and Mary. In short, Jesus was a regular guy in his hometown. This attitude of unbelief effectively kept Jesus from doing a more extensive ministry in Nazareth. Unfortunately, for the people of Nazareth, their familiarity with Jesus bred contempt. Fortunately, for us, Jesus left and went elsewhere to minister to those who would believe in his miracles and message (Mark 6:6-13).
Our world has tried to pass Jesus off as just another man, a good teacher, or a wise prophet. Anyone who focuses on Jesus humanity to the exclusion of his divinity, makes a grave mistake. If Jesus is not the Son of God, there is no hope for our redemption when we experience the joy of redemption. We naturally want to share the good news with others, yet we are not always well received. So, it was with the disciples who reported off and sent out to share the good news of the Messiah coming. They were told what to take, and what not to take, where to stay, and for how long, and what to do when rejected. DeSilva highlights Jesus and John the Baptist rejection early in Mark. In the face of rejection, they kept up the good work of preaching, repentance, deliverance, and healing as evidenced by examples of miracles and healings in subsequent chapters (DeSilva, 179). As we share these gifts experienced in our own lives, demonstrating mindfulness with the understanding not everyone will be responsive to the good news. When ridiculed and rejected, we can still press on to share our hope with others. Sharing our message may be the difference between life and death for someone in need (Mark 6: 6-13).
Keywords identified in the Gospel of Mark reflect perseverance and resilience when faced with adversity. Unbelief and contempt present barriers for non-believers lacking faith in our Gods omnipotence, however, God allows believers/non-believers the gift of free-will to make individual decisions. Minister, humanity, redemption, and the good news reflect glorious outcomes for individuals walking by faith and not by sight.
How can this passage be applied to Christians and/or church today? I feel by demonstrating acts of kindness and compassion toward others can make a big difference in another human beings life as evidenced by personal testimony. It is my belief that all individuals are going through something and we never know what that is unless we show concern for our neighbors.
Bibliography
David A. DeSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation. 2nd ed, 2018.
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Youve made your way through the Pentateuch now, and have developed a sense of the story that it conveys. In this exercise, take some time to reflect on how each of the books in the Pentateuch are connected to those adjacent to it by addressing the conclusion of one book and how it relates to the following book. So, for instance, discuss the ending of Genesis (chapter 50) and the beginning to Exodus (chapter 1). You may address broader themes, but you will need to pay specific attention precisely to the chapters where the two books meet. The exercise is an attempt to get us to think about connectivity from one book the next that goes beyond simple ordering.
1. Embarking on the labyrinthine journey through the Pentateuch, let us delve into the profound connectivity that knits together the sacred books of Genesis to Joshua. We are aware that Joshua is not a part of the Pentatuech, its role remains to be pivitol. Each transition, meticulously crafted, unfolds a narrative continuum that transcends mere historical progression, revealing the divine orchestration shaping the destiny of the Israelites.
Genesis to Exodus:
Genesis concludes with the story of Joseph and his family settling in Egypt. Exodus picks up with a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph, leading to the enslavement of the Israelites. The theme of migration and the fulfillment of God’s promise to make a great nation are evident.
Exodus to Leviticus:
Exodus ends with the completion of the construction of the Tabernacle. Leviticus immediately addresses the proper worship and offerings within the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of holiness and adherence to God’s commandments in their newfound sanctuary.
Leviticus to Numbers:
Leviticus concludes with a call to obedience and the blessings for keeping God’s commands. Numbers begins with the census of the Israelites and their organization for the journey to the promised land. The transition reflects the importance of obedience in their journey.
Numbers to Deuteronomy:
Numbers ends with the Israelites on the cusp of entering the promised land. Deuteronomy begins with a recapitulation of their journey, emphasizing the importance of remembering and following God’s laws as they prepare to cross the Jordan. The transition underscores the significance of faithful remembrance.
Deuteronomy to Joshua:
Deuteronomy concludes with the death of Moses. Joshua starts with the Israelites entering the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. The transition signifies a passing of the torch and the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham regarding the land.
These connections illustrate a narrative flow, with each book building upon the events and themes of the preceding one. The transitions often involve a change in leadership, a new phase in the Israelites’ journey, or the fulfillment of a specific promise from God. The Pentateuch, as a cohesive unit, provides a comprehensive account of the early history and covenant relationship between God and the Israelites.
2. The first five books of the Bible may have belonged together as one literary unit known as the Pentateuch and referred to the Law, in the New Testament. Each of these ends with a bridge to the next like a book each successive book starts with an appropriate recapping bridge (Arnold and Beyer 2013, 38).
Genesis ends with children of Israel settled in Egypt. The family reunited in Egypt after Joseph saved the country and his family during the famine. Joseph dying states that God will come to help you and lead you out of this land to Egypt (Genesis 50:24 [NLT]) and asking they carry his bones with them when they go back to the promised land.
Exodus begins with the enlarged family in Egypt. The situation has turned unfavorable as, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done (Exodus 1:8 [NLT]). Then the book sets the stage with the king putting the children of Israel in slavery. By the end of Exodus, the children of Israel are free from Egypt and following the leading of the Lord through the desert. In the last chapter the tabernacle is completed as a makeshift, portable, house of God in the desert.
This setting up of worship while wandering is the beginning of the formation of the practices of their religion and worship (Exodus 40 [NLT]). The Tabernacle is now in place to be a place of meeting with God. Leviticus starts with God calling Moses give instructions. Moses then describes in detail all that the Levites (priest) and the people were to do in the practice of worship. Every detail of the life of the people is covered with these instructions.
Numbers picks up with more commands as if still the same story. Numbers gives a counting of the tribes of Israel and organizes the people. This book shows the children of Israel wandering in the desert: recounting of the generations, failure of Moses and the people, and more instructions. Numbers ends with remembering of the journey from Egypt to that place and time and instructions about life in the promise land (Numbers 33-36 [NLT]).
Deuteronomy starts where Numbers leaves off. He recounts the journey pointed to the lengthiness as the fruit of their disobedience and lack of trust in God. Moses changes the leadership and gives final instructions. He restates much of what was spoken in the book of Leviticus. Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34 [NLT]).
Then Joshua picks up the story with, after the death of Moses. (Joshua 1:1 [NLT]).
The book of Genesis is an origin story that starts with God creating the world, animals, humans, etc. Genesis covers so much, focusing on humankind’s constant pitfalls and Gods attempts to restore us to Him. By the end of Genesis 50, Joseph, the son of Jacob(Israel) and Rachel, died at 110 years old in Egypt. At the beginning of Exodus 1:6, Joseph and his entire generation had died but still had many living descendants, the Israelites. In Exodus 1:8, Egypt had a new king who knew nothing about Joseph and his family. The new king plotted against the Israelites and made them slaves because he feared that the Israelites would overtake them or join their enemies because of their massive numbers.
Exodus 40 focuses on the completion of the Tabernacle, and it leads into Leviticus 1, where the Israelites receive instructions on how to properly worship God with the new Tabernacle being complete. Then Leviticus 27 concludes with further specific instructions from God on living a life committed to God with the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The start of Numbers 1 correlates with the ending of Leviticus 27 by the organization and recording the whole community of Israel names and families and tribes equaling 603,550 people. Numbers 1:47, Do not include the tribe of Levites, and God explicitly picked them to manage the Tabernacle.
Lastly, Numbers 36 correlates with Deuteronomy 1 with specific commands from God on how the Israelites should live and conduct themselves when they reach the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 1 starts with Moses making his first address to the Israelites after traveling in the desert for forty years after they left Egypt. The book of Deuteronomy ends with Moses’s death and inability to make it to Canaan because of his disobedience in the waters of Meribah at Kadesh. The book of Joshua is not considered a book of the Pentateuch. Still, it continues the theme of the journey of the Israelites and the death of Moses, and God chooses Joshua to lead the Israelites with the same promises God had with Moses.
