Is Business a Christian Calling?

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Dear friends,

The business environment has a dreadful reputation – corporate greed and competition are evident, and we have recently seen, all over the world, several cases of fraud. In the light of this, we might well ask, “Should Christians have anything to do with business?”

There is no contempt for business expressed in the Bible. Jesus used lots of images drawing on business life – he talked of wages and investment and there is even a reference to bank deposits! The Bible clearly envisages business activity as normal in human interaction.

A fundamental biblical theme is that we are to live a life worthy of our calling as Christians, and this goes for all realms of life. Everything we do, in every realm of life, is a calling, but can we truly say we have a calling to be in business? And what does this mean in terms of daily outworking? ...... It does not mean that everything we do is perfect – we are imperfect humans in an imperfect world – and so, the business world is not perfect.

Vocatio Creation is pleased to partner with Catholic friends in the Living Faith Society/Talentum Bookstore to offer two seminars on "Calling in Business" in September (see below posting). Sherman Lam and Kevin Kwan will share with you how they make senses of business life as part of their callings, and how they see God in the business world. Their stories might not be glorious victories, but are sober reflections in their seeking to walk with God.

Hope to see you there.


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Vocatio Creation Limited
Helping people discover and live out their vocations
Suite A, 12/F, Empire Land Commercial Centre
81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai
Hong Kong
Email: vcl@vocatiocreation.com.hk
Tel.: (852) 3582-4063
Fax: (852) 3575-7414
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「尋找職場的聖召」講座

「教會最不切實際的地方，莫過於不明白、不尊重俗世的工作。教會對一個聰明的木匠的教導，通常止於勸戒他不要醉酒和虛渡餘暇，還有要在周日上教堂。其實，教會應告訴他的是：信仰對他最首要的要求，就是要他製造最好的桌子。」
Dorothy Sayers（1893-1957）




長久以來，不論是天主教或是基督教的教會，皆忽略工作的神聖價值。信徒的職業工作，彷彿只是為了糊口，為教會奉獻點金錢，又或向同事傳福音而已，他們並不期待在職場遇見上主。這種分割的工作觀，不僅蠶食信徒的屬靈生命，亦致令教會日趨邊緣化，職場愈陷於世俗化的地步……。此等弊端，必須以整全的聖召觀加以糾正。

透過職場工作者的真情分享，以及大家熱烈的討論回應，我們期望這系列講座，能重申工作是上主給予我們的神聖召命，幫助信徒在周一至周六的工作天，做一個切實跟隨基督的門徒。






:: 內　　容 ::

6/9 亦正亦邪的商場呼召？
講員：林建國先生（上市地產公司企業服務總經理）
歷任多間跨國企業之高層管理職位，積極將信仰與職場經驗融合，對天主教社會訓導、耶穌會靈修傳統以及《工作通諭》有深入體會。西環靈糧堂會友。

13/9 爭分奪秒──天主在哪裡？
講員：關國欣先生（投資銀行資深從業員）
在金融界秒秒鐘金錢上落以千億計的世界中，作為聖神修院神哲學院的畢業生，他如何尋找天主？怎樣自處？有什麼掙扎？


日期： 2006年9月6、13日（星期三）
時間： 晚上7：30－9：30
地點： 塔冷通心靈書舍（油麻地彌敦道523號禮基大廈一樓AB室）/（油麻地地鐵站 B1出口）
費用： 每講 $100（塔冷通會員九五折）
報名： 2782 2027 / 9786 7521 （信仰生活互動坊 / 梁小姐）
查詢： info@livingfaith.org.hk / vcl@vocatiocreation.com.hk