The Business Ethics Blog

Here’s an interesting story from the L.A. Times: Christian Retailers Put Their Print on Products

More than 400 vendors packed the Colorado Convention Center last week to showcase the latest accessories for the Christian lifestyle. There were acres of the predictable: books, CDs, greeting cards, inspirational artwork, stuffed animals wearing “Jesus Loves You” T-shirts. Many of the newest items, however, put a religious twist on unexpected products — marketed as a means to reach the unsuspecting and unsaved.

Christian Outdoorsman was taking orders for a camouflage baseball cap with a red cross. In Booth 235, Revelation Products of St. Louis was pitching golf balls and flip-flops. Follow the Son flip-flops have patterned soles that leave the message “Follow Jesus” in the sand.

What interested me about this story was the particular spin on Christianity — and Christian values — implied by the list of Christian products described in the story. The products described seem to equate Christianity with evangelism. It was curious to see that none of the products described were portrayed as Christian because of, say, the Christian values according to which the factories that made them were run.

There are, of course, a whole slew of “Christian” values that can be — and are — valued by non-Christians (whether they be Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Secular Humanists, agnostics or atheists). Those values include compassion, respect, humility, forgiveness, etc. So in the description of “Christian” products, where were those values represented? Where was the electric car, perhaps inspired by the What Would Jesus Drive? slogan? Where was the Christian equivalent (pretty easy to imagine) of Fair Trade Coffee? Where were the products of the socially-responsible Christian business that — for Christian reasons — donates a portion of profits to the needy?

I’m not saying that those kinds of “Christian” businesses aren’t out there. Maybe it’s just a quirk of the particular trade show that the L.A. Times reporter visited. Interesting, though.

Relevant Books:
The Christian Entrepreneur: How to Profit from Your God-Given Ideas
Business By The Book Complete Guide Of Biblical Principles For The Workplace
Christian Family Guide to Starting Your Own Business
The Big Book of Bible Crafts