Article February 1, 1964 Issue

Signs of the Times

John C. Narver

Christian Responsibility in the Economic Order

John C. Narver, Presbyterian layman in a sermon entitled "Christian Responsibility in the Economic Order" at Calvary Presbyterian Church Berkeley, California

The first significant group of ethical suggestions in business appeared in the Christian Directory, a book compiled by the Puritan divine, Richard Baxter. The general theme of the Directory was that whatever the laxity of the law, the Christian was bound first to consider the golden rule and the public good. According to the historian Tawney, ... the concept of a "calling" sprang from the heart of Puritan theology.... The rational order of the universe is the work of God and its plan requires that the individual should labor for God's glory....

In that Christian responsibility in the economic order is but an application of general Christian responsibility, there is ... a personal relationship with God and also a social relationship with man....

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