Business as Mission and Innovation

by Mats Tunehag

 

We create and innovate based on worldview and values. Worldview is the lens through which we interpret reality, and values guide our thoughts and actions. Thus, innovation from a Christian perspective must be seen through Judeo-Christian lenses, and be guided by values deeply rooted in Holy Scripture and the history of the church. We should innovate in line with our tradition, recognizing that we are to co-create, and innovate, with God and for the common good.

Biblical Foundation for Innovation

Only God creates ex nihilo, out of nothing, but he calls us to be good stewards of all things created. That includes both material and immaterial things, mind and matter.

The book of Genesis presents a created order that is good, but unfinished—inviting human participation, which includes innovation.

Innovation should serve something larger than itself. It mustn’t be innovation for the sake of innovation, nor should it be just about benefits for me, my family, my business, my tribe or my nation. It should be innovation as faithful creativity, serving people and honoring God, not novelty for its own sake. And there are ethical boundaries: Innovation is judged by fruit: does it serve life, justice, dignity, and love of neighbor?

Scripture provides instructive contrasts. Noah’s ark—a massive innovative engineering project—aligned with God’s purposes and brought salvation to humanity. The Tower of Babel, equally impressive in its innovation, was motivated by pride and led to societal breakdown. The difference lies not in technical achievement but in purpose and alignment with God’s will.

We acknowledge that business is God’s gift to transform the world. Business as Mission, BAM, is about harnessing that gift to serve people, align it with God’s purposes, be good stewards of the planet and make a profit—among all nations.

BAM innovation is problem-oriented, geared towards solving unmet needs and problems, like environmental degradation, poverty, human trafficking, unreached peoples, etc. Innovation is beyond efficiency for a firm, profitability and scalability. We see BAM enterprises as a space where God’s reconciling work becomes visible. In this framework, innovation becomes a missional discipline—a way of loving God and neighbor through economic activity.

Besides asking: “What is scalable and profitable?” BAM also asks: “What genuinely serves people and communities?” BAM resists the modern myth that innovation must be disruptive or extractive. BAM related innovations consider environmental, social, and generational impact. We are also mindful of that not all innovation is good business—and not all good business is innovative.

Core Values and Principles

Innovation occurs across all business dimensions—products, services, marketing, sales, management, and human resources. BAM companies innovate in these same areas, but emphasize innovations grounded in biblical values for God-honoring purposes. Key values include:

Stewardship: Innovation is an act of stewardship: developing goods, services, systems, and institutions that enable life to flourish.

Shalom: Innovation oriented toward the common good, shalom rather than shareholder primacy alone.

Avodah: The integration of work, worship, and service, recognizing that our innovations are acts of worship when aligned with God’s purposes.

The Great Commission: Making Christ known as we innovate and conduct business to the ends of the earth.

Human Dignity: Asking whether innovation promotes creativity, dignity, and freedom.

Beauty: The Church teaches that God is truth, goodness, and beauty. Bezalel’s calling and anointing by the Spirit in Exodus 31 demonstrates that beauty and excellence are not luxuries but expressions of God’s Spirit at work.

Tikkun Olam: This Jewish concept means “to repair and heal the world”. BAM innovation observes what is dysfunctional, unjust, oppressive, and polluting in a broken marketplace, then co-creates with God to bridge the gap from what is to what ought to be. The Lord’s Prayer itself is a tikkun olam prayer, bridging heaven and earth by bringing the King and his Kingdom into the marketplace toward holistic human flourishing.

Innovation & Change of Paradigm

Business as Mission is not a technique, but rather a worldview and a lifestyle. To that end BAM Global gives a priority to clarify and impart a Biblical worldview as it relates to business, people, societies and the Great Commission. Although the underpinning BAM concepts are old, there is still a need for a paradigm shift in many circles. In this sense, BAM innovation involves changing not just products or processes, but the framework itself.

Innovations often happen where people, institutions and ideas intersect and interact, and where there is an openness to innovate and explore initiatives that can enhance human flourishing. To that end BAM Global has convened dozens of forums and think tank groups, to reframe and catalyze business solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems. That has resulted in about 40 reports, dozens of BAM networks on all continents, operating in over 20 languages. These innovation forums and hubs have been instrumental to the exponential growth of the global business as mission movement in the last 25 years.

The incarnation shows God entering specific cultural, economic, and historical realities. BAM innovation must be contextual—responding to real local needs rather than importing foreign models, or be a pursuit of one-size fits all. This aligns with historical patterns: durable innovation grows from within cultures, not above them.

Innovation Metrics & Characteristics

We aim at redefining success metrics when needed. BAM innovation should  expands the scorecard and include financial sustainability, social and environmental impact, and spiritual and relational fruit. Innovation is evaluated by shalom, not just ROI, Return of Investment.

So, we pray that BAM innovation will be characterized by:

Rootedness – anchored in Scripture and tradition

Relationality – shaped by proximity to people and place

Redemptive intent – healing and transforming rather than exploiting

Long-term faithfulness – patience over speed

Questions for BAM Innovators

With these principles and values in mind, consider these essential questions:

• Does this innovation serve needs?
• Does it pay attention to the underserved peoples of the world?
• Does it respect limits—ecological, social, moral?
• Does it strengthen community?
• Does it allow people to exercise agency and dignity?
• Does it align with love of neighbor?
• Does it honor God?

 

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