Orthodox Christianity and the Legitimacy of Entrepreneurship
The Christian Orthodox faith has never prohibited and now does not prohibit entrepreneurship and does not consider success in the business world sinful. Entrepreneurship, whose purpose is to earn money honestly, has the right to exist. The Church welcomes charity but is not mandatory (John 3:23-3). The Church encourages businesses that benefit not only their owners but also others.
Faith as a Guide for Business Practices and Leadership
The entrepreneur’s faith is manifested in the fact that they will build their business as efficiently as possible, strive for personal and professional growth, and take care of their subordinates’ prosperity. Social security of employees, tolerance, friendliness in collective activity, orientation to personal, experienced, and spiritual growth, catechetical events, Orthodox holidays are a wide field of activity for an Orthodox businessman, the head of a firm or corporation (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If financial flows depend on the work of a banker, which means the life and health of many people, then by doing their job in good faith, a banker can become a faithful follower of Christ.
Orthodox Traditions, Holidays, and Opportunities in Business
Moreover, the position of an Orthodox leader, entrepreneur, and businessman in the modern business world should not always be compliant, as it may seem to some. An Orthodox person should defend their beliefs and the beliefs of their co-religionists not only by word but also by deed (Genesis 1:1-31). This is what an Orthodox entrepreneur should do, defending the material and spiritual interests of subordinates entrusted to him, of course, within the framework of legislation and by their conscience—the voice of God in the human soul. The manager is responsible for what and how they manage. In this way, the prescribed Scripture of God’s will for kindness and caring for people is realized within the framework of doing business.