Recently, the Center for Christianity in Business at Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist) published the results of a nationwide survey conducted in the Fall of 2025. The survey polled 535 persons who identified as faith-based, with 86% of whom identified as Christian. The survey was seeking data on the degree of faith integration in the workplace.
Here at Crossfire Christian Ministries, this is a topic of great interest because our purpose is to “nurture, equip, and support Christian business leaders.” Though not directly stated, what caught my attention in the data was the apparent presence of a “sacred/secular” divide that can exist between faith and business. It is reasonable to assume that not all Christian leaders feel compelled to express their faith explicitly in their businesses. The survey, however, provides data that can help us consider the degree to which faith is integrated into the workplace.
A common topic in our circles involves the public expression of Christian commitments. In other words, to what degree should a company profess their Christian commitments in their public marketing and operational materials. As you might expect, the responses are varied. Some leaders believe their Christian calling should necessarily be reflected in their public materials – meaning their logo, advertising, values statements, etc., should require Christian language and imagery. While on the other side of the conversation, some prioritize the importance of Christian behavior in their interactions and give less, if any, attention to Christian language and imagery in their marketing and other public materials. Seems to me there is no right or wrong on this issue but believe that each owner/leader must discern the best approach for themselves. The non-negotiable, in my view, is the inclusion of God-honoring principles and commitments in the doing. It is important to remember that while the form of expression may differ, the underlying commitments in both postures remain decidedly Christian.
In the survey, research showed that the underlying commitment mentioned above often comes under threat. Specifically, the survey found that “61% of Christian leaders feel that their faith expression is at risk from moral conflicts.” In other words, a majority of Christian leaders who felt an obligation to maintain their Christian commitments in the workplace came under pressure of some kind to hedge or compromise those commitments.
The need for partners in faith could not be clearer. Christian leaders need others as both friends and mentors in the faith to support each other in difficult moments. We need others in our circle who share the same zeal for faith and commitment to God-honoring decision-making to help navigate the complexities common to corporate leadership.
One other data point in the survey caught my attention. As you might expect, 86% of respondents believed business leadership “is about service and upholding moral and ethical values.” The thing is, good service and operating as a good person morally and ethically is good for business whether motivated by one’s faith or not. So the next data point to me is more telling: “70% emphasized that making ethical decisions according to their faith was imperative.” Does this suggest that some Christian leaders struggle to make faith-informed decisions an integral part of their leadership? Moral and ethical decisions informed by our faith often have a different character from similar decisions uninformed by faith. That character is shaped by the life and ministry of Jesus and by the witness of the Apostles in Scripture. It is expressed through an others-centered love that seeks the well-being of others, a willingness to uphold virtuous principles even at a cost, and genuine concern for others for their own sake—not exclusively for the benefit of the organization.
Seems to me there is room for more work here. As Christians, every aspect of our lives, particularly our business, is under the authority of Christ (see Rom. 12:1). We don’t have the luxury of taking ownership of that space independent of our faith. In fact, I’m convinced the Lord has intention for us as Christian leaders to prioritize a kingdom perspective in our work environments. Yes, the expressions may differ, but we are committed to a God-honoring posture precisely because God is in the mix. He is aware of our challenges and wants to aid us in daily activity. If we don’t invite him into the equation of our day-to-day, we rob ourselves of the One who can guide, defend, and strengthen us the most. For example, 62% of those surveyed believed that as part of their faith commitment, “employees and co-workers should be treated as family.” This number should be higher. Our commitment to neighbor invites us to see our employees in this way even when the behavior will most likely not, in most cases, be reciprocated. Our love for neighbor is not contingent on their love for us. It is God’s command to love neighbor that motivates us to reach out in this way – not because of what might be gained in the doing.
My prayer is that we at CCM will see one another as resources and trusted confidants. Yes, we will study, pray, and encourage each other in the faith and in the practice of that faith in our workplace. But even more so, I pray our time together fosters a greater sense of God’s love among us as we invite Him to shape us more and more.
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