Based Business
Larson Hicks on Startup Porn & Entrepreneurship
Based, adj. - internet slang meaning “to carry oneself with confidence, self-assurance, and a sense of independence.”1 For a Christian, being based is having a Coram Deo swagger.
Business ownership is, first, culture-making. Second, it is obedience to the creation mandate to replenish, subdue, and take dominion of the earth. Third, it is loving your neighbor by finding ways to serve others and solve their problems.
Business ownership is a “School of Virtue” that demands frugality, leadership, communication, discipline, patience, and much more. But business has become a battleground for Christians. Do Christians opt out? Should Christians cede business as part of the “secular realm” and just work for a paycheck, so they can pursue God when they’re off the clock? Not if you want to be based and free to be a Christian twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Who in Scripture was more based than Joseph? Despite rough family circumstances (i.e. attempted fratricide), the first false #MeToo accusation when he wouldn’t take part in sex at the office, and a stint in the clink, Joseph walked with a Coram Deo swagger.
A Based Man & Woman
Joseph is the epitome of Proverbs 22:29, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings.” Through his excellent work, shrewd management, and wise counsel, God put Joseph in a position at the right hand of the king, so that he could literally save the world (Gen. 41:57).
The Proverbs 31 wife is also based. Look at this Coram Deo swagger: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come” (Prov 31:25). She’s definitely not stressing about losing health insurance benefits.
Christians must take dominion - and I’m not talking about internet forum, theology warrior kind of dominion. Christians should be running the best businesses, building churches, establishing schools, and generally transforming their cities.
To do this, Christians need the swagger of Joseph and the Proverbs 31 woman. It all starts with a rejection of our modern conception of work and a recovery of the institution of the household. Then we need to stop believing the “startup porn” narrative of “entrepreneurship.” Finally, we need to get to work recovering a Protestant Work Ethic.
