The Apprentice

July 13, 2015

“You’re Fired!”

Certain lines move from generic to become trademarks for celebrities. What Donald Trump made famous in his regular installments of The Apprentice ricocheted back at him last week. NBC signed-off with The Donald over his inciteful observations about immigration during his speech, announcing his run for president.

Trump knew that campaigns were expensive, but he wasn’t worried: “I’m using my own money. I’m not using lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich.” He may have calculated the conventional costs, but had no way of considering the opportunity costs: since the furor over his slams on Mexican migrants, Macy’s, Serta, ESPN, NBC, the City of New York and other companies have separated their ongoing business activities from all-things-Trump. The price of his candidacy mounts…

What does it cost to campaign for president? What does it cost to campaign for the Kingdom? Case in point: the recent Supreme Court decisions regarding the definition of marriage, and who is eligible to participate. Some mainstream Christian denominations heralded the decision, and are all-in to endorse the marriage of homosexuals. Other Christian entities – individuals, churches, denominations, ministries – are sticking with what they believe to be the Biblical boundaries for marriages that are sanctioned by God: one man and one woman with a common faith, committed to fidelity until death.

What will happen in the future when these Christians – who align with the Supreme Deity instead of the Supreme Court – express their views, destined to be in conflict with correctness?

The question has both political and economic implications. While the executive and legislative efforts – after future elections – may move to protect the outspoken Christian legally, what about the economic earthquakes they may experience? If Trump has lost business opportunity for revealing his unpopular stands… can Christians expect similar treatment in our American future?

Run the clock back about 4000 years, and zoom in on Abram and his nephew, Lot (Genesis 13). They were entrepreneurs with successful enterprises, and they could no longer operate in the same neighborhood. Abram – the gentleman – gave Lot first pick: choose a new field of engagement, and Abram would settle some distance away, allowing each to prosper without competing.

Lot was immediately drawn to the Jordan Valley – and the city/state of Sodom – and declared that as his new home. Abram stayed away from the population hubs and pitched his tents in the open (though the markets for his flocks were the occupied cities).

The story unfolds with significant drama: later, Abram must mobilize his employees as a militia to intervene in a conflict between multiple allied cities/kings. He rescued Lot and others who had been taken from Sodom, then turned down a reward from the King of Sodom. Abram regularly heard from God in the wilderness, while Lot’s connection with God was marginal, at best.

Fast forward: the cultural norms in Sodom and Gomorrah sink below the tipping point, and God determined judgment to be imminent. He notified Abram first, then – using angels as special forces – removed Lot and his family before utterly destroying the cities that had renounced all that was holy.

It cost Abram one of the markets for his business; it cost Lot everything, professionally. Initially rescued with Lot, his wife didn’t survive, and his daughters had been morally compromised. Total loss.

What’s in our future? Consider your strategies: stay close enough to serve, but not so ensnared that judgment intended for others hits you as well:  “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them…” (Ephesians 5:5-7).

Bob Shank