Anointed for Business: How Christians Can Use Their Influence in the Marketplace to Change the World

by Ed Silvoso

Every Business Is God's Business. The notion that labor for profit and worship of God are now, and always have been, worlds apart, is patently false. The Early Church founders were mostly community leaders and highly successful business people. The writing of the Gospels was entrusted to Luke, a medical doctor; Matthew, a retired tax collector; Mark, the manager of a family trust; and John, a food supplier. Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth. Dorcas was a clothes designer.

Today, more than ever, the heart of our cities is the marketplace. Yet the perceived wall between commercial pursuit and service to God continues to knock down that wall and build the foundation for an unparalleled marketplace revival. Only then can we extend God's kingdom to every corner of our world.

Genres: Christian, Business, Personal Growth, Spirituality, Finance, Leadership

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Ed Silvoso is an Argentinian Christian author and documentarian. He is the founder of Harvest Evangelism and the International Transformation Network, the objective of which is to end worldwide systemic poverty. He is a leader of the Argentine Revival and of the modern transformation movement.

Silvoso has written extensively on spiritual transformation in volumes that contain the principles and paradigms generally adopted in the movement. These books provide significant biographical information that helps to trace its origins as well as the personal journey he took that resulted in becoming one of its principal figures.

from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Chris Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Money. Not one of my favourite subjects but I thought I'd give this another go. Bought it a while ago but after one chapter it's been languishing on my shelf.

As with most books of this genre it tends to make claims between the gospels and 'business' which I can't really buy into. Silvoso also seems to be trying to make an extra office of the church - businessman in addition to the others like prophets, evangelists etc.

A nice try but to be honest it was never going to be a starter for me. So 2 stars.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's difficult to assess a book on business when it's an area I'm so conflicted about, and when it doesn't answer the deep questions I have about power and merchandising - the very reasons the enemy was expelled from Eden. When does trading become trafficking? What are the lines that should never be crossed? Given that the nature of business expansion will always involve threshold events, how do business people avoid the usual sacrifice traps (others, self [self-sabotage] or the honour of God)?

My personal unanswered questions aside, there were some serious highlights for me in the book: the thought that one of the primary beneficiaries of Zacchaeus' newfound faith and declaration he would give half his wealth to the poor would have been Bartimaeus.

The story of a major public company that was losing millions, and that received the permission of the CEO for the vice president to bring in a group of intercessors was illuminating. After a session of prayer, one of the intercessors walked to the entryway and was brought to his knees by something demonic. An art object on a pedestal had a label designating it as a "spirit dwelling", a house for demons. A tour of the building brought to light the fact that every single painting and statue had occult associations. These witchcraft items were designed to curse the company's finances. As the author prayed about this, the Lord gave him a word of knowledge about the power encounter of Dagon with the Ark of the Covenant: in today's world, every genuine believer in Jesus Christ is a portable Ark of the Covenant. (p126f)

[Caleb Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS!!!

This book is absolutely amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough.
For ANYONE who isn't going to land themselves a spot at the pulpit every Sunday, this book is for you! I mean it! Most of the church (almost all of us, actually) will never preach from the pulpit. Instead, we work in the marketplace. Is that bad? Not at all!!! It's high time the body of Christ realized that there is no higher calling for us than the one that God gave us! We can't covet the call of another just because it seems holier.

[Katie Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed Silvoso does a great job of dispelling the myth that marketplace Christians are not in ministry. He uses lots of biblical examples to show what ministry looked like for the early church. If you're a business-person who is also a Christian, this book will encourage you and sharpen your ministry senses! After reading Ed's book, it's difficult to view ministry in the same way. I've read it twice.

[Steven Ly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book allowed me to see in scripture where God used people in their currently calling. It allowed me to see the specific impact on the Kingdom they had and it demonstrated that everyone can be used in their currently calling within the marketplace.

[Rob Markley · Rating 4 out of 5]

God led me to this book and it was what I needed. Not perfect but a wake up call to understand the business world as a spiritual world

[Silvia Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

borderline prosperity gospel

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a very good job in shattering the paradigm that church should always be the central focus of our evangelism efforts no matter our vocation. As business people, the marketplace should be where we focus on extending God's Kingdom.

[James McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for far more of the final chapters of this book earlier on in my reading. It seemed to lag in getting to concrete examples of the things that the author had seen God do in his own business. Tons of scripture is provided to back up the stance of each point made and I was glad to see that the focus was not primarily on obtaining wealth; however some of the connections seem to be a bit of a stretch between what scripture is saying and how it applies to business today.

All in all this is an encouraging read and for someone like me who worked in full time ministry in the past, and now works in the business world, it was good to see the trap that can be fallen into laid out in clear words. So often Christians seem to be relegated (or at least made to feel that they have been relegated to a lower standing in the kingdom when they enter the business world, despite the fact that they work with non-believers hand in hand far more than they ever did in ministry. This book encourages Christians to be a tool of God’s Kingdom wherever they are and not downplay the place that God has you at this time in life. A simple read and perhaps a good read for Christians working in the business world, but nothing incredibly awe inspiring in terms of the message.

[Bobby Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are lot of good points and distinctions made in this book. For example, the idea in chapter six that transformation and reconciliation need to happen in the marketplace in order for God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven was profound. Having said that, there are other points that I could not reconcile. For example, in the same chapter, "When it comes to bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, the first move always belongs to the rich, because they are the ones who have the position and resources to initiate the process." I disagree. This view disempowers those without resources. It sets up class roles for people, which can be just as harmful as gender roles. The actuality is, if one is alive, one has the only resource necessary to be an agent of change=LOVE. Fortunately, ideas like this do not ruin the book for me. I recommend reading the book, but through an ever critical social justice lens. If we truly stand for equity, we can neither be explicit nor complicit in the compromising of justice.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed's best book. None of these ideas are theory, he has true experience to back up 100% of what is written. While you may not adopt all of his techniques, you cannot argue with the doctrine when it works. Some may argue with Ed's theology but that should not prevent you from realizing your true potential as a marketplace minister. I have led 4 groups through a book-study of this book and have seen many lives & businesses changed for the better, for the Kingdom. Highly recommended for the individual to the group, from the solo-preneur to the CEO.

[Luke Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable insight into the role of business and ministry. This book discusses business throughout scripture and how it can shape a nation for better or worse. It also shows how business done using Godly principles delivers results that are far wider reaching and more profitable than otherwise possible.

[Steve Cioccolanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is top advice for any Christian called to business.
Most of Jesus' disciples were businessmen, not theologians.
If you think living for Jesus ought to be a 7-day thing, not a Sunday morning thing, you should read this book!

[Jack Backes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way I relate to "the world" and evangelism. A MUST read for all pastors and marketplace Christians, and for all who think business is contrary to the gospel.

We are winning.

[Clint brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gives you a heart and understanding for marketplace evangelism.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely important read if to get the picture of how God sometimes calls us to our careers and places of business.

[Ugonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book a long time ago and don't think I've finished it yet.

[Mcneal]

This book has my eyes wide open into the relationships that was built and the lives that was changed by christian leaders and business owners. This is a good read and recommend it to everyone.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Not my favorite but the testimonies from the middle to the end were very moving.

[Jason Fleagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read! One of my favorite business books.

[Eddie Howden]

Every Christian Business person should give it a read