Manifesting the Kingdom of God in Ethical Business Practice Amidst the Challenges of Structural Corruption

Abstract

The church is often trapped in a dualism that separates the sacred (church ministry) from the secular (the world of work). As a result, many Christian professionals are "pious" on Sunday but lose their integrity when faced with business realities on Monday, especially amidst the systemic culture of corruption in Indonesia. This study aims to reconstruct a robust Christian theology of work as a foundation for business ethics. Using a qualitative method through a theological-ethical literature study approach, this study explores the biblical concept of work (avodah) and the cultural mandate. The findings show that the workplace is not merely a means of earning a living, but a primary mission field where believers are called to be priests. Resistance to corruption is not enough with mere individual moral refusal, but requires a strategy of "shrewd godliness" and superior professional competence as a defensive stronghold. The church needs to equip the congregation not just to survive, but to transform the marketplace through prophetic integrity.