What Do We Mean By “Christian Based Organization”?

Hi-Line represents itself, both in its internal publication as well its web page, as “a Christian-based organization.” What does the term “Christian-based organization” mean in the context of Hi-Line's organizational culture?

The concept of Christian-based secular organizations is neither new nor original. The fact that the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex has a large number of Christian-based companies is a reflection of our local culture. That culture includes hundreds of Christian churches, a major church-sponsored university, two nationally recognized Theological Seminaries and several highly prominent Christian leaders. Dallas even has its own special edition of the Yellow Pages telephone directory of Christian-based companies.

Perhaps the best known local Christian-based company is Interstate Battery System of America, Inc. Interstate's reputation as a company that cherishes and supports Christian ideals is a product of its activities in the local community as well as in its internal culture. One such activity is its sponsorship of what is arguably the largest Christian music festival in the world-an annual event held in the Dallas area during the 4th of July weekend.

Like many other Christian-based companies, Hi-Line chooses to exercise its right to religious freedom by recognizing certain traditional Christian holidays as legitimate celebrations. Additionally, like Interstate and others, Hi-Line allows its employees to participate in private, on-site Bible studies.

From the author's personal perspective, the public acknowledgement that Hi-Line is a Christian-based organization means two things. First, the statement reflects a belief on the part of upper management that true spirituality should guide and influence corporate life, business practices and decision making. The statement should also serve as a tacit reminder of the historical record - that a purely humanistic approach toward life and business produces very mixed results. To put it another way, some problems are unlikely to be resolved apart from divine guidance and intervention. Why?

Organizations and individuals are in some respects simple. In other respects they are highly complex. Compound that complexity with the daily interactions between organizations and the rest of society, and it is easy to understand why organizations often exist and function in an atmosphere of uncertainty.

Graduate schools of business invest considerable time, energy and money trying to make sense of the intricacies of complex organizations. While these academic institutions sometimes succeed in unraveling some of the mysteries and complexities of corporate life, the record shows that even the most gifted scholars frequently flounder and fail in their attempts to predict results and fix organizational problems.

Consequently, having arrived at the conclusion that sometimes we succeed not because of ourselves but in spite of our best efforts, many businessmen and women have come to look outside the secular realm for help within the secular realm. Hi-Line's Founder has not overlooked this lesson.

Another reason that Hi-Line has chosen to establish Christianity as a fundamental part of its organizational culture is the belief that the teachings of Christianity should guide the way we work and treat each other. As the founding fathers of our nation established the Constitution on Christian ideals, our company's founder has chosen to establish Christian ethics and ideals as our model of corporate behavior. And as the Constitution represents political freedom, Hi-Line's efforts to establish certain Christian-based standards also includes freedom - freedom to believe in Christ as well as the freedom to believe something else.

While those who espouse Christian ideals may frequently fail to measure up to the model, it will continue to serve Hi-Line Territory Managers and Corporate Team Members as a key reference point and barometer of our corporate health.

Undoubtedly, there are numerous other reasons for Hi-Line's public acknowledgement of Christian ideals. And while we can never know the full extent of the impact of such a public acknowledgement, it is likely that many will find the statement personally inspiring and reassuring.