God’s Immutability: Business Implications and the Uncertainty of Scripture, A Response to Richard Chewning’s Paper

Abstract

“Hermeneutics and Biblical Ethics: God’s Immutability and Human Integrity” is precisely what we have come to expect of Richard Chewning—provocative writing that is biblically grounded and intellectually rigorous. Chewning implements his strength of tackling challenging issues with refreshing straightforwardness. In this endeavor, the topic courageously pioneered is God’s unchanging character (i.e., immutability) and the implications thereof (e.g., prayer does not change God). Rather than making biblical integration in business the main thrust of his paper, Chewning provides a fine seminal piece that others may debate further; others may also discuss the ramifications for Christians in business. Given that the issues Chewning explores are nebulous and his positions clear, there is ample opportunity for one to embrace, extend, and contend what he writes. This brief response will, first, support and extend one of Chewning’s postulates for Christian businesspeople. Second, it will argue that knowing God’s will is not as easy as Chewning implies.