God of the Small: Engaging Public Theology in Small Business

Abstract

Abstract Mainstream theological discourses on economic issues tend to concentrate on the disparity between the poor and the powerful. The focus of this writing is on a segment of society often overlooked in such a contrasting approach, namely those who can be identified neither as the poor nor the powerful. Picking up on small business to represent the ‘in-between,’ this article suggests a theological reflection concerning the works of God with those who should be called ‘the small’. It starts with describing the contemporary situation faced by small business, particularly in Asia. The situation is analyzed using the business ethics’ stakeholder approach. The theological response follows the method of a public theology by interacting Christian resources with the situation of small business in relation to their stakeholders. The result is a new construction of public theology starting with the notion of God’s preference for the small.