Faith-based Communities and the Fourth Sector

Here is a very interesting email I received on August 12, 2008 from Stan, an exceptionally intelligent and deeply spiritual man who dedicated a substantial amount of time to reflect on the Fourth Sector. Here is what he wrote (I've paraphrased some parts):

Hi Alissa,

I would say that the work you are doing has to do with the hoped for emergence of a robust Fourth Sector alongside the three existing sectors of organized human activity - public (government), private (business), and social (non-profit/non-governmental). One way to think about Fourth Sector enterprises is to think of them as hybrids between for profit and not-for-profit organizations. Fourth Sector enterprises generate a surplus of income over expenses based on value added work (as opposed to grants and donations of not-for-profit organizations). They then use this surplus of cash and/or other resources of value (including skilled personnel) to benefit needy individuals and/or communities. The development of the Fourth Sector is huge in its intended scope and impact on society. Even in its present infancy, it is surprisingly diverse and intertwined with all aspects of society as a whole. This is my understanding of the Fourth Sector.

Here are some random thoughts about what I think should characterize Fourth Sector endeavors. Listen well. Emphasize integrity over achievement. Emphatically foster face-to-face, heart-to-heart encounter. Aim at mutuality in relationship characterized by equality - not just feeling-good giver and grateful receiver. In multiple ways, intentionally preserve and strengthen families.

Click here for an article that underscores the need to listen well, treat the needy as equals and carefully consider family needs from their point of view:

Another way of viewing the Fourth Sector is people doing remunerative labor together to develop a surplus of valuable resources to benefit needy individuals and/or communities. This reminds me of the following Bible verse: "The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need." (Eph. 4:28).

I think this verse can be applied to corporations as well as individuals. Greedy, exploitative individuals and corporations also bring about the following situation:
"There is abundant food in the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice." (Pro 13:23)

Instead, this is the attitude that God wanted among his people. Notice the basis for this provision for the poor - loyalty to God: "When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.’” (Lev 23:22)

We are fallen people living in a fallen world. I am all for working together with non-believers for the good of the world. But ultimately, our only hope lies in Jesus Christ. Good principles and good intentions will never be enough. Even God's perfect law, apart from the work and power of Jesus Christ was not enough: "The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced." (Psa 19:7)

"For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship." (Heb 10:1).

Indeed, Hebrews 7:18-19 states that, “on the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

I would say that in some sense, our best intentions can serve as a "shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself." Ultimately, our best ideal efforts will point out our helplessness to bring about an ideal society and lead us to Jesus or else it will lead us to cynicism and despair: “Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe.” (Gal. 3:21-22)

“For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes." (Rom. 10:3-5).

If you agree that the four sectors we are discussing have to do with "organized human activity," then I would say that to make things complete we need to account for one more traditional sector. I say this because the Bible does not have a whole lot to say about government or business or non-profit organizations. But it does have something to say about families and extended families of tribes and nations.

It seems to me that the three existing three sectors have increased to a great extent by displacing and taking on some of the roles of family.

Question 1: Will the emerging Fourth Sector continue this process of displacing the original sector of family/tribe?

It seems to me that the Fourth Sector endeavor has more the sense of a movement rather than simply being an approach to doing business. As a movement, the Fourth Sector is surprisingly holistic in nature. It seems to me that driving force behind the Fourth Sector as movement is the need we have to belong to something great in the world, the need to perfect, to complete ourselves not just as individuals but as a social entity.

Question 2: Will the emerging Fourth Sector take on the role of secular church? To what extent will it displace religions of faith? I expect to see nominal Christians from mainline denominations whole heartedly embracing the goodness of Fourth Sector endeavors as embodying what it means to be Christian (and in the process forgetting that Jesus said that only God is good).

Here are some random thoughts about what I think should characterize Fourth Sector endeavors. Listen well. Emphasize integrity over achievement. Emphatically foster face-to-face, heart-to-heart encounter. Aim at mutuality in relationship characterized by equality - not just feeling-good giver and grateful receiver. In multiple ways, intentionally preserve and strengthen families.

One last thought - it is not human effort that brings about well-being (shalom) in society. It is obeying God. We all obey something. We will obey either the Spirit or the flesh. The result will be either life or death, blessing or cursing. No amount of human ingenuity and human effort will overcome the results of disobedience :

In order to understand exhortation to covenant obedience, read Deuteronomy 30:11-20.
It is interesting that God is more concerned about doing his will than he is about getting one's fair share or about getting ahead in life. Yet the Bible does have this to say about slaves. See 1 Corinthians 7:20-24.

More specifically, in verse 7:21, Paul says that "if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity." It seems to me that a good deal of Fourth Sector effort may fall into this category. God can work powerfully even in bad situations, but if Fourth Sector efforts will bring freedom from exploitation to people, we should make the most of the opportunity to do Fourth Sector work together with those who are being exploited.

Finally, the year of jubilee was God's way of directing the nation of Israel on the one hand to trust and depend on him and on the other hand to be fair to the poor and needy. In God's economy, you cannot have one without the other. Let me restate that. In God's economy, if you really live out trust and dependence on God, you will necessarily work for fair treatment of the poor and needy. In God's economy, it is impossible to treat the poor and needy fairly apart from trust and dependence on him. Jesus knew that until he returned, people would not wholly trust and depend on him, that is why he said, "For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!” (John 12:8). I would say that the provisions for the year of jubilee go far beyond what Fourth Sector work envisions. For more information click here.


Well, that's it for now. Let me know if you have any questions or want to talk about any of this…