Christian Ethics in Advertising (w/ Dr. David Hagenbuch)
On this episode, Darren sits down with marketing professor Dr. David Hagenbuch to discuss Christian ethics in advertising.
Darren Shearer hosts Dr. David Hagenbuch on the Christian Business Leader podcast to discuss how biblical values shape marketing. David, professor of marketing at Messiah University and author of Mindful Marketing, shares lessons from his family’s business, where his father modeled fairness, generosity, and integrity like covering indecent catalog images to uphold biblical decency.
He highlights modern examples such as CVS refusing Photoshop in ads, Martin’s Potato Rolls maintaining fairness with a Christ-first culture, and the OnSong app, which started in church worship and now impacts people worldwide.
David emphasizes that ethics must be intentional, built on values of decency, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility. He urges leaders to translate biblical principles into accessible language, tell memorable stories, and pursue marketing that reflects Christ, not just by avoiding deception, but by choosing righteousness.
Key Takeaways 💡
- Discovering God’s Role in Business: David Hagenbuch grew up in his family’s promotional products company where his father modeled how faith could guide work. He saw business as a way to serve people, treat customers fairly, and reflect Christ.
- Marketplace Discipleship: Christian leaders around him used their businesses as ministry. His father showed integrity by covering indecent catalog images with decals, demonstrating how small choices can uphold biblical values in the marketplace.
- Modern Models of Ethical Marketing: Examples include CVS deciding not to Photoshop ads, Martin’s Potato Rolls maintaining fairness with a Christ-first culture, and the OnSong app starting in a church worship team before becoming a global tool that also supports giving and volunteer work.
- Values That Guide Decision-Making: David teaches that ethics must be intentional and grounded in principles such as decency, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility. These values come from Scripture but are also understood across worldviews.
- Translating Faith Into Practice: He urges leaders to express biblical principles in language others can understand, to ask questions instead of making accusations, and to use stories that make lessons stick. In doing so, marketing can reflect Christ in practical ways.
Christian Business Leader is the show for marketplace Christians seeking to explore and apply God’s will for business. If you want to learn more about how to do business for the glory of God and shape culture through discipling the business world, this show is for you.
BIG THANKS to this episode’s sponsor: High Bridge Books
High Bridge Books helps Christ-centered authors build a legacy by crafting and publishing messages and stories that glorify God in all spheres of culture.
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