It's hard to believe that the above title was the lead article for CGI's The International News in the Winter 2009 edition of that paper. When I think about how partisan some of the folks in that organization over the fifteen years since I penned that article, it blows my mind! At any rate, thought I'd share this blast from the past with my readers:
In the atmosphere of rancor and poison
that permeates our political discourse,
do we Christians sometimes forget that this
is not God’s world/system? (2 Corinthians
4:4). Over the last decade, we have all heard
various people state or imply that capitalism is
GOOD and socialism is EVIL. Nevertheless, we
as Christians have to remember that both of
these systems were created by men influenced
by Satan the Devil, and that neither one of
them represents the ideals and ultimate de
signs of our Creator. Actually, from what is
revealed to us of God’s mind in Scripture, we can safely assert that God’s
Kingdom will not be a capitalist or a socialist society! That is not to say there
will not be elements of BOTH systems present in God’s system.
Capitalism has been defined as the private ownership and control of
capital—where goods and services are traded in a market, and profits are paid
to the owners of capital, who then reinvest them or pay wages to labor.
Moreover, capitalism has been associated with what Adam Smith referred to
as the “invisible hand” of the marketplace—the notion that the pursuit of
self-interest tends to the benefit of everyone. For Christians, this notion should
raise an immediate red flag. The entire basis of Christ’s teaching was against
selfishness; remember the Golden Rule? (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). Even
so, the principles of private ownership and payment for labor rendered are also
clearly established throughout Scripture.
Likewise, socialism has been defined as governmental or collective
ownership and control of capital—where the value of goods and services are
not dictated by the market. Socialism and communism have long been
associated with the famous principle laid down by Karl Marx, “From each
according to his ability, to each according to his need.” The underlying
premise is that capital or wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a
few, and that it should be redistributed by some central authority whenever
it does begin to concentrate. However, it should be obvious to Christians that
mankind has individually and collectively proven his inability to administer
any system fairly or impartially. Who, then, is to decide how wealth is to be
distributed? Even so, the principles of equality before the law and fair
treatment for all people are also clearly established throughout Scripture
(Leviticus 19:15, James 2:1–6).
God’s system is different from both of these systems existing in various
forms and degrees throughout the present world. God’s system is based on love
and outgoing concern for God and each other (1 John 4:7–21). It is not based
on greed and self-interest. God’s way includes fair wages, impartiality, loaning
without usury (interest), and helping and giving to the poor. Everyone is
expected to contribute.
For those of us who might think that God is strictly a capitalist, or that He
favors that system, we would do well to remember what God has to say about
the fate of a society built on the backs of the poor with greed and profit as the
principal motivators of their actions (Amos 4:1; 8:4–8). We should also
remember what God has to say about not paying your workers a fair wage
(Leviticus 19:13, Jeremiah 22:13, Malachi 3:5). See what God has said about
charging interest on money, and how that applies to modern banking and
lending practices (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35–36, Deuteronomy 23:19,
Proverbs 28:8, Ezekiel 22:12). Proponents of capitalism should read God’s
instructions to the farmers of ancient Israel about not harvesting all of their
crops, but leaving some for the poor (Leviticus 19:9–10, 23:22). Moreover,
God has clearly instructed His people to help the poor in both the Old and New
Testaments (Deuteronomy 15:7–11 and 1 John 3:17). Yes, we are our brother’s
keeper. However, unlike many of the “socialist” persuasion, God does expect
everyone to work and contribute—laziness is not tolerated as part of God’s
system (2 Thessalonians 3:10)!
What is the end of the matter? This world and its systems are NOT God’s
world or systems (Revelation 18:4). We should be among those who confess
that we are “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” and that we clearly seek
another country (Hebrews 11:13–14). That is precisely why Christ instructed
us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”
(Matthew 6:10). Brethren, in spite of any patriotic or sentimental attachments
we might have to a particular system, we should all remember that God is not
a capitalist, socialist, Republican, or Democrat.
Looking back at what I wrote in 2009, I am pleased with my own consistency on this issue. Nevertheless, it saddens me to see just how much the group with which I formerly affiliated has changed since 2009.
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