The backlash against the Obama administration's policy requiring church-affiliated organizations to...
Capitalism and Christianity
I believe the Bible makes it clear that every person is incredibly worthy in God's economy. I think it is capitalism that affords the individual with the best opportunity to realize his or her worth according to God's will.
In capitalism and/or free enterprise system, every person has the opportunity to become his or her best. Whatever a person inherently is endowed with can become more under capitalism.
In capitalism, a person can earn his or her own way. While capitalism does not promise equal outcomes (and neither does the Lord), it does offer equal opportunity and with opportunity anything is possible according to the will of God.
With capitalism's emphasis on the individual, a person must rely on self and God in order to have his or her needs met. Socialism sees the state as sovereign. Consequently, a person comes to rely on the state to have his or her needs met and God need never enter the equation.
Leviticus 19:9-10 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. There is something self-affirming, something that underscores dignity when a person earns his or her own way.
Not only does socialism undermine a person's reliance on himself and God, it also undermines an individual's obligation to assist the poor -- like gleaning outlined in the Old Testament. If the government is redistributing wealth to meet everyone's needs, why should anyone provide additional assistance?
Socialistic version of the 23rd Psalm:
"The government is my shepherd:
"I need not work.
"It alloweth me to lie down on a good job;
"It leadeth me beside still factories;
"It destroyeth my initiative.
"It leadeth me in a path of a parasite for politic's sake;
"Yea though I walk through the valley of laziness and deficit-spending,
I will fear no evil, for the government is with me.
"It prepareth an economic Utopia for me, by appropriating the earnings of my own grandchildren.
"It filleth my head with false security;
"My inefficiency runneth over.
"Surely the government should care for me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in a fool's paradise forever."
Is capitalism Christian? sort of, but its emphasis of the dignity of the individual makes it much more Christian than socialism.
A lot of people use the following verse to say you cant be "rich" in worldly wealth and enter the kingdom of God.
Matthew 19:21-24 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
I think it is/was a coveting issue with the young ruler, he was serving or being idolotrist towards his wealth. There are many examples of wealth provided to by my mentors in the Bible: Job, he had it, lost it through no fault of his own and was blessed with it again. Joseph, Had it, lost it, had it, lost it and had it again. and of course King Soloman.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the "LOVE" of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (emphasis mine)
Bottom line is that money is not a bad thing it's what you do with it.
- Dennis L's blog
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