Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Book of Acts: Socialism Failed, Bible Promotes Free Market

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Leftists are always challenging the idea that Biblical Principles inspired the U.S. Constitution, and the founding of this nation. One hard left liberal even accused that "democracy" is found nowhere in the Bible. That may be true, but the failures of socialism/communism, and the Biblical mandate for free market capitalism, is present in Biblical text.

Today, while listening to a Christian radio program, Pastor Chuck Smith discussed a piece of history in the Book of Acts regarding the early church, and how in Jerusalem the young Christian church tampered with a style of communal living (communism), and it failed badly. Because of the terrible failure of the Jerusalem church's foray into socialism, a horrific persecution of the church commenced in Jerusalem. The members of the Jerusalem church fled. They were able to flee because they saw the persecution coming, and turned their short experiment into communal living into an advantage for their escape. They were able to flee quickly because they had sold every personal item they owned. (Acts 8:1)

In some parts of the Bible the accumulation of wealth seems to be looked down upon, but the context is that the accumulation of wealth can easily make a person lose sight of God, so wealth is something that must be balanced with faith, and where faith must remain the dominant force.

In the Gospel of Luke, which is one of those books that seems to sometimes be hostile regarding the act of accumulating great wealth, Luke also offers: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete [measure] withal it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38).

What you just read is the fundamental principle of free market economics: serve the consumer, and the return will be great.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth (Luke 22:25- 27).

The quest for gaining a great amount of wealth for its own sake is foolish, Jesus said -- not just in Luke but in the other Gospels, as well.

And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:16-21).

Luke, and Matthew, are often quick to remind us that success is a matter of priorities.

In both the Old Testament, and the New Testament, the Bible speaks regarding economic issues more than any other issue. In the book of Proverbs there are whole sections devoted to financial matters. A good number of the parables of Jesus deal with economics. These passages tell us what our attitude should be toward wealth and how a Christian should handle his or her finances. The Bible also reminds us of our human nature, and how our natural tendencies, and Biblical instruction, can help us evaluate the possible success of a societal economic system.

Two aspects in regards to human nature are given to us in Scripture. We are created in the image of God, which means we are able to control the economic system - and we are sinful by nature, which leads us toward greed and exploitation. This means that we need to have an economic system that protects individuals from human sinfulness in the economic system, while providing the freedom for people to work individually for their wealth.

Since we are created in the image of God, we have rationality and personal responsibility. This means that we have the freedom (free will) to choose between various competing products and services. Unlike animals who are governed by instinct, humans are governed by rationality and can make meaningful choices within a free market system.

In that economic system private property can exist. This is provided by the biblical idea of dominion. In Genesis 1:28, God says we are to subdue the earth and have dominion over the creation. Certainly one aspect of this is that humans can own property in which they can exercise their dominion.

So, since we have both free will and private property rights, we can then assume that we also have the God-given freedom to exchange these private property rights in a free market where goods and services can be exchanged.

When considering our sinful nature, one must realize we are fallible. As fallen creatures our sinful ways can give way to selfishness, greed, and exploitation. Thus, we need some protection in an economic system from the sinful effects of human interaction. Knowing this, we must realize that systems that centralize and concentrate economic power, which unleashes sinful behavior, should be systems to be avoided. This is why it is natural for Christians to reject state-controlled or centrally controlled economies. Instead, Christians are naturally attracted to economic systems that would divide the power, and protect the people from greed and exploitation.

Free market capitalism provides the most freedom, and is most effective when it comes to personal economic gains. In that consideration, it seems that a free market financial system best fits Biblical teachings.

Modern Capitalism began when Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776. The argument presented by Mr. Smith specifically challenged the centralized British system of mercantilism. Adam Smith presented that the wealth of nations could be increased by allowing the individual to seek his own self-interest and by removing governmental control over the economy.

Adam Smith's presentation argued that people are motivated by self-interest, private property is an important ingredient in any successful economic system, and the role of government must be minimized as much as possible. If these three factors are present, prosperity will follow.

Biblically, private property rests in our being created in God's image. Individual choice, as with a person's voluntary choice to accept Christ, also plays a factor. Economic success can best be achieved if each person is accountable for his own productivity, and that the productivity is of his own choosing. Dealing with the poor also maintains choice. We should give to the poor, but it must be a voluntary action of our own fruition. Taking away one's freedom to choose by forcing a citizen to give to the poor through government mandate is not consistent with free will as provided by Scripture, and is damaging to the poverty stricken, for if they receive unlimited gifts from the public treasury, the incentive to better themselves will be lost.

Keeping more of what you make, and being driven to do so by self-interest, is one of the primary tenets of free market capitalism. The Gospels also appeal to our self-interest. It is in our self-interest to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior so that our eternal destiny will be assured.

This is part of the reason that economic systems that are centralized and concentrate power in the hands of a few greedy people tend to be anti-Christian, and secular in nature. Free will of the people, or voluntary choice, is not something such systems can tolerate. Besides, in centralized systems, the government must be the primary aspect of the citizen's lives, and God is not competition they are willing to tolerate.

Sure, free market capitalism has its flaws as an economic system as well, but it can provide, more than any other system, economic prosperity and economic freedom - using principles consistent with Scriptural teachings.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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