The current conversation surrounding the issue of the economy...

At the church where I serve, we are in the midst of a sermon series entitled “Vote for Jesus”. During this series, our hope and our prayer is to accomplish three specific goals. First, our hope and our prayer is to demonstrate that Jesus is not a republican and Jesus is not a democrat. Instead, Jesus is God and as God Jesus is the one that we are to place our hope in, not a political party. Second, our hope and our prayer is to equip and empower us to think critically and Biblically when it comes to the issues that our culture is faced with that often find themselves expressed in the political process. And third, our hope and prayer is to provide a framework from the message and teachings of Jesus when it comes to how we as followers of Jesus are to engage in the government and in the political process in way that reveals and reflects Jesus to those around us.

This week, I would like for us to spend our time together addressing another political issue that would be a part of the political platform of Jesus if He was running for office. The issue that I would like for us to examine is the issue of the economy. Specifically, I would like for us to ask and answer two questions. And the two questions are "What policies would Jesus promote when it comes to the economy? What type of economic system would Jesus promote? Does Jesus promote socialism? Communism? Capitalism?" However, before answering these questions, I would like for us to spend a few minutes examining the current discussion in our country when it comes to the issue of the economy.

 

In our current political climate, the conversation surrounding the issue of the economy has been one of the most fascinating discussions to observe. At one end of the conversation when it comes to the issue of the economy are politicians and others who advocate for what are referred to as socialistic or communistic economic policies. As a general rule, those who promote either socialism, democratic socialism, or communism are viewed in our culture as being on “the left” often paint the current economic environment as being "rigged" for the wealthy.

 

And in the conversations that have been occurring over the last several years, those who advocate for democratic socialism or communism will use phrases like "everybody needs to pay their fair share" or "we need to solve the issue of income inequality" or "we need policies that promote a living wage" or "we need to rid the country of crony capitalism and deal with the one percent who are taking advantage of the system". In addition, those who promote democratic socialism, socialism, or communism will point to specific verses in the Bible to justify their positions.

 

On the other end of the conversation when it comes to the issue of the economy would be politicians and others who advocate for what are referred to as capitalistic policies. These are politicians and others, who would be viewed in our culture as being on “the right”, who reject the concept of socialism, democratic socialism, or communism to instead promote what they refer to as "free market capitalism".

 

And in the conversations that have been occurring over the last several years, those who advocate for capitalism will use phrases like "we need an economic system that promotes personal liberty and responsibility" or "capitalism makes the pie bigger for everyone" or "global capitalism is the solution to oppression and poverty". And, those who promote capitalism will point to specific Bible verses to justify their position.

 

So, is Jesus a socialist? Is Jesus a communist? Or is Jesus a capitalist? And which political party is quoting the Bible correctly? Or is neither political party quoting the Bible correctly? Before jumping into what the message and teachings of Jesus have to say about the economy, let's take a few minutes to define some economic terms. The reason I want to take the time to do this is due to the reality that, far too often, individuals on both sides of the political debate when it comes to the economy are throwing terms that they do not understand around like hand grenades at one another. So let's look at what the terms socialism, communism, and capitalism actually mean.

 

First, let's define the word socialism. Socialism is an economic system where the ways of making money are owned by a society as a whole, meaning the value made belongs to everyone in that society, instead of a small group of private owners. In other words, the government owns the means of production in an economy. Another important belief is that management and sharing of the resources produced in an economy are supposed to be based on public interests. Socialism is based on the belief that everything in society is made by the cooperative efforts of the people for the cooperative good of the people.

 

When it comes to the issue of private property, in socialism you have personal property, not private property. As quoted in an editorial by Ryan Cooper supporting Democratic Socialism "You'll still be able to own a computer, clothes, and a home under democratic socialism. But private property that is plainly negative to society, such as extraction rights in buried carbon, will have to be eventually extinguished if the human race is going to survive. The point is that common human welfare is more important than an absolute right to ownership."

 

By contrast, communism is a political and economic system in which the ways of making money are owned by the society as a whole or the state, and wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual need. This would be based on the common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and the state. When it comes to the issue of private property, in communism there is an elimination of private property for communal ownership of property.  

 

The most fundamental difference between socialism and communism is that under Communism individuals are provided for or compensated based on their needs. Central to socialism is that individuals are compensated for based on their individual contribution, so people that work harder or smarter would receive more than those that don’t contribute.  Another way to communicate the difference between socialism and communism is that in socialism resources are distributed according to ones deeds, while in communism resources are distributed according to ones needs. Both communism and socialism share that the means of economic production is owned by society or the state.

 

On the other hand, Capitalism is an economic and political system in which that ways of making money are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. Individuals are compensated for based on their individual contribution, so people that work harder or smarter would receive more than those that don’t contribute.  When it comes to the issue of private property, capitalism promotes the concept of private property.

 

Now, with all that background in mind, let’s take a look at what the message and teachings of Jesus have to say when it comes to the issue of the economy. Specifically, what do the letters that make up the Bible reveal about the type of economic system would Jesus promote?

 

Tomorrow, we will begin to discover the answer to this question…