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Can Christians Be Capitalists
...... Eliminating competitors unavoidably means eliminating Christianity from
the market environment. Competitors are got rid of by driving them out
of business before one's own organisation is driven out. And that is the
major principle involved in long term survival. Historically it has frequently
involved illegal means, but in any case it involves taking every advantage
and using every possible means to outreach and eliminate competitors.
In The Wealth Of Nation published in 1776 at a very early stage
in the development of market capitalism, Adam Smith, who coined the
phrase about the iron hand of the market, pointed to the essential
characteristic of any market: that it works on the principle of selfishness.
Markets deliver the goods only when participants operate in their
own self interest.
So the basic principle of market capitalism is diametrically opposed to
the fundamental teachings of Jesus. He taught a number of principles
which are damming to the market system. One could quote many scriptures
from the New Testament, but a major one comes in Luke 6. 27 - 36.
To quote only verse 31: Do to other people what you would have
them do to you. Space will not permit further quotations. This whole
question at length is discussed at length in my book The Path To
Freedom. But this passage is sufficient and is supported by many
other teachings of Jesus.
And we do not have to be capital-owning entrepreneurs to be a
culpable part of this system..Even those of us at work are in a market:
a labour or jobs market, in which we all participate. And we get on
primarily at the expense of others. We often do to others what we would
certainly not want them to do to us.
The Consequences'
Anyone who reflects on the extensive non-Christian aspects of markets
must reach the conclusion that it is a system incompatible with the basic
principles of Christianity. It even grabs Christian feast days for
itself. Just consider the commercialisation of Christmas and Easter. In many
respects, one would have to conclude that its principles are satanic - but
we have all be bought by the system!
Markets do deliver the goods. More goods and vastly greater standard
of living than ordinary people could ever have expected or dreamed of. But there
has been a price. A spiritually horrendous price. It is expressed primarily in the
way we treat others.
So what are the personal consequences and implications for the Christian' The Bat,the Cat,and The RatGenesis 1:25 (King James Version)
verse 25 "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their ..... ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A K Whitehead
Web Site: www.christianword.co.uk. Email: akw@christianword.co.uk
Experience: Over twenty years in Christian healing, teaching and writing.
Qualifications: B.A., M.Phil., Camb Univ Cert in Religious Studies
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