Category Archives: Economics
the best ways to fight poverty – really???: a response to mark galli
The following post is a response to an article in Christianity Today entitled “The Best Ways to Fight Poverty—Really“ by Mark Galli (editor). It is worth reading Mark’s article before launching into mine.
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The Better Ways to Fight Poverty – Really: A Response to Mark Galli
In Christianity Today’s February issue Cover Story, “The Best Ways to Fight Poverty—Really“, Mark Galli offers a thought-provoking sketch of the current state of global poverty and a generous critique of action on poverty within the Church.
Galli’s insights, however, are undermined by a number of critical flaws, notably his understanding of development, global poverty trends and the intersection of eschatology and Christian and ecclesial practice. Perhaps most concerning is Galli’s interpretation of poverty and Christian action within the biblical narrative.
There is no doubting Galli’s concern for Christians to engage with the poor. “It would be foolish to stop caring for the poor,” he says, “We are not called to obey Jesus only if our efforts are guaranteed to make a difference.” To that I say, Amen.
Galli, however, goes on to suggest that such Christian engagement with the poor is meant to be personal, in the sense that it should not attempt to go beyond the level of individual charity into the realm of “national and global initiatives”. In other words, Galli does not believe it is the task of the Church to attempt to end poverty, but merely to bind the wounds of those who must endure it. Read the rest of this entry
q&r: luke 19 and the parable of the minas
A Facebook message I received today read simply:
Luke 19 – parable of the 10 Minas. Please explain?
Straightforward. I like that.
The Parable of the Ten Minas is a well-known parable whose popular interpretation has God as the nobleman and Christians as the servants. In this reading faithful servants are those who are productive. We all have different levels of resources, and this is taken into account by God. Ultimately though the faithful are rewarded and the unproductive are punished.*
The problem with this reading is that it portrays God as a cold, cruel, greedy elitist. It assumes that the nobleman in the parable, who is a wealthy character, should be equated with God. As I have said previously this is a mistake; Luke consistently portrays the rich in less than flattering ways throughout his Gospel:
- … he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. (1:53)
- … woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. (6:24)
- … the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God. (12:21)
It would be strange if Luke suddenly equated God with a rich man.
If the nobleman is not God, and the story is not about productivity, what exactly is going on in this parable? Read the rest of this entry
an interpretation of the shrewd manager in luke 16
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13) is, in the words of Leon Morris, “… one of the most difficult of all the parables to interpret.”*
Most people with whom I have discussed this parable have little to no idea as to what it might mean. Indeed the idea that a dishonest person is commended is troubling at the very least.
The most common solution I have heard is that Jesus is saying we should be wise with our resources and opportunities just like the shrewd manager, to the point of using them dishonestly if necessary in order to get a good outcome.
Is this a fair interpretation?
I don’t think so.
individualism, desire and the christian self
It is frequently said that we live in an individualistic society.
This is not all bad. The fact that individualist philosophy values the individual’s worth is fantastic.
Not so fantastic in light of Christian theology is the individualist insistence on rejecting all forms of external interference on one’s interests. This is not simply because of the existence of God, the ultimate “external” authority, but also because of the unrealistic, even naive, view of human existence it represents.
What human is able to live according to their own interests, unabated by the interests of society? We live in a world of social connections in which even our most basic needs are dependent on relationships. I think for example of food whereby most of the people I know are completely disconnected from the production and manufacture of almost everything they eat.
How would individualism even work in a world such as this? Read the rest of this entry
things on heaven, and things on earth…
Christians are often puzzled or bored or indifferent when confronted by the Torah’s obsessive concern with regulating every aspect of Israelite life. Does the holy book really need to tell us what to do when one ox gores another (Exodus 21:35-6)? Why are bald eagles detestable to eat (Leviticus 11:13), but bald locusts are just fine (Leviticus 11:22)?
The details of such passages might need some sorting out, but the overall point should not be missed: the Old Testament writers had an abiding concern with the materiality of life. There simply was no distinction to be made between spiritual concerns and material concerns.
The realm of the material is not just an inert and indifferent means to spiritual aspirations. The salvation of the whole community is worked out not in some interior dialogue with God, but in the everyday interactions with the material world. All of creation is to be brought into conformity with God’s will.
William Cavanaugh in his article on the ABC Religion & Ethics website, Only Christianity Can Save Economics.
MCA
creation needs more than a tax
I have written previously on the Federal Government’s carbon tax, and if you were to read those posts you would know that I am a supporter of the levy.
However I want to set the record straight and state that I don’t believe a carbon tax is enough to deal with the climatological problems we are experiencing in our world.
Is this a political rant? A scientific one? No; if anything it is theological.
While a carbon tax/ETS could potentially help the world inasmuch as citizens of different nations are encouraged to adapt their carbon habits, it seems to me somewhat misguided to think that a market band-aid can truly heal an open sore that has been created by humans abusing the same market; more on that in a second. Read the rest of this entry
carbon tax creates some warming of its own
The Gillard government’s carbon tax has, over the past few weeks, caused some warming of its own.
Mostly the heat generated by the carbon tax issue has been around the increased cost of living for families when it is implemented. The focus of the debate is of course on the government’s plan; the Coalition’s plan has flown mostly under the radar because it is at this point not being discussed as a reality in Parliament.
Annabel Crabb’s Tuesday article on The Drum website made an apt observation, namely that climate policy always seems to be fought on the enemy’s lawn; keep the focus on them and you will prosper. This is certainly the Coalition’s plan, and in a way it is successful. Read the rest of this entry
commie talk… sort of
My friend Josh, over at his blog Incoherent Ramblings (…of a Mad Man?), has posted a piece entitled ‘Continuing with the Commie Talk’. In it he outlines some biblical reflections on our economic system, similar to what I did in my post ‘Is There a Third Way in Economics?’, except Josh reflects on some different biblical texts. Well worth a read!
http://joshdowton.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/continuing-with-the-commie-talk/#comment-88
MCA
is there a third way in economics?
Back again for another round of musings in 2011…
I’ll kick this year off with something that has been on my mind for quite a while. I have posted on this subject before, and I’m sure my opinions about it will continue to evolve as I continue to learn throughout my life.
That subject is economics.
Just to inform people, I have never been an economics student; in fact when it comes to the technical side of economics I’m sure that I’m very ignorant (though as Michael Moore recently showed, not even Wall St economists can explain derivatives…). Indeed I have friends who are far more familiar with studies in economics than I will probably ever be.
This, however, does not exclude me (or you for that matter) from discussions about economics. While most people may not understand the technicalities of economics, the fact is that this sphere of reality affects their lives every day – everybody is involved with economics. A wise economics-savvy friend once told me, “Economics is not so much about numbers as it is about anthropology; how do humans behave in regards to money.” In my experience this is an apt statement.
My question today is, which economic philosophy should Christians adopt? Of course, there will be no definite or comprehensive answer here, but I want to briefly explore some reflections on a Christian response to capitalism and socialism.
Western Christians (and Western people in general) have largely derided socialism as a perverse and ridiculous theory that has too often led to totalitarian regimes. The same people however often fail to note the similar accusations that should be equally levelled against capitalism. Keep Reading…
capitalism is a jealous god
I found this great little piece by Ben Griffith here.
Then Capitalism spoke all these words:
I am Capitalism your God–the spirit of the American Dream–who brought you out of the Great Depression, who brought you from poverty and a mere speck on the map to being the greatest empire on earth. You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not think up for yourself a god that disagrees with me, whether he is one who disagrees with the free-market, laissez faire economics, the desire to be filthy rich, or any other of my values. You shall not bow down and worship them; for I, Capitalism your god, am a jealous god, punishing the lazy and those who can’t help themselves with generational poverty, but showing kindness to all those who work hard and dedicate themselves to the pursuit of money and power.
You shall not slander my name in any way. In fact, you should hold classes in your schools that glorify my name and slander the unspeakable name of Socialism. If you question me, I will make sure that you are embarrassed and thrown out of our business circles–doomed to mail rooms and cleaning toilets.
Never stop working…not for anything. Some people believe in rest. But the days are not yours, they belong to the market. And if you think that you can make it in this world, then rest assured, you will never rest. For by hard work and labor, the industrial revolution, the technological revolution, and Wall Street were created, and those who pioneered them still haven’t rested.
Take advantage of whoever you want–even if it’s your father and mother. This is the only way you will prosper and have the retirement that you want.
You shall not murder–that’s illegal–but anything else is fair game. You can slander, defame, and threaten anyone that gets in your way. That is the only way to the top.
You shall not commit adultery–that’s scandalous–but never let your wife distract you from your firm. Don’t get caught having sex with another woman, but the company must come first.
You shall not steal. Well, at least don’t commit accounting fraud or embezzle, but don’t worry about stealing from neighboring countries by using their cheap labor. After all, that’s my sprit of Global Economics.
Be prepared to misrepresent your competitor. It can be a problem when you attack a fellow employee (at least publicly), but that can sometimes be advantageous too. But always paint your competitor as incompetent, selfish, and below you. Lie if you have to, do what you need to succeed.
Covet everything. Covet your neighbor’s house, maids, cars, and everything else that he has. After all, the world is yours for the taking.
