Is capitalism against Jesus' teachings? Is it wrong to save money for the future?
Is it sinful to strive to be the best?
It seems like without capitalism, motivation to improve and invent products would not exist.
Would we have the medicines we have today without the drive for pharmaceutical companies to make big bucks? I don't think so. I'd like to think that doctors and scientists would still want to save lives, but maybe it's not enough.
Thoughts on Money
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Posted by Katherine at 9:39 PM
Labels: religion, things I don't understand
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It's never sinful to strive to be YOUR best.
I think the implications of capitalism are against the thrust of Jesus' teachings. Capitalism tends to create a situation where a select few exploit lower classes. Thus, you have CEOs with millions, if not billions of dollars, and their workers at near minimum wage. Jesus, in so many ways, turns things upside down. He says the least of these are first. And with the story of Lazarus points out those who have everything materially in this life but ignore those with nothing will find themselves with nothing in the end (spiritually, that is). Basically, I do think Jesus desires his followers to create an alternative to all this. The early church as described in Acts did this-- they took care of one another, pulled together their resources, and loved rather than used.
As for saving money, I would try to look at the issue beyond "right/wrong". Do we save money because we are not part of a Jesus-loving community that would be there for us during hard times? Do we trust God to meet our needs? It seems Jesus, who had no savings and hardly any possessions whatsoever, wanted us to focus on the kingdom of God first and foremost and on the only thing we do have-- the present. I'm not outright answering your question, but I think Jesus addresses it on a different plain.
I think you're right to point out much advancement has occurred due to the incentives of capitalism. And I don't think the church should concern itself with changing the greater culture's way, but it is to model another way. That is what the early Christians were called after all-- The Way. Furthermore, I believe that while Christians can work within some of the confines of capitalism, the use of one's income and the ordering of one's priorities looks much differently for the Christ-follower.
Post a Comment