I will admit that I know very little about national and international economics. When I turn on business TV or radio and listen for even a few moments, it’s as if a foreign language is being spoken. It’s a subject that is fascinating to me, but one that I cannot fully wrap my mind around.
People – including Christians – may never fully understand the ins and outs of the economy, but there are still some moral issues that must be considered when we think about the economy. In other words, it is a subject that Christians should have an interest in, because there is a moral basis behind the issues.
Here are some reasons why that is the case . . . .
The Principle of Honesty
In our personal lives, we sign our name for many things. That includes many financial transactions. The most obvious of these is when we agree to pay a debt. We might sign our name on a mortgage or to student loans. By signing the documents, we are making a clear moral statement that we will pay the debt and follow the terms of the agreement.
National economies are run the same way. When a government (at any level) agrees to take on debt, it is, in effect, “signing its name” to pay. Christians should be concerned with governmental debts that are run up by cities, states, and nations, because the government is making a statement that it will repay. If the leaders of any economy do not really intend to pay–or if they are not really agreeing to the terms of the contract–they are being dishonest.
We must be clear about this, though: Just because a debt is staggeringly large does not necessarily imply that the leaders are being dishonest about repayment. I firmly believe that they, like many people in their personal lives, are not really looking at what it will take to repay the debt. They want to, but have not faced reality. They are not intentionally being dihonest.
The Principle of Leaving a Legacy
Christians desire to leave a legacy to their families. The most important legacy is that of character and faith, but there is a financial legacy we would like to leave, if possible, as well. Sometimes circumstances like health failures cause this legacy–usually an inheritance–to shrink, but we have that desire.
This is a moral issue, because we are training our children and grandchildren by our actions. We are teaching responsibility. While we may not leave millions of dollars, our desire is to show God’s ways of handling money and pass that along.
A government that is seeking God’s will should desire the same. The economy should reflect the attitude of leaving for future generations a legacy of stability and character as it pertains to finances. God is always looking to the future and to blessings that are there with wise decisions. Those in positions of leadership would do well to spend some time considering what we are going to leave our children by the decisions we make. Instead of making panic moves that add burdensome debt, we must be willing to sacrifice.
The Borrower is Slave to the Lender – Proverbs 22:7
This verse has to be included in this discussion! “The borrower is slave to the lender” is not just true in personal lives, it is true on every level. A government (again, at any level) that takes on debt is showing that it does not really believe this principle from the pages of the Bible. If anyone, whether an individual or a government, does not trust this proverb from the Lord, what else will be not trusted?
The mounting debt of our economy in the United States is proof that we are enslaved. We need to “owe no man anything!” Christians should not be wrathful about debt, but should see it as a sign that we (as a whole) trust money and credit ratings more than the principles of God’s Word.
In conclusion, Christians should–no matter their party or leanings–see the bigger economic picture as a moral issue. A person who follows God’s principles of handling money will be blessed. That is also true for any government, and it is past time for many governments to learn that lesson.
What other moral issues are part of the foundation of an economy? What are your thoughts on these issues?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Adam, what I have noticed is that ChristianPF articles often fail to discuss structural problems within the American economic system. I don’t know if this is because the writers at ChristianPF lack knowledge of the American macroeconomic system or because they don’t want to go against status-quo. Regardless I will.
In the United States we use an interest bearing debt-based currency. It is impossible for America as a whole to pay off all its debts because the amount of money owed on all our principal debts is greater than the amount of money in circulation. In laymans terms all the money in our country is created by borrowing. In this system Christians must go into debt, Christians must go bankrupt.
How can we as WISE Christians tell people to pay off debts that we know can’t be paid off in the aggregate. Not only is the debt unpayable (in the aggregate), if we were to attempt to pay off all the debt then no money would exist AND WE WOULD STILL BE IN DEBT (AS A WHOLE).
We as Christians need to call a spade a spade. The American economic system may have had humble beginnings but it is now far removed from them. It has been intentionally molded into a system designed to replace our faith in our Lord, Yashua Messiah, with faith in fake science and materialism.
There are things we can control and there are things we can’t control. It’s interesting to me that that Lord Jesus never railed against slavery, the lack of women’s rights or Roman occupation, three issues we would consider important today.
A few decades ago Juan Carlos Ortiz gave me an excellent perspective. He said there are things the Bible is clear about, and others it’s not. It’s very clear about loving our brother, extending kindness to the poor and walking in honesty and integrity. It’s much less clear on political issues or even some doctrinal issues (infant baptism, for instance).
His take: let’s first get the things right the Bible is clear and emphatic about. Once we’re certain that we love our brother to the fullest extent possible (just to pick one thing) well, then perhaps we can start devoting attention to those things the Bible is less clear on.
In other words, until we’ve majored on the majors, let’s not be too concerned about the minors.
That said, the Bible did tell us to look for the signs of the times. I take it to mean not just spiritually, but also the life around us. I look at the signs of the economy because that’s what I was trained in, and it’s also a big interest of mine. I believe any smart person can lose a lot by not paying attention to the economy. Anybody who bought a house in 2007-07 will agree. Conversely, those who had patience to wait till 2010 to buy reaped a considerable financial reward. Ahhh… patience. An underrated virtue in our time…
As an individual, I believe that it’s in our best interest to be aware of what’s going on around us so we can prepare. Pharaoh prepared when Joseph told him about impending economic change, and look how it paid off for him! It has for me, too, which is why I started a blog about it. But I never lose sight that in the bigger picture, it’s still a minor.
Back to work on that loving my brother thing…