Thought 1: The Kingdom – Capitalist or Socialist?

My thought is, do you believe that God’s kingdom is a Capitalist kingdom? That is, a kingdom that encourages everyone to become wealthy? Do you believe that this kingdom encourages people to use their talents to make a lot of money at the expense and exploitation of others? Okay, let’s remove the extremity “at the expense, or exploitation of others”. Do you believe that this kingdom encourages people to use their talents to become very rich so that we can grab every luxury that this Western nation has to offer? Would you say that is the kingdom principle of finance and economics?

Or, would you say that Kingdom economics more resembles a perfect Socialist state in which every person uses their talents to make a sustainable living? Where excesses of grabbing everything that promises to satisfy (but rarely delivers the answer to that promise) is refused? A study of the Old Testament (especially the Jubilee laws contained in Leviticus) would give an insight to God’s heart on this matter. Entering into the NT, I am certain that you will not find any meaningful example of scripture to support the ‘Capitalist’ kingdom. Indeed, just from a surface reading, the Gospels and Acts support (I believe) the ‘Socialist’ economic model for the Kingdom.

The message of Jesus has been irresponsibly aligned with big business, capitalist excesses, and the pursuit of wealth. The teachings of Jesus do not support this. I believe that the Kingdom teachings of Jesus called for radical commitment, to the extent of heavy sacrifice so that the least fortunate may have an enhanced quality of life.

Some clarifications: First, There is a difference between socialism and communism. I do not suggest for a moment that the Kingdom reflects a communist model. Nor do I suggest for a moment that the current models of socialism do justice to the true ideology of socialism. If the word ‘socialism’ has negative connotations to you, please make up a new word. The thought that I want to convey is that, in my eyes, the kingdom is far from capitalism – therefore any attempt by the church to follow a capitalist model themselves is, in no better words, unfaithful to the idea of finance, economics, and social justice as conveyed in the Bible. Also, I do not relate the concept of consumerism and capitalism (although, in some ways the two are inseparable). The church lives in a consumerist society, we should neither attempt to withdraw from it nor should we attempt to adhere 100% to this culture. (We are to be in the world. The world is not meant to be in us.)

Second, I do not have a “poverty” mentality (as some modern Pentecostals would like to suggest). I have a view / mentality of the kingdom as a flourishing, prosperous kingdom. A kingdom wherein social justice exists. Social justice must be paramount in order for the now marginalised, outcast, and oppressed to enter into the plans and purposes of God for their life. Social injustice (in all of its shapes and forms, usually resulting in poverty) strips people of their inherent dignity that is theirs by being made in the image of God. Many Christians are co-partners in the area of social injustice simply by their career choices. An example of this is, a CEO of a large production company that uses 9 year old children in Chinese sweat shops to assemble their products, risking death, suffering very low quality of life etc. But of course that CEO would make statements like “I am blessed. I am blessed to be a blessing.”

Third, I am not naïve to the fact that anyone with a bible could point out that God blessed Solomon and King David with great riches. But I stress the need to study scripture a whole. Do not isolate one sentence from scripture to the rest of the bible. Look at the flow through scripture. Jesus heart went out for those who were downtrodden and oppressed. The King himself associated with them daily – even eating in the houses of the untouchables (the lepers). He made statements to people like the rich young ruler (when he tried to justify his righteousness) to sell everything he has and give it to the poor. We can not neglect the poor and needy in our profession of our faith. How do we use the resources and talents that God has given us to further the kingdom? When it comes to finances, are we being kingdom minded? Some peoples concept of the kingdom resembles corporate America, bigger is better is richer. Be honest with yourself. I will be honest – it used to be my view. My theology is not complete, but I have had a paradigm shift. I am looking at this through new eyes now.