(published 2/23/00)
Introduction to Biblical Economics
by Mischa Gelman

   I have an idea for an interesting class which I doubt is offered in
many, if any, schools: Biblical Economics. Few non-religious people seem
to understand the bible's teachings on the issue of money and such a
course would help expand this knowledge base. Till such classes become
commonplace, though, this poorly written column will have to suffice.
   First off, we have to eliminate common concepts of the root of wealth.
We do not "earn" money according to biblical economics, nor is wealth a
result of in the interplay between supply and demand. Rather, wealth is by
the will of heaven. Also, rather than having earned it, it is merely
entrusted to us for proper usage.
   The use of wealth is the second point at which biblical economics
differs from standard teachings. Rather than investment, saving or
consumption being the most beneficial uses, we are asked to make the world
a better place with that given to us. As local multi-millionaire Levon
Kirkland said, "[E]verything you have is the Lord's. It's not really
mine.  I'm here managing it as best I can." If we abuse that wealth
entrusted to us, we shall face retribution.
   A third difference is the end goal of economics. It is not profit
maximization, economic "growth", "development" or keeping up with the
Joneses. Rather, it is to eliminate poverty and generate equality. Rev. 
Jim Wallis tells us of anthropological research that shows that the time
of the prophets vocally condemning sinful behaviors in the Old Testament
correlates with the eras where there were larger differences in the sizes
of peoples' homes. When the homes were more similarly sized, prophets were
not as widely heard. Danny Duncan Collum, in the wonderful publication
"Who Is My Neighbor? Economics as if values matter" (available from the
Christian magazine Sojourners at www.sojourners.com), tells us that "The
primary standard the Bible gives us for judging any economic system is the
priority of the poor.  The righteousness of a people is to be seen in how
they treat the weakest members of society." Plutocracy and greed are
similarly to be frowned upon, as "It is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of G-d"
(Matt. 19:24) and "He who loves money shall never be satisfied with money"
(Ecclesiastes 5:9).  
   Fourth, that poverty is not at any set level. Rather, we are simply to
give. The Bible does not call for a means test (that I've seen), limiting
kindness only to those who meet certain criteria. John Boyle O'Reilly
satirically summed the technocratic approach up in two verses - "The
organized charity scrimped and iced/In the name of a cautious, statistical
Christ." We are to freely give, without any negative assumptions or
prejudice towards those we give to. Bashing welfare recipients is not
conducive to biblical economic thought. 
   The Bible obviously does not support a greed-oriented economic
system. This is why many of had trouble correlating its teachings with
either capitalism (driven as it is by selfishness) and socialism (which
calls for the poor to greedily seize the mechanisms of control) - and why
other systems of distribution have been so fervently pushed by religious
folks, who have more easily seen through the false choices offered in the
capitalism vs. socialism debate. G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc and
Dorothy Day have been among the most vocal advocates for distributism.
Pope John Paul II and William Jennings Bryan felt equally at home
condemning both capitalism and socialism as inferior for curing what's
wrong with society. Those who have pushed one extreme or the other have
usually been heavily criticized (and rightly so) for selective usage of
Scripture.
   Well, there you have it. Now, next time you hear Jerry Falwell or Pat
Robertson called "religious" as they espouse the gospel of greed and
worship of the wealthy, you'll see through that sham and realize that
their teachings differ greatly from what's found in the teachings of G-d,
as seen by Jewish and Christian citizens of this land.

Mischa Gelman is 5'7" and 135 pounds and doesn't like to disagree with
6'1", 270-pound Pro Bowl linebackers like Levon Kirkland in general.