How does a Christian justify Capitalism?

Question

Capitalism, being based on investment and profit, seems to be antithetical to the socialist values by which Christ lived. Who has written about how this is reconciled? Where can I find debate and discussion about how much profit Jesus would have deemed acceptable and worthy in his Father's eyes to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?

Answer 1

That's an excellent question, and as a matter of fact my book club was discussing that very issue at last night's meeting.
A couple of the Biblical texts that deal with this are Romans 13 and 1st Peter 2...but those are the writings of Paul and Peter, not the words of Christ...
As a Christian I find that I cannot justify capitalism because the basis of capitalism is self-interest (Adam Smith). The basis of Christianity is supposed to be self-denial.
Yet I suspect a majority of American Christians would be astonished and appalled to ponder how much Christ's teachings resemble classic Communism--"from each according to his ability; to each according to his need."
I'll be watching the rest of the answers with interest.

Answer 2

Actually, both are not conflicting at all. Christ allowed investment and profit, but in the same time always told people to give each other. Christ never teach to abandoned capitalism.

What is conflicting to Christ's teaching is if one continously hound people on their financial debt without mercy.

I suggest you read the Gospels if you want to find out more if any of the capitalist move you done is according to Christ's teachings.

But obviously dedicated money changer kiosks are forbidden in the temples.


Anyway. It was Judas who insist on always giving to the poor and somehow anti-capitalism. When a poor woman bought and gave Jesus an expensive rubbing oil, Judas complained on how the money could be better spent on food for the poor. Jesus then replied on how they will always have the poor, but that they will not always have him.

Answer 3

Capitalism is not necessarily antithetical to Christian charity. It is an economic system with incentives to promote and reward productive and efficient suppliers and consumers using commodity pricing that rations and balances the use of resources and consumption of those, often scarce, resources. It , Capitalism, is not the moral problem.

It is the practitioners of capitalism that take the system to extremes hurting people pretending to be morally blameless bec they are simply following the rules of the invented economic system. There are practitioners of capitalism who are also members of a religion. Many of them hypocritically compartmentalize and rationalize their predatory economic behaviors ignoring their religious and moral beliefs knowing well that the capitalist system thrives when the have-alots take advantage of the have-nots or have-littles. The decisions to ruthlessly turn some human beings into slaves of circumstance to benefit or serve other humans is today what is bad about the practitioners of capitalism.
It's very anti-Kantian and anti-Jesus.

I could give a similar description for Socialism which is also practised in ways that enslave many for the benefit of the few. It is another invented economic system whose subscribers or practitioners take to immoral extremes.

Neither ism is ipso facto immoral or pro- or anti-Christian. The problem is located in the practitioners.

Answer 4

We are taught,"Render unto Caesar (in our time, capitalist government), those things which are Caesar's, and unto God
(in our time, the higher self which knows how to care for self and chooses to help the less gifted and talented, or even those less aware of their gifts and talents), those things which are God's. We are taught that the poor would always be with us. We are also taught that the measure of a man (and/or woman) is this management of self-interest toward the immediate self and the environement inwhich the immediate self exists. Efficient management occurs when offerings provide hope for those less productive than us. We are taught that everything is a mass recycling job whereby we are each applying a mental template to rearrange things for human benefit, or not. Those of us most capable of producing
benefit have, over time shared what we chose to offer hope to
the less capable, and in this way we have often exposed more capability than was previously evident, thereby improving the very environment in which we, ourselves live.
As for references, you may want to research The Life & Teachings of Jesus Christ by James S. Stewart. 3rd Printing, 1982. In this easy read you can review 'Jesus and Social Issues, C. 15, p. 153. Hope this is helpful.

Answer 5

in my opinion, the reason why any religion gets involve with idea of capitalism is because we live in a capitalistic world. everything and anything is weigh on the profit or gain. so, we set our lives based on how much we profit or what we can gain at the end of the week. most of us work, so we have a paycheck to pay our bills and to survive. religion has to follow this same way (that's why the collection basket is pass around and the extra ones are invested). so, religion, such as Christianity, have to adopt in order to continue and flourish.

Answer 6

Dear Leftypower,

There are 38,000 Christian denominations! They range from 100% profit motivated to 100% charitable. I've heard that Jesus leaned toward the charitable side, but that was then and this is now.

Your Friend,
The Happy Deist

PS (By praying all the way to the bank!)

Answer 7

See Emile Durkheim's work, something about the Protestant work ethic. Basically, protestants believed that their fates were predetermined, they had no control over whether or not they would go to hell. So they looked for clues. If a person was very wealthy (through capitalism), it might be a sign that God favored them.

However, YES, modern capitalism- with no moral checks or balances, is very mcuh antithetical to Jesus' teachings!!!!!

Answer 8

In the beginning, there was also an eye for favorable circumstance.

"I've got three colorful rocks for that pair of furry shoes you also have another of". The common thought in response to this question of deal? Depends on alot of factors huh?.......so comes the haggle, or not.

Maybe I'll just take them from you. (Was three colorful rocks fair for these "shoes" anyways?) Depends on alot of factors huh?

But where am I going to hide my stuff, regardless of how I accumulate it?

Dilemma

So maybe not everyone strives for such a bountiful ownership of things?

Now and then they do, right?

And now and then they did!

Rules made to pacify and control? Where do these rules come from without banks and security fences for protection anyways?

Someones got to make the rules.

Damage-control divinity?

Is there a God? Who knows.

But we all gotta eat. (Whenever and wherever in time)

Answer 9

I read that ministers had to make xianity palatable to their wealthier benefactors so tended to downplay the parts about voluntary poverty and eventually rationalized personal wealth as a kind of personal virtue.

So like the one post here says, "what's wrong with success and hard work?" see how well it worked?

socialism is not slavery nor is it at gunpoint. Socialism is an economic system.

And thanx for showing yet again that the brainwashing is working beautifully.

Answer 10

No offense, my friend, but Christianity is no more favourable to socialism than it is to capitalism.

If you look closely, you will see that it advocates a FEUDAL system rather than either of those: EVERYTHING belongs to the 'king', who then distributes that wealth according to his whim. Many denominations make a big deal about the idea that they'll get MORE than they deserve if they get the king's favour, while those who displease the king will be thrown in the dungeon and tortured.

Socialism tries to advocate the good of all... but Christians are only concerned with the good of the one king.