Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Economic Class Warfare: A Biblical Response

A prevailing influx of marxist ideals has flooded American economics. Socialism has been present for over a century, but it is far more open today than ever before. At the root of this is class warfare, which states that one group should have its wealth redistributed to another less wealthy group. It is the philosophy that everyone should have the same amount of wealth. How do we think about this as Christians?

We are commanded to give freely and cheerfully to those in difficult impoverished situations and to the ministry of the Word. However, should the government force one to do this? It works like this. The government elite establishes a tax system takes from a wealthier group and then redistrubutes this property to whomever it wishes.

Besides the problem of determining how much should be taken and redistributed, the very heart of this system is an abolition of the 10th Commandment of Thou Shalt Not Covet. If my neighbor earns more money than I do, I should not covet and demand that he redistribute part of his hard earned wealth to me.

Nothing in Scripture demands that my neighbor nor I be compelled by the government to redistribute our property. Ultimately, this system stifles economic growth because it disincentivises people to work hard. Why work hard when I have to give half of it to my lazy neighbor? Even before the Fall, man was commanded to work by keeping the garden, and Adam would have gained the fruit of his labor. The difference now is that labor is arduous and not always as pleasant as we'd like it to be.

Therefore, be content with your wages as Christ commanded, and do not covet your neighbor's property, for that is evil and wicked in the eyes of the Lord! Rather, rejoice when others are blessed financially in diligence of their labor! To Him be the glory! Amen!

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