This question first brings to mind the ongoing debate in our family over whether “Christian” can be correctly used as an adjective. Apart from that debate, can we ask if Christianity is compatible with (or some may even feel essentially linked with) capitalism? Can we join the two as compatible, or even allies in philosophy and practice, or are they apples and oranges that simply happen to coexist?
What is capitalism? It is a system of economics that thrives on competition, and “survival of the fittest”. The concept “survival of the fittest” may invoke anti-Christian, pro-evolutionary sentiments in some, but some with a Christian heritage would see the concept of the “survival of the fittest” in the context of the created order of nature that serves a worthy purpose in the grand scheme of things (the purpose being most favorable if one happened to be among the “fittest”!).
Capitalism does favor “the fittest”; those with the best or most resources; capital, innovation, endurance, intelligence, education, experience, “savvy”, “luck of the draw”, etc. Capitalism creates hierarchy; the winners and the losers, the richer and the poorer, the haves and the have nots.
The underlying mechanisms that drive capitalism at their core values are individualism, desire, (greed?) and pride.
To be fair, since the picture so far looks pretty negative, capitalism does promote hard work, usually tying the amount of work to the amount of success expected. The Bible itself promotes work and effort with the anticipation of rewards based on the proportion of effort invested. But what about the motivation for worthy work in the Bible? Is this the same as the reason “capitalists” work?
Another way to look at this is to ask, “What will the economy of the Kingdom look like?” We can get an idea of this from the Sermon on the Mount, and other passages of Scripture.
Will there be competition in the Kingdom? Will there be “survival of the fittest”? Will there be marketing and advertising to promote one product over another?
(This brings up another point about capitalism: the purpose of advertising seems to be not so much presenting a new product that might be of actual benefit, but more an attempt to produce discontent and desire, so that one might develop a sense of need of something that in reality, they are doing quite well without!)
It is difficult to fit these concepts into the eternal state where there is plenty for all, lack of need, promotion of community, not competition one against another for some personal or corporate advantage. All will focus on the King.
One might argue, “That’s fine for the future, but right now, capitalism seems like a pretty good system for Christianity to align with and collaborate with. It does produce wealth that can be used to build churches, and send to missionaries (after we pay for our vacation condo, boat, cruise, etc.)” That argument arises from the point of view of “the fittest”. For the “fittest” to succeed, there are those who are at the other end of the spectrum. There is some “trickle down” via the generosity of the “fittest” or via the opportunism of “the fittest” looking for a more efficient or cost effective work force.
From the point of view of the “unfit”, capitalism is pretty cruel, benefiting those who least need it, and who are least likely to share its benefits.
If as Christians …
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