The Bible mandates free market capitalism. It is anti-socialist.
The
essence of democratic socialism is this re-written version of God's
commandment: "Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote."
"Economic democracy" is the system whereby two wolves and a sheep vote on what to have for dinner.Christian socialists and defenders of economic planning by state bureaucrats deeply resent this interpretation of their ethical position. They resent it because it's accurate.
When Christianity adheres to the judicial specifics of the Bible, it produces free market capitalism.
On the other hand, when Christianity rejects the judicial specifics of the Bible, it produces socialism or some politically run hybrid "middle way" between capitalism and socialism, where politicians and bureaucrats make the big decisions about how people's wealth will be allocated. Economic growth then slows or is reversed. Always.
Free market capitalism produces long-term economic growth. Socialism and middle-way economic interventionism by the state produce poverty and bureaucracy. If your goal is to keep poor people poor, generation after generation, you should promote socialism. But be sure to call it economic democracy in order to fool the voters.
The Bible is an anti-socialist document. Socialist propagandists for over four centuries have claimed that the Bible teaches socialism, but we have yet to see a single Bible commentary written by a socialist. If the Bible teaches socialism, where is the expository evidence?
When I say that the Bible mandates a moral and legal social order that inevitably produces free market capitalism, I have the evidence to back up my position. My critics -- critics of capitalism -- do not.
The next time you hear someone say that the Bible teaches anything but free market capitalism, ask him or her which Bible commentary demonstrates this. You will get a blank stare followed by a lot of verbal tap-dancing about "the ultimate ethic of the Bible" or "the upholding of the poor in the Bible." You will be given a lot of blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah is not a valid substitute for biblical exposition.
Fact: There has never been an expository Bible commentary that shows that the Bible teaches anything other than free market capitalism.
Beginning in April, 1973, I began writing a verse-by-verse commentary on the economics of the Bible. The first essay, on Genesis 1:26-28, appeared in the May, 1973 issue of the Chalcedon Report.
An economic commentary on the Bible had never been attempted before. I discuss only those passages that relate to economics.
No one before me had ever attempted to write a Bible commentary on a specific academic discipline. I hope mine becomes a model for others.
I have continued working on this project ever since. I limited my writing to one essay per month from 1973 to 1976. Beginning in the summer of 1977, I began working 10 hours per week, 50 weeks per year on this project.
I needed every minute.
I completed the posting of the entire series, 31 volumes, in August 2012. Because I had to cease writing it for six months in 1998, when I did not have access to my library, I added six months to the deadline. I met my August 1977 deadline to the month: February plus six months = August.
The series is posted here: http://www.garynorth.com/public/department158.cfm
In addition, I have written over half a dozen books that are in effect extended appendixes to one or more of these commentaries. These are posted on-line for free: www.GaryNorth.com/freebooks.
Dominion and Common Grace (1987)First, however, is my brief, easy-to-read introduction to biblical economics, Inherit the Earth.
Is the World Running Down? (1988)
Political Polytheism (1989)
Millennialism and Social Theory (1990)
Victim's Rights (1990)
The Judeo-Christian Tradition (1990)
The Coase Theorem (1991)
On Sending Your Children into a Meatgrinder
So, you want to send your child to a Christian college. Why? keep reading
So, you want to send your child to a Christian college. Why? keep reading
Capitalism Is Not Inherently Immoral, Contrary to Prof. Eric Foner.
This is a brief response to a statement by Prof. Foner in 2008. keep reading
This is a brief response to a statement by Prof. Foner in 2008. keep reading
Memo to Protestant Evangelicals: Do Your Homework Before You Go into Print
That'll be the day! keep reading
That'll be the day! keep reading
Inherit the Earth: The Biblical Blueprint for Economics
Here is the biblical structure of economics. It conforms to the five-point structure of God's covenants with man. Biblical economics supports the capitalist system. Capitalism is the inevitable product of the Bible's law-order, which is why Christian socialists reject biblical law. keep reading
Here is the biblical structure of economics. It conforms to the five-point structure of God's covenants with man. Biblical economics supports the capitalist system. Capitalism is the inevitable product of the Bible's law-order, which is why Christian socialists reject biblical law. keep reading
Honest Money: The Biblical Blueprint for Money and Banking
The modern world economy faces a monetary disaster because it violates the Bible's laws governing money. Theologians ignore these laws, and so do economists. You would be wise not to imitate the theologians and economists. keep reading
The modern world economy faces a monetary disaster because it violates the Bible's laws governing money. Theologians ignore these laws, and so do economists. You would be wise not to imitate the theologians and economists. keep reading
Taxation in the Bible
Are there Bible-based principles of taxation? If there are, how would they apply today? keep reading
Are there Bible-based principles of taxation? If there are, how would they apply today? keep reading
An Introduction to Christian Economics
This 1973 book serves as a guide to the relationship between the free market social order and the Bible's system of ethics. keep reading
Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views of Economics
This 1973 book serves as a guide to the relationship between the free market social order and the Bible's system of ethics. keep reading
I wrote one of the articles. Within a year, the book was pulled off the market by the publisher. I like to think it was because of my article. keep reading
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