Here’s a paragraph:<\/p>\n
More than any other nation, the United States was founded on broad themes of morality rooted in a specific religious perspective. We call this the Judeo-Christian ethos, and within it resides a ringing endorsement of capitalism as a moral endeavor.<\/p>\n
Regarding mankind, no theme is more salient in the Bible than the morality of personal responsibility, for it is through this that man cultivates the inner development leading to his own growth, good citizenship and happiness. The entitlement\/welfare state is a paradigm that undermines that noble goal.<\/p>\n
The Bible’s proclamation that “Six days shall ye work” is its recognition that on a day-to-day basis work is the engine that brings about man’s inner state of personal responsibility. Work develops the qualities of accountability and urgency, including the need for comity with others as a means for the accomplishment of tasks. With work, he becomes imbued with the knowledge that he is to be productive and that his well-being is not an entitlement. And work keeps him away from the idleness that Proverbs warns leads inevitably to actions and attitudes injurious to himself and those around him.<\/p>\n
Yet capitalism is not content with people only being laborers and holders of jobs, indistinguishable members of the masses punching in and out of mammoth factories or functioning as service employees in government agencies. Nor is the Bible. Unlike socialism, mired as it is in the static reproduction of things already invented, capitalism is dynamic and energetic. It cheerfully fosters and encourages creativity, unspoken possibilities, and dreams of the individual. Because the Hebrew Bible sees us not simply as “workers” and members of the masses but, rather, as individuals, it heralds that characteristic which endows us with individuality: our creativity.<\/p>\n
At the opening bell, Genesis announces: “Man is created in the image of God”\u2014in other words, like Him, with individuality and creative intelligence.”<\/p>\n
Check out the rest of the article for more. \u00a0The New Testament affirms those principles and more. Godonomics are God’s principles for economic development. \u00a0 The New Testament affirms property rights loudly and clearly. \u00a0 Many will say, “Chad, How convenient of you to ignore the book of Acts which is clearly socialistic and anti-capitalism…” \u00a0Hardly the case. \u00a0 Capitalism is the “free exchange of privately held goods and property.” \u00a0Socialism is government control over business or commerce. \u00a0Marxism denies property rights and says, “no one owns anything.” \u00a0 The book of Acts celebrates property rights and the generosity produced by capitalism. \u00a0Case in point: Barnabus, the son of encouragement. \u00a0He was a successful businessman who produced, profiting, saved, and gave enormous amounts of his “private property and wealth” to others. \u00a0He inspired others to give their own money away as seen in Acts 2-4. \u00a0 Everyone began to assess other’s needs and give generously to the needs of both the Christians and the secular needy (impacting the skeptical leader of the land -as recorded by historian Josephus). \u00a0 \u00a0When\u00a0Ananias\u00a0and Sapphira are inspired by this businessman and want to be known as generous. \u00a0 The sell their land (Private property) and take “their earnings” (Affirmed in a few verses by the Apostle Peter) and pretend to give the money away fully. \u00a0 Peter confronts them about… Lying. \u00a0Not about holding the money back. \u00a0Peter affirms property rights. Peters says TWICE, the land was yours before you sold it… And the money was YOURS after you sold it. \u00a0You can do what you want with it… \u00a0 The issue was not about the amount they gave (or didn’t give), it was about the motivation and the lying to God.<\/p>\n
Back to Barnabus. \u00a0Imagine Barnabus giving all his money away totally. \u00a0It would be an amazing amount of generosity… And then what? \u00a0Barnabus would need someone to provide for him. He would need to fire all his employees since he sold the farm, the business, the supplies, etc. \u00a0 \u00a0Wouldn’t it be much better and generous for Barnabus to be generous to everyone by selling products that put others first which\u00a0enable\u00a0him to hire people and keep them\u00a0employed? \u00a0Wouldn’t Barnabus inspire and equip more generosity by leading by example and giving A LOT away to others and making a means for his employees to make money so they too could continue to give A LOT of money away?\u00a0 Of course. \u00a0 \u00a0Business and free market capitalism is the engine for generosity. \u00a0 Giving everything away once is alot like Daffy Duck’s famous “explosion” on stage. He drank gasoline, swallowed a stick of dynamite, and then a match… POW!!! He blew up. It was amazing. It was a huge bang!! \u00a0 As his angel floats to Heaven, his friend says, “That was amazing, can you do it again?”<\/p>\n
Daffy says, “The problem with that act is I can only do it once.” \u00a0The same is true of one time generosity and selling all you have. \u00a0 \u00a0The only exception, of course, is the rich man. \u00a0If money becomes your god (the thing that is more important to you than God), Jesus will challenge you to give it ALL away. \u00a0Why? \u00a0Money, and the love of money, cannot satisfy or play the role of God in anyone’s life.<\/p>\n
For more information, check out\u00a0www.godonomics.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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