Sen. Tim Scott Gov. Sam Brownback Dr. Larry P. Arnn Dr. Art Lindsley

Diane Paddison Dr. Albert R. Mohler, Jr. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez Hugh Whelchel

A Special Report Prepared by The Washington Times Advocacy Department and the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics Faith at Work Economic Flourishing, Freedom to Create and Innovate

Foundational Themes Why Not Socialism? Are there economic implications in the Creation story?...... 3 Defending the free market...... 20 Hugh Whelchel Rev. Robert A. Sirico

‘If you are the problem, you are also the promise’...... 4 Why not socialism?...... 20 Sen. Tim Scott Lawrence W. Reed

‘Devotion to high purpose’ undergirds success...... 4 Acting on the ‘God moments’...... 22 Dr. Larry P. Arnn Dr. Jesse Miranda and Fred Oaks

5 ‘incredible innovations’ that combat poverty...... 6 Why I am no longer a socialist...... 23 Dr. Arthur C. Brooks Ismael Hernandez

The case for faith and a free market ...... 6 Does Acts 2-5 teach socialism?...... 24 Daniel Garza Dr. Art Lindsley

Invention and discovery generate wealth...... 7 Michael Novak Markets With a Conscience Faith, economic freedom and innovation in the Latin world...... 25 12 theses for a Christian understanding of economics...... 8 Ricardo Luna Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Profits and an ‘economy of mutuality’...... 25 Young Americans, entitlement and the Christian vision of work...... 10 Dr. Tom Nelson John Stonestreet Flourishing requires belief in human potential...... 26 Human flourishing: An urgent, universal, timeless goal...... 11 Gov. Sam Brownback Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington Man’s impulse to innovate in the marketplace and to create disciples...... 27 David Durell m e n t art Are Free Markets Too Costly? ‘Mankind is our business’...... 28 Shelving the ‘Greed Myth’ and other economic illusions...... 12 Mike Sharrow Dr. Jay W. Richards o cacy D e p Redefining business leadership as ‘stewardship’...... 29 Economic freedom, opportunity ease poverty...... 13 Terence Chatmon Trey Dimsdale Aiming at abundant lives — and livelihoods...... 29 Poverty, not income inequality, is our modern problem...... 14 John Scott on T i m e s A dv t Dr. Anne R. Bradley Leveraging the workplace for greater good...... 30 sh i ng Freedom is key to creating wealth, prosperity...... 15 Diane Paddison Jack Kemp Popcorn and lemonade sales point Detroit to fiscal health...... 31 C.S. Lewis on selfishness vs. self-interest...... 16 Pastor Christopher Brooks Dr. Art Lindsley The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Th e Wa ARED BY What I didn’t learn in business school...... 17 Christian research organization committed to promoting biblical and economic Ken Eldred principles that help individuals find fulfillment in their work and contribute to a

ON TI M E S free and flourishing society. For more information and to subscribe to the IFWE T Are riches and righteousness necessarily at odds?...... 18 Dr. David Kotter and Dr. Joshua Greever blog, visit www.tifwe.org. SH I NG A Trusting God, not government, for upward mobility...... 19 Rev. Samuel Rodriguez P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W |

Cheryl Wetzstein Larry T. Beasley David Dadisman Patrick Crofoot Special SectionS Manager preSident and ceo general Manager SuperviSor, graphicS o ber 7 • 2016 Advertising Department: Thomas P. McDevitt Adam VerCammen 202-636-3062 chairMan director of advertiSing & SaleS

Special Sections are multipage tabloid products that run in The Washington Times daily newspaper and are posted online and in PDF form onits website. Sponsors and advertisers collaborate with The Times’ advertising and marketing departments to highlight a variety of issues and events, such as The Power of Prayer, North Korea’s Friday • Oct Friday Nuclear Threat, Gun Rights Policy Conference and Rolling Thunder Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans. Unless otherwise identified, Special Sections areprepared separately 2 ADVOCACY/SPECIAL SECTIONS and without involvement from the Times’ newsroom and editorial staff. FOUNDATIONAL THEMES Are there economic implications in the Creation story?

unique talents and abilities and the raw As God’s stewards, we do not own “the expenditure of energy (manual materials of creation to make things anything outright — everything belongs or mental or both) in the service of that glorify God, serve our needs and to God. Yet as his image-bearers, we others, which brings fulfillment to the provide for the needs of our neighbors. possess subordinate ownership. These worker, benefit to the community and This is why J.R.R. Tolkien called property rights are subject to the glory to God.” man a subcreator. Tolkien would also requirements of stewardship. God gives rightly state that one of the ways man us real responsibilities and real deci- Creation and economics glorifies God is through the subcre- sion-making capabilities. We are there- Dr. Amy L. Sherman and Dr. James ation of works that echo the true fore accountable to God for how we use W. Skillen suggest, “Careful thinking creations of God. everything entrusted to our care. about economics begins with the focus ⦁ Stewardship and ownership Look at the Eighth Command- on the Bible’s big story. A biblical per- God gave humanity dominion over ment, “Thou shall not steal.” It implies spective on economic life doesn’t come the earth to steward with authority, personal property rights. It should not from random proof-texting. Rather, responsibility and care. In Genesis surprise us that there has never been a it is rooted in queries about God’s 1:28, we are told that one of the things culture in the history of the world that intentions for his people and all he has we are created to do is to subdue the prospered over time without strong made.” earth. The Hebrew word, translated property rights. It is also important Economic decisions are responses By Hugh Whelchel “subdue” in verse 28 (Hebrew kabash) to recognize that it is not society that to God’s call to stewardship. They in that context, means to make the has “ownership” of goods, but rather should be made in the light of the e do not believe earth useful for human beings’ benefit individuals. moral principles laid out in Scripture.

that the Bible ex- and enjoyment. ⦁ Work The free market, more than any A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE plicitly endorses Stewardship implies an expecta- We read in Genesis 2:15, “The Lord other system, not only embraces these capitalism or any tion of human achievement. If God God took the man and put him in the three biblical principles, but also other economic entrusts me with something, then he Garden of Eden to work it and take requires them if the system is to work system. Yet the expects me to do something with it, care of it.” Man was created to work. at all. A free market encourages men Bible has much something worthwhile, something that Work is a pre-fall ordinance, a part of and women to create to their fullest to say about economic principles, and he finds valuable. God has entrusted God’s good creation. It was intended to potential, giving them the opportunity as Christians, we should embrace its us with certain resources, gifts and be the gracious expression of creative to glorify God in the process.

W ARED BY T he Wa wisdom as we make economic choices abilities. Our responsibility, as Dr. Ken energy in the service of others. From The character traits that are valued in our everyday lives. It should also Boa, president of Reflections Minis- a biblical perspective, work is not pri- in the Bible — honest labor, creativity, lead us to embrace systems that are tries, writes, “is to live by that trust by marily a thing one does to live but the investment and thrift — are those val- more closely in alignment with the managing these things well, according thing one lives to do. ued and rewarded under a free market principles expressed in the Scriptures. to his design and desire.” Cleric John Stott described work as system. The Bible approves of wealth In our search for economic princi- gained through industriousness and ples in the Bible, we need to begin with self-control, traits that are important s hingt the story of Creation found in the first for success under free enterprise. two chapters of Genesis. Here we see Christians down through the centu- o n T ime s A dv God’s normative intentions for life. We ries who understood these economic see life as “the way it ought to be.” Man principles laid out in the Creation is free from sin, living out his high call- story have shaped, changed and cre- ing as God’s vice regent in a creation ated flourishing by the work of their THE WASHINGTON TIMES that is “very good.” hands. It is not what they believed but D e p o cacy There are three major economic what they did that transformed our principles laid out in Creation: institutions, communities and families. ⦁ Creativity and freedom We need to do likewise. artment Genesis 1:26 tells us humanity is made in God’s image. God’s creativity Hugh Whelchel is executive direc- is one of his central attributes revealed tor of the Institute for Faith, Work & |

in the Creation story. God created Economics (www.tifwe.org) and au- Friday • Oct everything we see around us out of thor of “How Then Should We Work? nothing. As Pastor Tim Keller writes, Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine “God was an entrepreneur. He brought of Work” (WestBow Press, 2012). The something out of nothing. He brought Institute for Faith, Work & Economics

order out of chaos. Why did he do it? (IFWE) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Chris- o ber 7 • 2016 He did it not because he had to; he did tian research organization committed it because he wanted to. He did it for to promoting biblical and economic the joy of doing it.” principles that help individuals find While we can’t create something fulfillment in their work and contrib- out of nothing, being created in God’s ute to a free and flourishing society. image still means that men and women are free to imaginatively use their 3 ‘If you are the problem, you are also the promise’

someone’s future. movie theater, I befriended the owner simpler and more focused. I would be remiss not to begin my of a local Chick-fil-A franchise, and he I also came to learn the importance story by talking about my grandfather, became my mentor. John Moniz taught of setting goals and having personal who left school in the third grade to pick me I was the only one who was in confidence in my potential. I wrote down cotton in South Carolina. control of my future. “If you don’t like my dreams, goals, aspirations, and then He toiled day in and day out to pro- where you are, change it. It’s not your doubled them. I believe more often than vide for his family. My mother went on to mother’s fault because she’s working. not kids live down to the lowest level of share the same work ethic. I remember It’s not your father’s fault because he’s expectations. My mother would tell me her working 16-hour days to be able to not around. If you are the problem, you growing up, “Shoot for the moon, and if keep food on the table for my brother are also the promise.” He taught me to you miss, you’ll be among the stars.” Her and me. It was there, in our small house embrace personal accountability. I woke words could not have been more accu- in North Charleston, where I learned the up to a new future, a new reality and new rate, and I urge everyone to take the time importance of faith, hard work, and the opportunity. to create a personal path. simple, but sometimes forgotten, concept Regrettably, John died a few years Our nation certainly faces challenges. of living within your means. later. The night before his funeral, at the We have nearly 48 million Americans I often look to Proverbs 16:3, “Commit age of 19, I wrote my personal mission who are living in poverty. My family’s to the Lord whatever you do, and he will statement to honor his life. I commit- story shows what is possible in America. By Sen. Tim Scott establish your plans.” He has always been ted myself to impacting a billion people We have gone from “Cotton to Congress” od, faith and the power of by my side, even when I was drifting throughout my lifetime with the notion in one lifetime. prayer are truly remark- in the wrong direction. In my fresh- of hope. I redefined the way I looked at I can’t promise you the path will be able. My unwavering man year, I found myself on the verge success. I started to live by the words in easy, and at times it may seem downright relationship with our of flunking out of high school. I failed Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work impossible. But when you think you can’t Heavenly Father has English, Spanish, world geography and heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” go on, I ask you to consider Hebrews 12:1, kept me going during my civics. I was a poor kid, living in a poor My motivations did not lie in material “And let us run with endurance the race lowest of lows, and has neighborhood, with low self-esteem and items. My happiness was not tied to a job God has set before us.” Set goals, work emboldened my hope of brighter days no expectations that this world would title. My worth was not measured by how hard and if you trust in our Lord and Sav- Gahead. unfold in such a brilliant way. As always, much money I had. Instead, I was com- ior, Jesus Christ, anything is possible. The story of my family perfectly God was watching over me and put mitted to serving God. I wanted to be a captures the essence of how powerful someone in my path who would change good person who would dedicate myself Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina Republi- the presence of God, hope, and a strong my life forever. to positively impacting the lives of oth- can, has served in Congress since 2013. mother and mentor can be in defining While working a part-time job at a ers. It was then that life seemed clearer, m e n t art ‘Devotion to high purpose’ undergirds success o cacy D e p them. from beast or man from God or even a apart, but also swelled by, the blessings People who achieve this are said to cow from a moose. or the sanction promised in the afterlife. have good characters, an interesting Aristotle writes that our unique The Founders of our country word that comes from the Greek term relations with other humans, especially achieved for the first time the regime of on T i m e s A dv t that means to etch or engrave. Your our political relations, are born in this freedom of religion. It is at the center character is engraved in you, something understanding of what things are and of all their achievements. But also they sh i ng indelible, something placed there by our ability to communicate that with one thought that religion was essential. experience and long and intentional another. The greatest of the Founders, George practice. This argument has its place in the Washington, said in his parting words to Successful people are typically hard Bible, too. God told Adam to give names the nation: “Of all the dispositions and workers. They think hard and clearly to the beasts. In the Bible, God speaks di- habits which lead to political prosperity, under pressure, face risk or pain without rectly but to a few, and they are the most religion and morality are indispensable Th e Wa ARED BY panic, deny themselves immediate or blessed human beings. He could speak to supports. … And let us with caution in- debilitating pleasures. It takes time and them because they were like Him, even dulge the supposition that morality can application to develop these qualities. if inferior, in their ability to speak and to be maintained without religion.” ON TI M E S

T What can sustain the effort that understand. George Washington was among the By Dr. Larry P. Arnn produces this excellence? It takes many If one aims for something high, he is most moral of our national ancestors.

SH I NG things, but the most obvious is devotion more likely to rise. Also he is more likely He saw the standard of morality in the A The promise of religion has much to high purpose. That is what religion is to cultivate good desiring and good whole “course and economy of nature.” more to do with the next world than about. thinking. In the first philosophy, and in He saw it finally in God. People who see P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| with this one. None of the great religions In the first philosophy, God is the per- Christianity and Judaism, God is the that have the best reasons to live well. can be pursued seriously except upon fect being. So He is also in Christianity highest thing. In those religions, we are And they do. this view. They also promise benefits in and Judaism, and in those religions we created in His image and we are called this world. are created in His image. We are animals, to be like Him as fully as possible in this Larry P. Arnn, Ph.D., is the 12th president What makes for achievement, satis- true enough, but we are rational animals. world to prepare for the next. of Hillsdale College. He is on the board faction and happiness? This means we can understand what We are necessitous creatures: We of directors of The Heritage Founda- o ber 7 • 2016 Every human action involves thinking kinds of things things are. Therefore, we must work to live, and God commands tion, the Henry Salvatori Center of and desiring, and every human achieve- can give them names. This is how we us to do so. If work is understood as a Claremont McKenna College and the ment is a product of ability and willing- talk. We recognize things by their kind mission and a service, then the dignity Claremont Institute, and is the author ness. All serious human achievements because we know the attributes that of work is increased. The motive to do of “Churchill’s Trial: Winston Churchill

Friday • Oct Friday require sustained excellence in both. make up the kind. These essential attri- it well is multiplied. The motive to deny and the Salvation of Free Government.” That means we must learn to want the butes are their good. Without our ability oneself lesser pleasures is increased, to 4 right things and to think rightly about to see this, we could not distinguish man give into fears decreased. This is quite The LAST Bible you’ll ever need to buy!

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prove God exists? D e p o cacy

MANY intelligent people remain uncertain about the existence of God. But recent artment discoveries in numerous scientific fields now tell us that our universe, and life itself, | Friday • Oct could not have simply “fallen together” under some random process. In fact, many honest scientists are now expressing serious doubts about evolutionary theoryy.. o ber 7 • 2016 Examine the evidence for yourself in our new booklet, God or No god? www.churchathome.org Some Clues From Science. Request your FREE copy today! ‚ Or call 831-637-1875 weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT 5 5 ‘incredible innovations’ that combat poverty

But compared with that photo in that amount or less. Today, only about since mankind began its long climb from National Geographic, my neighborhood one in 20 live on that little. This is the the swamp to the stars. seemed like Beverly Hills. greatest anti-poverty achievement in This system has been America’s gift The tragic image provoked two sensa- world history. to the world. Do we have the courage to tions in me. The first was helplessness. So how did this remarkable transfor- celebrate it and defend it? Do we have There was really nothing I could do for mation come to pass? Was it the fabulous the fortitude to reform its shortcomings the boy besides offering up some prayers success of the United Nations? The gen- and work harder to ensure that its bless- or maybe sending my allowance to UNI- erosity of U.S. foreign aid? The brilliant ings reach everyone — without losing CEF. Even as a little kid, I grasped that policies of the International Monetary sight of the tremendous opportunities anything I could personally do would be Fund and The World Bank? Stimulus that free enterprise brings within reach inadequate. spending and government redistribution? of our most vulnerable neighbors? After helplessness came indignation. No, it was primarily none of those The true benefits of free enterprise It was not fair that I was loved in my things. Billions of souls have been able and democratic capitalism are not mate- home in Seattle while that boy was starv- to pull themselves out of poverty thanks rial. They are moral. They are manifest ing to death in Africa through absolutely to five incredible innovations: globaliza- in the lives of the men, women and no fault of his own. tion, free trade, property rights, the rule children in the United States and around I grew up, went to school, found a of law and entrepreneurship. By the way, the world who have seized opportunities By Dr. Arthur C. Brooks job and started a family. But that image these five things were all made possible to build prosperous, safe and secure lives stayed with me. Not infrequently, I by the historically anomalous peace — opportunities that could easily never remember the first time I saw real would look back and wonder: What hap- after World War II that resulted from have existed. But there is more work poverty. It was the early 1970s, so pened to that boy? Of course, there is no America’s global diplomatic and military to do. There are billions more who are I would have been 7 or 8 years way to know his specific fate. But more presence. hungry for the same opportunity. old. Flipping through a copy of generally, I wondered: What happened When I was a kid, when we Ameri- We must remember the world-chang- National Geographic magazine, to desperately poor people like him? Was cans saw the world’s poor, they saw us, ing principles that have served us so I found a heartbreaking photo. It life better? Or worse? too. We saw their poverty; they saw our well. We must find creative ways to apply showed a malnourished African We know the answer. Poverty still freedom and our prosperity. They threw those principles to public policy. And we boy, about my own age, with flies on his exists, of course, both in Africa and right off the chains of poverty and tyranny must extend to these brothers and sisters Iface and a distended belly. here at home. But on the whole, life has by copying our American ways. It was of ours the same ladder that has ben- I had never seen poverty like that gotten much better for the world’s poor- the free-enterprise system that not only efited us so immensely. before. True, by today’s standards, my est people since I was a kid. The percent- attracted millions of the world’s poor to childhood neighborhood in Seattle age of people in the world living on $1 our shores and gave them lives of dignity, Arthur C. Brooks, Ph.D., is president the would be considered austere. As far as I a day or less — a traditional measure but also empowered billions more to pull American Enterprise Institute. Parts of know, my parents were the only ones in of starvation-level poverty — has fallen themselves out of poverty worldwide. this essay are adapted from his 2015 best-

m e n t art our working-class neighborhood with a by 80 percent since 1970, adjusted for The ideals of free enterprise and seller, “The Conservative Heart: How to college education. Some of our neigh- inflation. global leadership, central to American Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Pros- bors relied on food stamps. Most of the When I was a child, more than one in conservatism, are responsible for the perous America” (Broadside Books). families were led by single parents. four people around the world lived on greatest reduction in human misery o cacy D e p

on T i m e s A dv The case for faith and a free market: t

sh i ng ‘It is better to share abundance than scarcity’

conscience or aspirations. are capable of achieving amazing things The progressive message comes It was a daring declaration when when they are free and empowered to do wrapped in doublespeak, with phrases you consider that the United States so. I know this as a proud son of parents like “income equality,” “fair share,” of America was at the time a fragile, who worked hard, sacrificed and risked “health care for all” and other platitudes Th e Wa ARED BY upstart nation emerging into a world their savings in a small business. With that sound well-meaning. of scarcity and hunger, where millions nothing but fourth-grade educations, But when we look beyond the cliches, were subjugated to the scourge of slav- they were able to successfully achieve we see that these ideas translate into ON TI M E S

T ery worldwide, and almost all human- their own American dream. Yet for far higher taxes, a bigger role for state bu- kind lived under appallingly inhuman, too many, government policies, no mat- reaucracies and a message that replaces

SH I NG statist oppression. ter how well intentioned, have made aspiration for a better life with an envy A While the bold American experiment matters worse. that helps no one. By Daniel Garza was tempered by a bloody civil war that In modern times, more and more Going considerably beyond the basic, P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| almost ripped the young nation asunder, Americans have unwittingly relin- natural rights enshrined in our found- “We hold these truths to be self-evi- we have since triumphed over the fascist quished their freedoms and self-deter- ing charters, elitists push their social dent, that all men are created equal, that and statist powers that pulled America mination to career politicians. Millions agenda. The Obama administration, they are endowed by their Creator with into two world wars. Through it all, our have ceded their fate to a raft of gov- for example, has pursued a program certain unalienable Rights — that among free market economic system resulted ernment programs and entitlements of comprehensive collectivism: ever- these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of in an unprecedented scale of innovation administered by a powerful central expanding government control, unsus- o ber 7 • 2016 Happiness.” in products and services that altered the government. tainable deficits and growth — choking This powerful expression of freedom lives of mankind, produced wealth no Sadly, in extending their hands to ac- private commerce with regulation and was written in recognition that we are other society had ever experienced and cept temporary assistance — to weather government-knows-best policies. Instead accountable to God and that rights are made us the strongest nation in world tough times — millions have become of empowering individuals and families,

Friday • Oct Friday given to man from God, not by govern- history. accustomed to not working. This cycle of more and more power and money has ment — that no temporal power can When we look across the arc of our dependency has had ruinous effects on 6 exercise authority over the individual’s nation’s history, we see that Americans marriage, families and economic security. » see GARZA | C7 Invention and discovery generate wealth

of doing things. It is supplying the incen- And it is good for a woman to liberate to put that at risk, to stop clinging to tives that prompt people to do things herself and her whole people from the the safe things of the past, and to set off with energy and desire, rather than being narrower horizons within which they bravely toward inventing new futures. It coerced into what they are doing. find themselves. It is good for humans to is a spirit of risk. It is a spirit of adven- The new economy in which we live is catch glimmers of new possibilities for ture. It is a spirit of creativity. It is a spirit often called “the free market economy.” human development. that incites dreams, and in a quiet under- But markets are universal. Markets were This, or something very like this, tone murmurs, “Why not?” central during the long agrarian centu- ries, through biblical times, in all times. For this reason, the term “the market economy” or even “the free-market economy” somewhat misses the mark. More accurate is the “initiative- centered,” the “invention-centered,” or in general the “mind-centered economy.” More than anything, mind is the cause of wealth today. The Latin word caput By Michael Novak (head) — the linguistic root of “capital- ism” — has inadvertently caught the new t the beginning of the reality quite well. 19th century, only duch- “The free economy” captures only esses wore silk stockings; part of the secret — it emphasizes the by the end, even working conditions under which the mind is girls did. At the begin- more easily creative, in the fresh air of ning of that century, few freedom. Freedom is a necessary condi- had eyeglasses; by the tion, but the dynamic driving cause of end, eyeglasses were in frequent use. new wealth is the initiative, enterprise, DentalA care advanced somewhat (much creativity, invention — which use the more so, however, in the 20th century). freedom.

Longevity rose steadily, and infant mor- Freedom alone is not enough. Free- “The free economy” captures only part of the secret A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE tality began to decline (again, much more dom alone can also produce indolence — it emphasizes the conditions under which the mind so in the 20th century). and indulgence. To awaken slothful is more easily creative, in the fresh air of freedom. Moreover, during just the past 30 human beings out of the habitual slum- years, two of the nations on earth with ber and slowness of the species, the fuel the largest number of poor persons — of interest must normally be ignited. One is the famous, celebrated and usually The spirit of capitalism belongs more China and India — liberated more than a must move the will to action by showing misunderstood “spirit of capitalism.” This to the human spirit than to the relatively half billion of their citizens from poverty. it a route to a better world. Since humans is not a spirit of greed or avarice, which inert flesh and matter of the past.

This was the swiftest, largest advance are fallen creatures, mixed creatures, not are grasping and small, not creative. It is ARED BY T he Wa out of poverty in history. These na- angels, the fuel of interest is a practi- an esprit, a gift of the spirit rather than of Michael Novak is former ambassador tions used the very secrets uncovered cal necessity. The fire of invention lies the body. to the United Nations Human Rights by Adam Smith: private ownership and hidden in every human mind, the very It is sometimes found even in a single Commission and the author of numerous personal initiative. image of the Creator infusing the crea- isolated human breast (as in that of Rob- books, including “The Spirit of Democratic What is the cause of the wealth of ture. To ignite it, one must offer incen- inson Crusoe, in the famous parable). But Capitalism” (1982) and his most recent, nations? At root, it is invention and tives, a vision of a higher, better human it is also capable of being lit like a prairie “Social Justice Isn’t What You Think It s hingt discovery — such as the invention of the condition, not only this-worldly, but also fire across an entire culture, and trans- Is” (2015). This essay is excerpted from pin machine, which Smith describes in nourishing the expansion of the human forming its entire attitude toward life. “Creation Theology in Economics: Several o n T ime s A dv his very first chapter of “The Wealth of soul and easement of bodily infirmities. The spirit of capitalism is far from Catholic Traditions,” which appeared Nations.” It is the use of the mind in orga- There is a natural desire in every being entirely materialistic, even miserly. in “Culture Matters in Russia — and nizing work efficiently (with less wasted human being, although it is often slum- Far from it. This spirit teaches people Everywhere” (Lexington Books, 2015). time and effort), and in finding new ways bering, to better his or her condition. to turn away from what they now have, THE WASHINGTON TIMES D e p o cacy

activities of our own choosing. That is why we are committed to mo- It’s also because we’ve seen that, as a artment GARZA Still, having said that, we must also bilizing other Latinos in our communi- practical matter, it is better to share abun- From page C6 recognize that many are facing major ties to join in our efforts to address these dance than it is to share scarcity, and it is disadvantages. But instead of looking to deficiencies, develop a person’s skills and these free market systems that create the |

gone to Washington, D.C. government as the solution, we must abilities and empower them with knowl- resources to lift us all together. Friday • Oct Fighting poverty through work, gen- encourage organizations, churches and edge that will better position them in the Bible-believing Christians must do erated by a free market economic sys- individuals in our own communities to marketplace — so everyone can achieve more than ever before to rally in the de- tem, is essential to sustain a free society. lend a hand in times of need. In fact, the the American dream. fense of free markets, self-reliance and a Ours is the only system the world has Bible commands us to help the poor and For the millions of Americans of faith, limited government. It is the best way to

ever known that so effectively improves the vulnerable. we believe we are called to lift up our fel- answer our call to lift the poor. o ber 7 • 2016 the human condition — not only in the At The LIBRE Institute — and our low man. God asks us to lend a hand to United States but wherever it has been sister organization, The LIBRE Initiative our brothers — to those in need. That call Daniel Garza is president and chair- adopted. It gives the individual inde- — we understand that many Latinos are must be answered by individuals with the man of The LIBRE Institute, a nonprofit, pendence from government control. It at a major disadvantage in a free market freedom to act or not — not just by some nonpartisan organization that serves strengthens our communities and fami- system. They may not possess a driver’s faceless collective. as a trusted resource in helping Hispan- lies and liberates us to propagate endless license or be able to speak English or have This is because the call goes out to each ics grow more prosperous and lessen moral, spiritual and charity-related a high school diploma. of us as individuals. their dependency on government. 7 12 theses for a Christian understanding of economics Commandments teach us that we have property and not reward investment. citizens. When the family is strong, no right to violate the financial rewards government can be small. When the of the diligent. 7. A Christian economic family is weak, however, the govern- understanding seeks to reward ment must compensate for the loss. By 4. A Christian economic and incentivize thrift. focusing on the family, we respect and understanding takes into full In a fallen world, money and invest- better the community. account the power of sin. ments can quickly be distorted to Taking the Bible’s teaching on the idolatrous ends. For that reason, thrift 10. A Christian economic pervasive effects of sin into full account is an important issue in the Christian understanding rewards generosity means that we expect bad things to worldview. In a fallen world, abundance and proper stewardship. happen in every economic system. A one day can turn into scarcity the next. Christians who are committed to Christian economic understanding tries Thrift may be what provides survival in the economics of the Kingdom and to to ameliorate the effects of sin. times of poverty. the good of the next generation must live with a future-oriented financial 5. A Christian economic 8. A Christian economic perspective. We each have the respon- understanding upholds and understanding upholds the family sibility, whether we have a lot or a little, By Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. rewards righteousness. as the most basic economic unit. to see that our generosity endures far Every economic and government When thinking about economic the- beyond our life spans. egrettably, many Ameri- system comes with embedded in- ory embedded in the beginning of the Spirited generosity, which is so clear can Christians know centives. An example of this is the Bible, the dominion mandate is central, in Scripture, is essential to a Christian little about economics. American tax code, which incentivizes but so is the divine institution of mar- economic worldview. Furthermore, many Chris- desired economic behaviors. Whether riage. The pattern of leaving and cleav- tians assume that the they work or not is an issue of endless ing described in Genesis 2 is fundamen- 11. A Christian economic Bible has nothing at all to political recalibration. However, in the tal to our economic understanding. understanding respects the priority say about economics. But of the church and its mission. a biblical worldview actually has a great Christians must embrace economic Rdeal to teach us about economic matters. priorities that the rest of the world The meaning of work, the value of labor simply will not understand. Christians and other economic issues are all part of must invest in churches, seminaries the biblical worldview. At the same time, and international missions. These are

m e n t art we must recognize that the Christian distinctive Christian financial commit- worldview does not demand or promote ments. Our ultimate financial commit- a particular economic system. ment is not to ourselves or to our own Because this is the case, Christians investments but to the Kingdom of o cacy D e p must allow the economic principles Christ. Thus, Christians should always found in Scripture to shape our think- be ready to experience upheaval in ing while recognizing that we can act in economic priorities and arrangements light of those principles in any eco- because urgent kingdom issues can nomic, cultural or generational setting. intervene at any moment. on T i m e s A dv t 1. A Christian economic understanding 12. A Christian economic

sh i ng has God’s glory as its greatest aim. understanding focuses on For Christians, all economic theory eschatological judgment and begins with an aim to glorify God (1 eschatological promise. Corinthians 10:31). We have a transcen- This life and its resources cannot dent economic authority. deliver ultimate joy. The Christian Christian worldview, that recalibration Adam and Eve were the first eco- worldview reminds us that we must live Th e Wa ARED BY 2. A Christian economic understanding must continue upholding and rewarding nomic unit. The result is that the family with the recognition that we will give respects human dignity. righteousness. (biblically defined) is the most basic an account to the Lord for our steward- No matter the belief system, those and essential unit of the economy. ship of our resources. At the same time, ON TI M E S

T who work show God’s glory, whether 6. A Christian economic Christians must look to the eschatologi- they know it or not. People may believe understanding rewards initiative, 9. A Christian economic understanding cal promise of the New Heavens and

SH I NG they are working for their own reasons, industry and investment. must respect community. New Earth as our ultimate economic A but they are actually working out of an Initiative, industry and invest- Most secular thinkers and econo- hope. We must lay up treasures in impulse that was put into their hearts ment are three crucial words for the mists begin with the community and heaven and not on earth. P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| by the Creator for his glory. Christian’s economic and theological then move to the family. However, vocabulary. Initiative goes beyond ac- thinking from larger to smaller eco- R. Albert Mohler Jr., Ph.D., is president of 3. A Christian economic tion. It is the kind of action that makes nomic units does not work in theory the Southern Baptist Theological Semi- understanding respects private a difference. Industry is human work and fails in practice. Beginning with the nary, one of the largest seminaries in the property and ownership. done corporately. Investment is part of family unit and then working out to- world. Dr. Mohler is a prolific commenta- Some economic systems treat the the respect for private property found ward the community is a much smarter tor on events from a Christian worldview o ber 7 • 2016 idea of private property as a problem. in Scripture. option. The doctrine of subsidiarity and author of several books, including But Scripture never considers private Investment, as it turns out, is as old as — which emerged out of natural law “Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues property as a problem to be solved (see, the Garden of Eden. That which accrues theory — teaches that meaning, truth With Timeless Truth” (Multnomah, for instance, the Ten Commandments). value is honorable, and the impulse to and authority reside in the smallest 2008) and “We Cannot be Silent: Speak-

Friday • Oct Friday Scripture’s view of private property im- accrue that value is honorable. Thus, a meaningful unit possible. ing Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, plies it is the reward of someone’s labor Christian economic theory indicts anyone If the family unit is deficient, no Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right 8 and dominion. The Eighth and 10th who will not work, not respect private government can meet the need of its and Wrong” (Thomas Nelson, 2015). DO YOU HAVE A SOUNDING BOARD? A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE Through The C12 Group, thousands of Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives across the United States are learning from peer wisdom and insight by sharing with those who have been there. Members encourage and hold each other accountable to the core values and Biblical principles that guide them.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ALONE AT THE TOP. ARED BY T he Wa

Monthly Peer Advisory Group meetings s hingt o n T ime s A dv 1-on-1 coaching with a full-time, local Chair THE WASHINGTON TIMES D e p o cacy World-class curriculum and resources artment | Friday • Oct Building GREAT Businesses For a GREATER Purpose. o ber 7 • 2016

Get connected: c12group.com | 210.767.6200 9 Young Americans, entitlement and the Christian vision of work

By John Stonestreet

couple of years ago, The Huffington Post’s blog “Wait But Why” created “Lucy,” an imagined embodiment of today’s emerging adult. Lucy is what the arti- cle calls a GYPSY, short for Generation YA Protagonists and Special Yuppies. Lucy is destined to be unhappy. From their earliest years, GYPSYs like Lucy, born from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, have been told that they are special, that they can be whatever they want to be and that they should just “follow their passions” when choosing a career. As many millennial observers have

m e n t art noted, GYPSYs struggle with a sense of entitlement. According to the blog, “The GYPSY needs a lot more from a career than

o cacy D e p … prosperity and security. … Where the Baby Boomers wanted to live the American Dream, GYPSYs want to live Their Own Personal Dream.” This is, as the HuffPo’s blogger on T i m e s A dv t points out, a recipe for unhappiness. In rare situations when real- noble intention of communicating It’s really only Christians in the determines the exact times that people

sh i ng ity exceeds our expectations, those the biblical concept of “calling” being West, especially America, who have live and the boundaries of their dwell- convinced of the inherent goodness more than full-time ministry jobs, have had the luxury of dwelling on the ques- ing places. Thus, whether we inherit of their own personal dreams will be taught students to look at their own tion, “What has God made me to be, a culture of economic downturn in happy. But when reality falls short, as giftedness as the key (sometimes the and what is my calling?” Unfortunately, which many can’t find a job or a cul- is most often the case, these dream- only key) to discovering “God’s will.” along the way, we’ve missed other ture in which jobs are so plentiful we ers will be unhappy, even depressed. I must confess my own guilt in this lessons about calling that our brothers truly can “follow our passions,” we ac- Th e Wa ARED BY regard. and sisters around the world are forced cept either as being from God’s hand. Of course, there’s certainly truth to to learn. Our calling — whatever culture we find the idea that the Lord has gifted us in The Protestant reformers un- ourselves in — is to live fully engaged

ON TI M E S Short of this awareness,

T unique ways to serve Him and that we derstood calling to be not primarily in this world, regardless of the particu- we risk “Christianizing” can discover these gifts through our about passion, but as a commitment lar circumstances.

SH I NG a sense of entitlement. passions and use them for His glory. to glorify God in whatever station we Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Bravely A Instead of asking “What Remember Olympian Eric Liddell’s find ourselves. It may be your calling take hold of the real, not dallying now wonderful line from “Chariots of Fire”? right now to be a student, or a mom or with what might be. Not in the flight

P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA is God’s Will for my life t H E W

| “God has made me for a purpose, for a dad, or a minimum-wage employee of ideas but only in action is freedom. someday?” we should be China. But he’s also made me fast, and simply having just enough to make a Make up your mind and come out into asking, “What does God when I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” living. Whether directly connected the tempest of the living.” Amen. These want me to do next?” While the biblical picture of calling with our passions or not, God calls us are good words for every generation. and vocation includes our giftedness, first and foremost to do the next thing it also includes things like sacrifice, well, to His glory, with all of our might. John Stonestreet is president of the Col- o ber 7 • 2016 Reality will never match the dreams persecution and an awareness of the Short of this awareness, we risk son Center for Christian Worldview and GYPSYs have been told to expect. needs of my neighbors. Jesus said that “Christianizing” a sense of entitlement. author of “Restoring All Things: God’s Christians are guilty of inculcat- those who follow him carry crosses. Instead of asking, “What is God’s Will Audacious Plan to Change the World ing false expectations to their young Paul said that anyone who wishes for my life someday?” we should be Through Ordinary People.”

Friday • Oct Friday as well. For at least a couple of gen- to follow Christ will be persecuted. asking, “What does God want me to do erations, Christian colleges and other (Remember, Liddell died in a Japanese next?” 10 educational institutions, with the prison camp.) In Acts 17, St. Paul says that God Human flourishing: An urgent, universal, timeless goal

as human flourishing. of human flourishing and well-being. can look like. It is found through God’s Human flourishing alone is the idea As we saw above, to be aligned with gracious and revelatory coming in the that encompasses all human activity and God’s kingdom is to be a wholehearted Son, Jesus, whose accomplished mission goals because there is happiness. These person. As we grow in this reality, we is to establish God’s heavenly reign on are not merely cultural values or the increasingly experience flourishing as earth. desire of a certain people or time period. described in the Old Testament as “sha- With this vision filling our eyes and The desire for human flourishing moti- lom.” Moreover, the very way that God’s hearts, we may turn our gaze outward vates everything humans do. All human kingdom and reign are described is with to the world and the work of Christ’s behavior, when analyzed deeply enough, these same concepts. Church. By Dr. Jonathan T. Pennington will be found to be motivated by the de- All this means that at its core and in If God’s goal in redemption is the sire for life and flourishing, individually its very essence, God’s saving work, his restoration of our full humanity and our n the early 21st century, there and corporately. redemptive activity and his goal for hu- God-centered human flourishing, then are few ideas that can be identi- The Bible speaks to the issue of manity and all creation is precisely this: there is no doubt that the mission of fied as universal. Few ideas span human flourishing in very significant that we flourish fully, even as he himself the Church — God’s people on earth — multiple disciplines of human ways. But this is not unique among an- flourishes perfectly, completely and with should be the same. knowledge, from philosophy to cient or current philosophies, religions overflowing abundance. Our theological reflections and their economics, from religion to world or worldviews. This idea of human flourishing must practical outworking must be to bring health policies, from ethics to What is unique, and what is revela- be rediscovered as a central part of true human flourishing to individuals psychoanalysis, from medical practice to tional and authoritative for the Chris- the Bible’s teaching on salvation and and society as a whole. This must be Ijurisprudence, from trade policies to en- tian, is that Holy Scripture understands redemption. motivated, informed and colored by the ergy management to music performance, human flourishing to be a function of God is not unconcerned about our reality of God’s coming kingdom, cen- from water treatment to watercolor God’s redemptive work in the world, the well-being and happiness. Peace, hap- tered on Jesus the Son and empowered instruction. very core of his relation toward his crea- piness, blessedness, health, joy and by the Holy Spirit. Without this anchor- Human knowledge and culture have tures. Throughout both the Old and New abundance of life are the consistent ing, the pursuit of human flourishing is exploded so thoroughly in diversity and Testaments, God is at work redeeming messages of Scripture and the goals of not biblical. specialization, especially in the Modern his broken, sinful and rebellious crea- God’s work. We should cease thinking of But this spiritual understanding does

period, that few universals or unifying tures. From the promise of redemption spirituality and godliness as something not make it less physical and practical. A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE themes remain. There is certainly beauty in Genesis 3:15 through the climactic vi- that has nothing to do with human well- Seeking social justice, racial equality, and richness here, but nothing universal. sion at the end of the book of Revelation, being and flourishing — including in a economic flourishing and peace (“Ma- Such massive diversity is seen not God reveals himself to be actively and physical, economic, psychological and karios (blessed) are the peacemakers,” only in the contemporary state. When graciously redeeming his people, saving relational sense. Matthew 5:9) is not an optional part one moves from a synchronic to a dia- them from oppression, forgiving their A related implication is that this of the Church’s mission, nor a minor chronic analysis, considering views and disobedience and dishonoring acts, and understanding helps us make the most alleyway. ideas across time, the hope of finding leading them into a time and place of his sense of many portions of the Bible, These are practices that testify to the

any consistent idea seems hopeless and full presence. including well-known sections that have reality of God’s coming reign and are ARED BY T he Wa naive. Human experience, culture and The biggest metaphor or image to not been perceived as related to human in alignment with what God himself is knowledge are too vast to expect one describe this work is God’s kingdom or flourishing. doing. How precisely to go about pro- to find much consistency. Diversity and reign. From beginning to end of Holy One of the biggest and most im- moting this human flourishing in society change appear to be the only recogniz- Scripture, God is a king who is establish- portant examples is the most famous will always be a matter of debate among able unified and steady ideas. ing his perfect heavenly reign on the section of Scripture, the Sermon on the theologians, pastors, economists, psy- Yet, remarkably, there is one meta- earth through his chosen people, now Mount. When we go back and reread chologists and politicians. But whether s hingt theme or meta-concept that appears those who are in Christ. His kingdom is the Sermon in light of the whole Bible’s this is the mission of the Church should

with remarkable tenacity and consis- a time and place of righteousness; that emphasis on flourishing, it makes much never be a question. o n T ime s A dv tency across times and worldviews. This is, the time and place where the world more sense and takes on a far deeper concept has staying power and universal is set to right, both individually and meaning. From its opening concat- Jonathan T. Pennington, Ph.D., is associate voice because it addresses what is most corporately. enation of blessing (ashre /makarios) professor of New Testament interpretation basic and innate to all of humanity, This beautiful understanding of the statements through its emphasis on the and director of research doctoral studies THE WASHINGTON TIMES despite the diversity of race, culture and message of the Bible is not novel or un- blessings of teleios/wholeness to its final at the Southern Baptist Theological Semi- D e p o cacy values. It is a concept that proves to be known. But what has often been missed image of being like a strong house that nary. He can be reached at @DrJTPen- the motivating force and end goal of all in our biblical and theological thinking is can weather storms and stand with dig- nington. The full version of this paper can that humans do and think. that all of this truth is intimately and or- nity, the Sermon on the Mount offers us be read at https://tifwe.org/resource/a- artment This idea or theme can be identified ganically woven together with the theme a vision of what true human flourishing biblical-theology-of-human-flourishing-2/. | Friday • Oct o ber 7 • 2016

11 Do Free Markets Cost Too Much? Shelving the ‘Greed Myth’ and other economic illusions God’s job. of the wealth in a free economy as kinsman on money that wasn’t doing So when we ask whether we can a fixed amount of material stuff — anything anyway. build a just society, we need to ask: Just money in safes or gold bars in a vault. Still, some Christians continue compared to what? It doesn’t do anyone Since two firms competing for one to treat banking, and any work with any good to tear down a society that customer can’t both get the customer’s money, as if it were the root of all evil. is “unjust” compared to the kingdom money, we might think the whole That’s the “Usury Myth.” The love of of God if that society is more just than economy looks that way: Peter gets money may be the root of all evil, but any of the ones that will replace it. rich by impoverishing Paul. money itself is not. A common image of this “Material- 2. And then what will happen? ist Myth” is a pie. If one person gets 7. Doesn’t capitalism lead to an We all want to do the right things too big a slice, someone else will get ugly consumerist culture? for the right reasons. Economically, just a sliver. Many Christians hear “capitalism” though, only what you do is important, But this isn’t how a free economy and they think “ugly.” This confuses whatever your reason. works. Over the long run, the total capitalism with consumerism, which That’s why, when it comes to amount of wealth in free economies we might call the “Artsy Myth.” economic policy, we have to avoid the grows. The “pie” doesn’t stay the same In truth, the sorry symptoms of “Piety Myth” — focusing on our good size. In a genuinely free market, some- consumerism aren’t unique to capital- intentions, rather than on the real and one can get wealthy, not merely by ism. Rather, they derive mostly from By Dr. Jay W. Richards often-unintended consequences of an having someone else’s wealth trans- the materialist worldview that seems act or policy. ferred to their account, but by creating to be everywhere. What sets capitalism ince 1990 extreme pov- Well-meaning people have sup- new wealth for themselves and others. apart from other economic systems erty has been cut in half ported all manner of bad policy — is not consumption, but rather the re- worldwide and is con- price and rent controls that create 5. Isn’t capitalism based on greed? quirement that some wealth be saved,

m e n t art tinuing to plummet. The shortages, high minimum wage laws Friends and foes of a free market risked and invested. That means that Brookings Institution that harm the poorest of the poor, often claim that it is based on greed. In consumerism is, in the long run, con- projects that this kind of foreign aid that funds dictators — for truth, Adam Smith and other free mar- trary to free market capitalism. poverty might more or noble motives. The motives didn’t ket thinkers did not believe this “Greed

o cacy D e p less disappear by 2030. Globally, infant change the result. Myth.” Rather, Smith argued that a 8. Do we take more than our fair Smortality, malnutrition and illiteracy To avoid this, we should always ask, properly functioning market can chan- share? That is, isn’t our modern are all declining. about any act of policy: And then what nel not only legitimate self-interest but lifestyle causing us to use up How did this happen? More global will happen? even greedy motives into socially ben- all the natural resources? trade, more economic freedom and eficial outcomes. And in a fallen world, It’s true that since there’s a finite on T i m e s A dv t more innovation. Free markets, in 3. Doesn’t a free market that’s just what we should want. amount of oil, at some point we will other words. foster unfair competition? Rather than inspire miserliness, a run out if we keep consuming it at

sh i ng Unfortunately, many Christians and In 2016 the two leading presidential free market encourages enterprise. current rates. But the “Freeze-Frame other people of faith still think there’s candidates treat free trade as a dog- Entrepreneurs, including greedy ones, Myth” — which says things will stay something unsavory about a free eat-dog competition, where winners succeed by delaying their own grati- the same — won’t happen. Long before market economy (or what some call always create losers. fication, by investing their wealth in oil becomes really scarce, oil prices capitalism) and pine for some unreal- This is the “Zero-Sum Game Myth,” creative but risky ventures that may will rise so high that it will no longer ized alternative. In the meantime, they which leads many to think that the or may not pan out. Before they ever be an economical form of energy. That Th e Wa ARED BY support economic policies that do government should “protect” domestic profit, they must first create. high price will encourage explorers, more harm than good. businesses, raise tariffs on imported inventors and entrepreneurs to seek This is a tragic mistake, based not goods and somehow redistribute 6. Has Christianity ever really out new forms of energy to replace oil. ON TI M E S

T so much on a flawed moral vision as wealth. embraced free markets? This is what has happened historically on economic ignorance. The good But while some competition is a In several places the Bible con- with every resource.

SH I NG news is that you don’t need an ad- part of any economy, an exchange that demns charging interest on money. So We don’t just use resources. Using A vanced degree in economics to sort is free on both sides, in which no one is for centuries Christians, along with the raw materials God has created, things out. You just need to learn to forced or tricked into participating, is a pretty much every traditional culture, we create new resources. That’s why P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| ask — and properly answer — eight win-win game. When we buy bananas forbade charging interest on money economist Julian Simon once said man simple questions, and to recognize the from Nicaragua far more cheaply than loans. is the “ultimate resource.” economic myth that corresponds to we could grow them ourselves, that But eventually the West devel- each question. doesn’t create a harmful “trade deficit.” oped banking systems with deposited Jay W. Richards, Ph.D., is an assis- We give them dollars we value less money. They charged interest on their tant research professor at the Busch 1. Can’t we build a just society? than the bananas, and they give us ba- loans to offset risk, and they also paid School of Business and Economics at o ber 7 • 2016 In seeking a more just society, we nanas they value less than the dollars. interest to the depositors for the risk The Catholic University of America, must avoid the “Nirvana Myth,” that is, We’re both better off as a result. That’s they assumed. This system allowed executive editor of The Stream and a comparing the market economy with a win-win. wealth to be created much more senior fellow at the Discovery Institute. an unrealizable ideal. quickly than it had been before. Chris- For more on economic myths, see his

Friday • Oct Friday Though the kingdom of God is 4. If I become rich, won’t tians eventually realized that such book, “Money, Greed, and God: Why already present in some sense, we can’t someone else become poor? loans were different from an ancient Capitalism is the Solution and Not 12 fully bring it about ourselves. That’s A similar idea leads people to think Hebrew charging interest to his poor the Problem” (HarperOne, 2010). Economic freedom, opportunity ease poverty

of the poor and are moved by genuine Economic freedom is what the poor emergency, when in reality this provi- compassion to advocate for the poor, pro- need. They need the social and economic sion of simple necessities, which is often vide for their needs and seek to lessen the infrastructure to become creators — cre- erratic and unpredictable, undermines suffering caused by their circumstances. ators of culture, business, wealth and jobs. the type of entrepreneurial creativity The challenge, however, is to wed this They need societies in which no man, by required to develop a self-sustaining compassion to action that works. The virtue of birth or power, is above the law. economy where people can flourish. Even poor don’t need what they often receive They need private property and the legal in the developed world, the poor often from the affluent: secondhand clothes, infrastructure to protect it. They need enter vicious cycles of dependency with free Thanksgiving meals and taxpayer- access to the currents of global trade. no hope of escape unless they can be funded government aid. The poor, They need these things because only the empowered and freed to work creatively whether in the developed or developing development of local economics can lift to provide for their own needs. world, need opportunity. They need the the poor out of poverty. Government-to- If you truly desire to help the poor, freedom to address their own poverty in government aid can’t do that. A pair of be a voice for them and demand the eco- their own context. free shoes, a bag of rice or shirts im- nomic liberty that is a necessary precon- The poor and rich alike share in the printed with the logo of last year’s football dition for them to fulfill their own natural image of God. Each person is created champions can’t do that either. In fact, vocation as image bearers who are free to with inherent value because of God’s all of these things represent the well- enjoy the fruits of their own labor rather By Trey Dimsdale imprint on them. Being created in the meaning but misguided attempts to ease than subsist on the fruits of yours. image of the Creator may mean many poverty. In reality, these things simply he poor will always be things, but two things that accompany create dependency. Trey Dimsdale, J.D., is director of pro- with us, but such a sober- the unique status of “image bearer” are 1) It is not that material aid is never ap- gram outreach at Acton Institute. He ing reality does not free us privilege and 2) responsibility. As a child propriate. But material aid is the solution has completed the course work for a from an obligation to work of God, each person is entitled to enjoy to a social problem distinct from poverty. Ph.D. in ethics and is actively involved to alleviate the ravages of the goodness of the Creator’s world, but When disease or natural disasters strike as a board member and adviser for the poverty. On the contrary, is also charged with the responsibility to and disrupt or even destroy, the impulse National Faith & Work Association, Jesus’ statement only serves cultivate it to bring forth God’s good gifts. to give necessities is appropriate. An the Lausanne Movement’s Workplace to remind us that every generation will For many poor people, the good inten- influx of water, medicine and food after Forum and an organizer of a program Tface the question of how best to fulfill our tions of the affluent have robbed them of earthquakes and floods will save lives, but in the Balkans that seeks to equip un- holy obligations to them. the privileges that are their birthright and this is a solution to a temporary problem. employed and underemployed young

It is clear that many in the present frustrated their attempts to take responsi- Too much of our concern for the poor is people to launch new businesses. A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE generation have taken notice of the plight bility in the Father’s good creation. expressed as if we are responding to an

Committed To ARED BY T he Wa Individual Liberty,

Human Dignity s hingt

& Self-Reliance o n T ime s A dv

The Freedom & Virtue Institute THE WASHINGTON TIMES

believes in fostering attitudes D e p o cacy and leading initiatives that build off the principle of artment creating self-reliance among underprivileged children and

individuals enduring hardship | Friday • Oct that wish to better their situations and live a dignifi ed, self-sustainable life. Available on Amazon.com o ber 7 • 2016

www.fvinstitute.org [email protected] 13 Poverty, not income inequality, is our modern problem

others. It has also indicated an absence income quintiles have access to them. wealthy because they have to serve us to of modern market trade and access to The miracle of market trade is that maintain high levels of income. trading partners. we are alleviated from having to produce The advent of modern market trade Old Testament scholar Dr. Walter these things, or some crude substitutes brought on by increasing specialization Kaiser suggests that in the Old Testa- for these items, all on our own. In con- has brought us to the shift from surviv- ment, most income inequality was the trast, a lack of trading partners forces us ing to thriving. It represents a historical result of theft and political corruption. inward — to rely on ourselves for things and global transformation in the ability He states: “Generally, it was very that we are not good at doing. of individuals to earn higher levels of difficult to escape the conditions of Prior to A.D. 1500, life was a struggle income and wealth, and to do so through By Dr. Anne R. Bradley poverty in Old Testament times, where for survival, and many needs for most value creation, product and service markets were small and sporadic and people went unmet. Those who were innovation and the overall service of ome say income inequal- income mobility was largely unlikely, rich were most often political leaders humanity. ity is the defining issue of unlike modern conditions. … Those who lived off the backs of the popula- Did you know that over 100 million our time. One of the most who achieved wealth and riches and tion. They often acquired their riches people in the U.S. have air condition- famous tweets ever came became socially strong could use that through theft and oppressive tax confis- ing in their homes? Or that 99 percent from Pope Francis, who position of strength to oppress those of cation, keeping nations and people poor. of families living at or under the U.S. wrote, “Inequality is the another class, namely the poor (Amos Yet even those who were able to live off poverty thresholds have a refrigerator? root of social evil.” 2:7, 4:1, 5:11). The rich did not oppress the the backs of others were not rich in the These things are incredibly important This is a complex issue that requires poor simply because they were rich but terms that you and I are today. for our standard of living. It’s even more Ssolid economic thinking. Does the fact because they were sinners. Part of this important that in a wealthy country like that some people are fabulously wealthy oppression could be seen in an insatiable ⦁ Income inequality and flourishing the U.S., the poor have access to them. inherently mean there is less for the rest hunger for more land (Amos 8:4, Isaiah What has changed over time is not of us? The answer, as always, is that it’s 3:15). the nature of man, but the institutional ⦁ More income mobility nuanced and complicated. It depends on “This, in turn, led to driving the poor arrangement that fosters acquisition of In this world of greater flourishing, how the rich earn their wealth: Do they off their inheritance (Micah 2:2, Isaiah income through the service to another we also observe greater levels of income serve their fellow man or plunder them? 5:8-10). As the prophets warned, Yah- rather than through pillaging. inequality. This occurs because custom- As an economist, I would say that weh was sure to see such that outright This massive transition is new in ers in markets value things differently, the defining issue of our time is not that disobedience of his law was punished human history. Only in the last 200 years and that value is reconciled with the some are extremely wealthy but that (Amos 2:13-15).” has the West largely made this institu- scarcity of resources required to pro-

m e n t art some remain extremely poor. People Kaiser makes an important point tional shift, and massive prosperity for duce the things we need and want. don’t die because of income inequality in the first line of the above quote: In all income brackets is the result. The benefit is that all levels of income — they die because they are malnour- the days and times of the Old Testa- An understanding of how wealth is — particularly those of the poor — are ished, do not have access to clean water ment, the vast global markets we have generated is important: constantly increasing in a prosperous so-

o cacy D e p and lack ways to use their God-given today did not exist. These markets have ◾ Without voluntary trade and value ciety, a phenomenon known as income human creativity. We know how to be transformed the lives of everyone for the creation (people serving other people mobility. rich; the defining issue of our time is better, not just the rich. through trade), large-scale wealth cre- This means that if you are born poor, that some don’t get to experience the Nothing can compare to the seem- ation and prosperity are impossible. you are not necessarily destined to stay benefits of high incomes. ingly trivial aspects of our daily lives ◾ When people can use politi- poor. on T i m e s A dv t Our job is to figure out how to change that we take for granted. The razor we cal power to acquire income, wealthy Income inequality is not necessarily a that. use, the microwave, the dishwasher and people had automatic power and could sign of poverty in a flourishing soci-

sh i ng Income inequality can reflect theft the refrigerator are just some of the oppress others. ety. Income inequality deals with how and abuse of power, and in those situ- modern miracles we hardly think about. ◾ The advent of modern markets income is held over a society. ations, we must stand up and stop it. In this country even those in the lowest takes away that historic power of the Unless everyone is exactly equal, However, income inequality (different there will always be a top and a bottom. incomes among different people with What matters is how the folks at the bot- different skills and preferences) is a tom fare and whether they have oppor- Th e Wa ARED BY natural part of the human condition, and tunities to use their God-given creativity when a result of well-functioning, vol- and skills to give them income mobility. untary trade protected by a rule of law, Rather than directing our energies ON TI M E S

T it can be the sign of a vibrant society toward the biggest incomes, perhaps our full of opportunities for the rich and the focus should be directed toward how we

SH I NG poor. can help those trapped in poverty in this A This is because those in the lowest country — those who are born poor and income brackets should expect lots of stay poor. This will provide a useful map P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| income mobility over time, and their of how to help the least of these. position at the bottom continues to improve — because they do not stay at Anne Rathbone Bradley, Ph.D., is vice the bottom. president of Economic Initiatives at the It’s complicated, like much of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics rest of life. Discerning what aspects of (www.tifwe.org) and co-editor of “For o ber 7 • 2016 income inequality are inherently unjust the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to is necessary for fostering productivity Poverty.” IFWE is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) and thwarting theft and corruption. Christian research organization commit- ted to promoting biblical and economic

Friday • Oct Friday ⦁ Income inequality and theft principles that help individuals find Historically, income inequality has fulfillment in their work and contrib- 14 been a sign of theft by the rich from ute to a free and flourishing society. Freedom is key to creating wealth, prosperity

By Jack Kemp precursor to every new enterprise that is launched and every new The following is an abridged ver- product that is brought to market. sion of a speech titled “The Nature and The story of successful entrepreneurs Cause of the Wealth of our Nation,” is almost always the story of fail- given April 21, 1994, by Rep. Jack Kemp ure after failure overcome by sheer of New York, a Cabinet official in the determination. Our economic policy George H.W. Bush administration should be designed to encourage, not and 1996 Republican vice presidential stifle, risk-taking. We need to reward candidate. the successful entrepreneur while Too often in our descent into the recognizing that true freedom re- policy minutia of budget and trade quires having the freedom to fail, but deficits, fiscal and monetary policy, to pick yourself up and try again. we overlook the broader and bigger The arrival of the Information Age picture. requires political leaders to finally jet- Experts spend endless hours tison the zero-sum ideologies of the perfecting econometric models to past, when economics was still “the forecast GDP figures and interest rate dismal science.” projections, but neglect to consider There are a series of bedrock how “wealth” is created, how jobs principles that I believe will define come into being and “how the world success or failure as we enter the new really works.” They frequently debate millennium. Nations which practice statistics like the national savings rate these principles will prosper; nations but show little interest in learning how which don’t will stagnate or decline. entrepreneurs turn their ideas into The principles include: new products, new businesses, new ⦁ A policy of free trade to expand jobs and new wealth. existing markets and break open new A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE The key, then, to creating wealth ones to U.S. goods and services. and prosperity is allowing people ⦁ A currency that is sound, stable freedom — freedom to work, to save, and honest, so that interest rates can to trade, to own property, to take en- come down and savings and property trepreneurial risks, knowing that they are not confiscated through the cor- will be rewarded for their efforts. rosive effects of inflation. Our greatest assets are not the ⦁ A tax system where rates are wealth we see around us, but in the low, and economic growth and up- ARED BY T he Wa potential which is unseen in the ward mobility — not redistribution economy of the human mind. It is the of wealth — are the primary goals; minds and talents of a free people one that rewards, not punishes, risk- — not their material resources — taking, investing and working. which is the source of all wealth. Sir ⦁ A fiscal policy that restrains the Winston Churchill once said, “The encroachment of government upon s hingt empires of the future are the empires private enterprise caused by spending of the mind.” and regulation. o n T ime s A dv This manifest destiny of the mind ⦁ And a welfare system that is the greatest liberating force in rewards working, saving and mar- history. It is transforming the global riage, instead of punishing productive economy. And it is also rendering human activities. THE WASHINGTON TIMES impossible any great nation’s with- We stand at a critical but excit- D e p o cacy drawal into a protectionist cocoon. ing crossroads in the history of our An economy based on entrepre- nation and the world. The Informa- neurial capitalism is the only system tion Revolution is well underway. artment capable of responding to the dynamic America’s inherent entrepreneurial challenges of the worldwide market spirit has put us on the leading edge of the 21st century. Government plan- of this revolution, and the eyes of the |

ning and industrial policies cannot world are on us. Friday • Oct succeed in high-technology markets, At this remarkable watershed in where the premium is on innovation history, we must not miss the chance rather than administration. to begin an era of lasting peace, America must step back for a moment Our greatest assets are not the wealth we see prosperity and boundless opportunity and recall what is at stake. The words of around us, but in the potential which is unseen in by realizing all the blessings of freedom o ber 7 • 2016 Tom Paine are as true today as when our the economy of the human mind. It is the minds through free markets, free enterprise and nation was founded: “Those who seek free trade for all. security at the expense of freedom end and talents of a free people — not their material up with neither.” resources — which is the source of all wealth. Excerpted from “The American Idea Re- The elimination of risk will not bring Sir Winston Churchill once said, “The empires newed” (Sudden Change Media, 2016), security. … It will bring stagnation. Risk courtesy of the Jack Kemp Foundation. is the source of all innovation. It is the of the future are the empires of the mind.” 15 C. S. Lewis on selfishness vs. self-interest

When Lewis first came to faith, he did man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit on self. Lewis summarizes this un-self- not think about eternal life, but focused his soul?” We are being encouraged to conscious experience: “The happiest on enjoying God in this life. Lewis later truly “save” our lives and not “lose” our moments are when we forget our pre- said that the years he spent without lives or “forfeit” our soul. The appeal is cious selves … but have everything else the focus on heavenly rewards “always to our own self-interest. (God, our fellow humans, the animals, seem to me to have been of great value” Unless we have a sufficient reason to the garden and the sky) instead.” because they taught delight in God sacrifice something we love, the cost will In this experience, we are pursuing above any prospect or reward. It would always be too great. Lewis expresses this our own joy, but not selfishly. be wrong to desire from God solely what dilemma in the last paragraph of “Mere In Lewis’ classic sermon, “The he could give you, without delighting in Christianity”: Weight of Glory,” he articulates this God himself. “The principle runs through all life same dilemma between selfishness and Lewis never disparaged the place of from top to bottom. Give up yourself, self-interest (“disinterestedness”). heavenly rewards, but he saw that the and you will find your real self. Lose In that context, he gives what has be- paradox of reward might be a stumbling your life and you will save it. Submit come my favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Our By Dr. Art Lindsley block for some. On the one hand, the pur- to death, death of your ambitions and Lord finds our desires not too strong, but

m e n t art est faith in God believes in him for “noth- favourite wishes every day and the death too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, ohn Mackey, CEO of Whole ing” and is not primarily interested in any of your whole body in the end: submit fooling about with drink, sex, and ambi- Foods, claims business is under benefits to follow. On the other hand, the with every fibre of your being, and you tion, when infinite joy is offered us, like attack today. Speaking to the concept that we are rewarded for what we will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. an ignorant child who wants to go on o cacy D e p Greater Boston Chamber of do is taught in numerous biblical passages Nothing that you have not given away making mud pies in a slum because he Commerce in February, he said, and presumably is a positive motivation will be really yours. Nothing in you that cannot imagine what is meant by the J“Humanity has been lifted up by busi- for doing what is good. has not died will ever be raised from the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far ness, and yet it has been completely Certainly, a sole focus on rewards dead. Look for yourself, and you will find too easily pleased.” hijacked by its enemies who create a might pander to selfishness. Lewis dis- in the long run only hatred, loneliness, We might not pursue our own self- on T i m e s A dv t narrative that business is selfish and cusses this paradox in “English Litera- despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look interest strongly enough. We often settle greedy and exploitative.” ture in the Sixteenth Century”: for Christ and you will find Him, and for selfish desire and deprive ourselves

sh i ng Business provides good context for “Tyndale, as regards the natural with Him everything else thrown in.” of “infinite joy.” We are all too pleased thinking biblically about selfishness, condition of humanity, holds that by It is not in our self-interest to be with the meager pleasures we get, and self-interest and greed. Are all business nature we can do no good works without selfish. Rather, self-denial is in our say “NO” to greater, higher, infinite plea- people selfish? Certainly not. respect of some profit either in this self-interest. sure. The more we pursue our own true Moreover, selfishness is not exclusive world or in the world to come …. That Lewis argues elsewhere that self- self-interest, the more we will glorify to the business world. There are selfish the profit should be located in another interest does not necessarily make our God. It is in our self-interest to give up Th e Wa ARED BY teachers, physicians, pastors and fire- world means, as Tyndale clearly sees, no motives impure. He says in “The Prob- lesser pleasures that may satisfy for a fighters. Selfishness is an equal opportu- difference. Theological hedonism is still lem of Pain”: while, but sooner or later lead to “hatred, nity employer. hedonism. Whether the man is seeking “We are afraid that Heaven is a bribe, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay.” ON TI M E S

T The more pressing question, how- heaven or a hundred pounds, he can still and that if we make it our goal we shall The distinction between self-interest ever, regards self-interest. Is self-interest but seek himself, of freedom in the true no longer be disinterested. It is not so. and selfishness seems to be so blurred in

SH I NG necessarily selfish? sense — of spontaneity or disinterested- Heaven offers nothing that a mercenary current public discourse that self-inter- A The Bible tells us not to follow our ness — nature knows nothing. And yet soul can desire. It is safe to tell the pure est nearly means selfishness. But Lewis flesh or our hearts because they are by a terrible paradox, such disinterest- in heart that they shall see God, for clearly believes that self-interest was not P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| prone to selfishness and sin (Proverbs edness is precisely what the moral law only the pure in heart want to. There necessarily selfish, and that selfishness is 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). demands.” are rewards that do not sully motives. A not in our self-interest. If we pursue our The Bible also calls us to care for One way to resolve the tension be- man’s love for a woman is not mercenary own self-interest, we will deny ourselves the poor and live a life of self-sacrifice tween believing for nothing and believ- because he wants to marry her, nor his and choose eternal life, and true life in (Matthew 25:35; John 15:13). How should ing for reward is to realize that self-inter- love for poetry mercenary because he the present. To condemn selfishness is in Christians understand selfishness? est is not the same thing as selfishness. wants to read it, nor his love of exercise our legitimate self-interest. o ber 7 • 2016 C.S. Lewis wrote much about the Some maintain that Mark 8:35-36 is less disinterested because he wants to tension between self-interest and selfish- Lewis’ most quoted passage of Scripture. run and leap and walk. Love, by its very Arthur W. Lindsley, Ph.D., is vice president ness, offering renewed clarity on these Jesus appeals to self-interest as a motive nature, seeks to enjoy its object.” of Theological Initiatives at the Institute topics. To Lewis, there is a huge differ- for self-denial, saying, “For whoever When we are lost in wonder, awe for Faith, Work & Economics (tifwe.org)

Friday • Oct Friday ence between self-interest and selfish- wants to save his life will lose it, but and praise of God, we can become more and co-editor of “For the Least of These: ness, and there is a proper place for whoever loses his life for me and for the joyful and less self-conscious. When we A Biblical Answer to Poverty.” He is also 16 self-interest in our lives. gospel shall save it. What good is it for a are focused on God, we are not focused a senior fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute. What I didn’t learn in business school

if conducted on Christian principles.” oversight and checks. Transactions are a follower of Jesus: integrity/truthful- Amorality is becoming more and simplified and the cost of doing busi- ness, accountability, loyalty/faithful- more the predominant moral founda- ness decreases. ness, trust, commitment, order/cleanli- tion in the Western world today. The Personal character was touted as the ness, hope. He has a lot to say about question is not whether something is overriding success factor in the first what should characterize our interac- right or wrong but whether it’s legal or 150 years of the United States, notes tions with our fellow man: honesty, hu- illegal. The legal system takes the place Stephen Covey. Benjamin Franklin and mility, service, respect/dignity, justice/ of personal morality and values, and others espoused virtues such as integ- fairness, grace/compassion, forgive- anything that is legally defensible is rity, temperance, humility, courage and ness, consideration, trust, accountabil- acceptable. fidelity. ity, interdependence, love. And he has When business is conducted from Today, a personality ethic has re- a lot to say about what qualities should an amoral foundation, trust and loyalty placed personal character. Success is describe our work: service, excellence, are foreign concepts. Promises can seen as a function of dressing right, un- diligence, value, quality. be broken “when necessary” if there’s derstanding corporate politics, speak- We find some of these values lauded no legally binding contract. Lawyers ing eloquently and excelling in social by business scholars, but others are

By Ken Eldred rmed with Stanford un- dergraduate and MBA degrees and a fairly new Christian faith, I founded a business in the mid-1970s with $5,000 and a grocery bag of computer connector parts. InmacA started on the idea of selling computer accessories by mail order and expanded from there. I led the business for 20 years until it was sold to another public company A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE in 1996. At one point we had 1,500 employees in 10 countries and $400 million in annual sales. Over the course of my years in busi- ness, there were a number of questions I was forced to ask about faith and work. I expand upon them in my book,

“The Integrated Life,” but I’d like to ARED BY T he Wa focus on one question here: Where do successful business principles really come from? Truth is truth, no matter where you find it, and indeed, business schools have discovered some truths in their s hingt work.

But what I didn’t learn in busi- o n T ime s A dv ness school is that good business principles didn’t originate in the halls of academia; they are in fact biblical principles. There are a lot of biblical find loopholes and devise maneuvers situations. The business suit, not one’s rarely if ever addressed in business THE WASHINGTON TIMES values business schools won’t touch around inconvenient laws. The result is character, is the measure of a man. But education. Some are captured in the D e p o cacy or teach, and these, likewise, prove to a cold, calculating and bleak business personal character is no less a suc- law of the land, but most are not. As be successful business principles. The environment in which employees find cess factor than before, as Covey and Jesus taught, our actions are to go well Scriptures are highly relevant to suc- very little comfort and customers oper- others are rediscovering. Character beyond what’s mandated by the legal artment cessful business. ate in suspicion of the fine print. It’s no is the long-lost ingredient of success- code — even in business. Many folks operate under the faulty wonder people are upset with this type ful capitalism, and biblical values are assumption that they can’t afford to act of “capitalism.” the underlying values of the character Ken Eldred served as CEO of Inmac, a |

according to biblical attitudes and val- A business environment that oper- ethic. Lord Brian Griffiths concludes public company he founded. He has as- Friday • Oct ues at work. They might think, “Aren’t ates according to a moral standard that the Judeo-Christian faith, “which sisted in the founding of several other those who operate morally playing provides the decidedly best founda- sees business as a vocation or calling, successful public companies, including against a stacked deck? How could tion for capitalism to thrive. People so that a career in business is per- My Software and Ariba Technologies, I possibly make it without cutting and companies exhibit values such as ceived as a life of service before God, is and remains involved in ventures in the

corners, engaging in dishonesty and service, integrity and loyalty because a most powerful source from which to United States and abroad. Ken holds o ber 7 • 2016 treating employees dispassionately?” they are morally right, not because the establish, derive, and support absolute BA and MBA degrees from Stanford We really need to rethink that point law mandates them. (It does not.) moral standards in business life.” University and was a Visiting Fel- of view. Business success that results The human spirit thrives in a moral I have also come to recognize that low at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. from following biblical principles business environment. When oth- the Bible is that all-important source His latest book, “The Integrated Life” should not be surprising. As President ers are known to operate under an of the values and principles of suc- (www.integrated-life.org), explains Grover Cleveland noted, “Business is absolute moral standard, trust fol- cessful business. God has a lot to say how to connect one’s faith and work. not the less prosperous and successful lows. There is less need for security, about what personal traits should mark 17 Are riches and righteousness necessarily at odds? By Dr. David Kotter an agricultural field so that one party and Dr. Joshua Greever gained exactly as much as another lost. Other examples include oppression s the 2008 financial of widows and orphans, or outright crisis receded, U.S. stealing. James condemns rich people household wealth re- for the zero-sum practice of fraudu- bounded by this year to lently employing workers and oppress- the astounding record ing others through the court system: of $89 trillion. “Behold, the wages of the laborers who In contributing mowed your fields, which you kept toward this milestone, many people back by fraud, are crying out against feelA a lingering uneasiness, that the ac- you, and the cries of the harvesters cumulation of such wealth is somehow have reached the ears of the Lord of unrighteous. hosts,” and “Are not the rich the ones At first glance, even the Bible seems who oppress you, and the ones who to provide contradictory assessments drag you into court?” (James 5:4; 2:6) about wealth. Achan was called out by God and For example, Israel’s prophets condemned to death for stealing por- decried the rich as unrighteous, yet the tions of the plunder after the Battle of patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob On one hand, riches were condemned if one Jericho (Joshua 6:19, 24; 7:13-26), and individually possessed great wealth. party gained at the expense of another, a King Ahab was likewise condemned Jesus commanded the rich young ruler situation economists call a “zero-sum game.” by God for stealing the vineyard of Na- to sell all of his possessions and give to both (1 Kings 21:17-19), just as the sons the poor, yet Jesus himself rose out of On the other hand, wealth was commended of Eli were condemned for stealing the a tomb provided by the wealthy Joseph if it was accumulated through “positive- sacrifices of worshippers (1 Samuel of Arimathea. sum games,” which economists describe as 2:13-16; 4:15-18). To resolve this apparent conun- What can be concluded from these drum, we examined every case in the mutually beneficial, voluntary transactions. biblical examples?

m e n t art Bible where an individual was identi- First, there is no inherent reason to fied as having substantial material pos- sowed in that land and reaped hun- “the greatest of all the people of the feel uneasy when increasing household sessions and the means of acquiring dredfold in the same year. The Lord East” (Job 1:1-3). wealth through positive-sum games these goods was disclosed. We found blessed him, and the man became rich In the New Testament, the apostle because this is commended throughout o cacy D e p that in the 21 cases meeting these and gained more and more until he be- Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla the Bible. Work is intrinsically valu- criteria, the means of acquisition was a came very wealthy (Genesis 26:12-16). as tentmakers by trade (Acts 18:1- able for human beings, and earning a reliable indicator of whether a person Job was likewise recognized by 4). This occupation created wealth competitive wage or an honest profit received approval or disapproval. the Lord himself as a blameless and through manufacturing and value is instrumentally valuable for creating On one hand, riches were con- upright man who feared God and through trade. Other positive examples the wealth that cures poverty. on T i m e s A dv t demned if one party gained at the turned away from evil (Job 1:8). The of wealth include the prophet Samuel, Second, accumulating riches expense of another, a situation econo- text specifically indicates that his King Hezekiah and landowner Boaz. through zero-sum games or illegal

sh i ng mists call a “zero-sum game.” On the vast wealth was generated from the On the other hand, an example of means is universally condemned in other hand, wealth was commended if positive-sum herding of sheep, camels, a zero-sum game in the ancient world the Bible and should be avoided even it was accumulated through “positive- oxen and donkeys, such that Job was would be moving a boundary stone in today. sum games,” which economists de- The Bible addresses other impor- scribe as mutually beneficial, voluntary tant considerations, such as steward- transactions. Though stewardship and ship of possessions and care for others, Th e Wa ARED BY orientation of the heart are also bibli- such that greedy motives and a health- cally significant, a focus on the means and-wealth mindset are also wrong. of acquisition can lead to helpful Finally, the means of acquiring pos- ON TI M E S

T insights in an exponentially changing sessions is a consistent indicator of economic environment. whether wealth will be commended or

SH I NG In a biblical context, farming grain condemned by God. A would be a quintessential example of a positive-sum game. David Kotter, Ph.D., is the dean of the P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| A farmer uses only seeds, sunlight, School of Theology for Colorado Chris- land and labor to harvest a wealth of tian University and serves as a visiting wheat in a way that does not directly scholar for the Institute for Faith, Work harm other farmers. Shepherding & Economics. He formerly worked sheep was likewise a common posi- as a plant controller in the European tive-sum game in the ancient world. operations of Ford Motor Co. Joshua o ber 7 • 2016 Mining, digging wells, crafting leather Greever, Ph.D., is a professor of New and engaging in voluntary trade were Testament in the College of Theology further examples of mutually beneficial at Grand Canyon University. He serves activities. on a GCU task force for the integra-

Friday • Oct Friday From this perspective, it is clear tion of faith and learning and has a the patriarch Isaac became wealthy research focus on faith and work. 18 through a positive-sum game: He Trusting God, not government, for upward mobility

progress afforded by their hard work, affiliations. After all, free enterprise up their sleeves and reach for their sacrifice and selflessness. They will be and freedom are inseparable concepts. own piece of the American dream. in awe of where they are, considering They are human and universal de- It is my heart for the Latino people from whence they came. But they will sires because we were made this way in this country that our faith, which is also compare their situations to those by God’s own design. Ask the single inextricably linked to our community, of more affluent ethnic communities, mother on food stamps if she would will be the key to unleashing all the and they will doubtless want more. prefer instead a decent-paying job, creativity, passion and hard work we You see, hard work is not enough, even where she could save money and get have as a people, that the next genera- though Latinos have that in spades. ahead. Contrary to what some would tions living in America will be blessed And here lies the fork in the road. have you believe, the answer would by the unparalleled opportunities By Rev. Samuel Rodriguez Down one path almost always be: “I this country can provide, that we will is a cycle of gen- want a job.” skip full generations in our upward residential candidates, erational poverty, Our future will be bright The same is true mobility. elections and even politi- the idea that we are for those living in Our future will be bright indeed, if we cal parties come and go, victims of a system indeed, if we choose our ghettos and embrace the path of free enterprise, the but one issue has forever rigged against us. to embrace the path inner cities, and it path of freedom — and if we deny the lie been, and will continue We will be tempted of free enterprise, is certainly the case that government has do it all for us. to be, at the forefront of to believe that the the path of freedom for us Latinos. a majority of American government is some- As a Christian, The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is the lead minds: the economy and jobs. Even as how responsible for — and if we deny the I fundamentally pastor of New Season Church and Pthe ethnic face of America has evolved our well-being and lie that government believe that the gov- president of America’s largest Hispanic from one generation to the next, this owes us financial has do it all for us. ernment can’t give Christian organization, the National constant has always been with us. In assistance, entitle- me something God Hispanic Christian Leadership Con- fact, a Gallup poll taken this year con- ments and subsidies. has already prom- ference (NHCLC)/CONEL, which firmed this again. Down the other path is financial ised. My identity as an image bearer of represents millions of evangelicals as- But if you’re Latino, it’s easy to get mobility, ownership, prosperity and God far outweighs my circumstances, sembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches

discouraged when looking around at generational momentum. In a word, my bank account or my ethnicity. and another 500,000 congregations A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE some of our brothers and sisters toiling freedom. It’s the difference between Although God does not promise me spread throughout the Spanish-speaking away at blue-collar, minimum-wage, merely surviving and truly thriving. success, wealth or fame, he does accept diaspora. His newest book, “Be Light: manual labor jobs, barely scraping out These are not republican or demo- me. In the same way America doesn’t Shining God’s Beauty, Truth, and Hope a living. This is honorable and noble cratic ideas. As I said, they have always guarantee Latinos or anyone else pros- Into a Darkened World,” was released work, to be sure, but financial prosper- been at the forefront of the American perity but it does accept — or should this year from Waterbrook Press. ity it is not. psyche and they transcend political accept — those who are willing to roll Visit his website at PastorSam.com. It’s also easy to fear that prejudice,

racism and bigotry could block our ARED BY T he Wa path to upward mobility. Our people wonder, “Is the American Dream still alive and well for us and our children?” The answer to that question depends upon how we approach the future. s hingt You see, Scripture tells us, “Faith

is being sure of what we hope for and o n T ime s A dv certain of what we do not see.” It also affirms that for those of us who believe, we are co-heirs with Christ. We were not made to be slaves, as the Israelites THE WASHINGTON TIMES were in Egypt, but sons and daughters D e p o cacy of God the Father — image bearers of God and therefore stakeholders in the world we inhabit, in America itself. artment Let’s pause here for just a moment. It’s incredibly important to remem- ber that these are revolutionary ideas |

that have quite literally reshaped and Friday • Oct reconstituted the arc of human history. In many ways, they form the basis for the modern Western world, economics, the rule of law and our understanding

of democracy itself. o ber 7 • 2016 For Latino Americans, these ideas have the power to transform generations. In the coming years, the sons and daughters of immigrants will see their parents’ often-meager beginnings in America alongside their irreplaceable 19 WHY NOT SOCIALISM? Defending the free market

I was imbued as a child, and to which I market thinkers sought to sustain and any of us is going to be demanding jus- returned after a spell in the wilderness encourage. tice. I, for one, will plead for mercy. of liberal activism in the 1970s, eventu- We are made in the image of a Cre- If justice and mercy are to thrive in ally allowed me to reach a place where ator to be creative (like him). The God our society, I understand now we need I finally could speak the words of St. we see operative in the first pages of the to protect the institutions of liberty — Augustine from my own heart: “Sero te Bible is not a passive entity. He engages, “the delicate fruit of a mature civiliza- amavi, pulchritudo tam antiqua et tam indeed engenders, the world. And at the tion,” as the Victorian statesman and nova, sero te amavi” — Late have I loved summit of this creation are the beings historian Lord Acton called it. We must you, O Beauty so ancient and so new, created in his very likeness and image: work strenuously to safeguard the late have I loved you. the human family. liberty that our security and prosperity I came once again to know that there It should come as no surprise, then, depend on. was a God and that he was personal. I that the first words spoken to man and What happens when we have our knew that the world was formed by his woman constitute a calling to a similar prosperity but lose our meaning? What design and infused with his purpose and creativity: “Be fruitful and multiply, and happens when we lose a sense of our- that he fashioned the human race in his fill the earth.” selves as transcendent beings? What likeness, etching into us his own nature. My radical friends and I back in 1970s happens when we are no longer able or And I knew that he wanted to be known California spoke often of justice. But inclined to defend the institutions and By Rev. Robert A. Sirico by this world and that he had revealed surely it is not merely justice that any of ideas that have enabled our prosperity himself in the person of his son, Jesus us seek in society or in our lives. Justice and still guarantee our freedom? Why not socialism? Christ, who established a church on the — treating people as they deserve to Karl Marx was wrong. Civilizations A right use of freedom has tended to earth to carry forth this message. be treated — is a fundamental civil and are not directed by any fatalistic process encourage human dignity, creativity and It wasn’t that the Catholic Church I moral requirement. But by itself, it is a of dialectical materialism. God is in his flourishing. grew up in had officially endorsed the meager necessity. heaven, and free men still walk upon the But why should we care about those prudential judgments of the free market What we really want is a society that earth. Class envy and class warfare can, things? Why value human creativity? thinkers I had come to embrace. The is just, yes, but also one that is suffused have and will again give way to class Why even believe that human beings Catholic Church does not — and never with charity and mercy — virtues that encounter and cooperative creativity possess dignity and rights? has — “taught economics.” no legislature can produce or enact, within a competitive marketplace.

m e n t art The economic system I espouse Rather, its focus is on the principles virtues that can raise up armies of men assumes, rather than defends, the value that ought to inform how we think about and women who are prepared to go out The Rev. Robert A. Sirico is president of all these things — something easy and act in economic life. But the Catholic and tend the vulnerable at great personal of the Acton Institute in Grand Rap- to miss because most of us share these faith, as I began to dust it off and redis- sacrifice. ids, Michigan. This essay is excerpted o cacy D e p sentiments. cover it, did provide solid reasons for After all, at the Last Judgment, when from “Defending the Free Market” The religious foundation with which valuing many of the things these free each of us will stand before God, I doubt (Regnery Publishing Group, 2012). on T i m e s A dv t

sh i ng Why not socialism?

disintegration of society.” What is meant by “the means of redefine it rather than admit to its Such clarity is badly needed today. production, distribution and exchange failures. Venezuela is the latest in a In spite of socialism’s sorry track should be owned or regulated by the long line of socialist experiments. Now record, millions of well-meaning community as a whole”? If you own a that the dismal verdict is in, however, Th e Wa ARED BY people think it’s a virtual synonym for convenience store, are you supposed to socialists are in denial about what it compassion. put to some public vote the decisions was that was tried and whether or not But socialists themselves are con- about what to stock the shelves with or it failed. In other places, where a less- ON TI M E S

T stantly retreating from their own hand- whom to hire for the night shift? radical version of socialism may seem iwork. It’s socialism until it doesn’t What about this “regulated by the to work, it’s actually the capitalism

SH I NG work, then it was never socialism in community as a whole” stuff? Have those places still have that creates real A the first place. It’s socialism until the you ever known a regulatory body to wealth and pays the bills. wrong guys get in charge, then it’s be everybody in town or all 325 mil- Socialism isn’t happy thoughts, P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| everything but. lion people in the country? Don’t such wishful thinking, mere good inten- By Lawrence W. Reed Socialism never seems to have any bodies end up being some handful of tions or children sharing their Hal- theory of wealth creation, only fanciful people with political power? loween candy with one another. In a “A man who chooses between schemes for its reallocation after some- Even with a dictionary at hand, I modern political, economic and social drinking a glass of milk and a glass of body goes to the trouble of creating it. find myself scratching my head and context, socialism isn’t voluntary. You a solution of potassium cyanide does Oxford Dictionaries (whose slogan asking, “What the heck is socialism can’t opt out. Its central characteris- o ber 7 • 2016 not choose between two beverages; he is “Language Matters”) defines so- anyway?” Maybe it’s just an imaginary tic is the concentration of power for chooses between life and death,” wrote cialism as “a political and economic thing that somebody hopes it is, even these purposes: central planning of Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises. theory of social organization that ad- if it never turns out that way when it’s the economy, government ownership “A society that chooses between capi- vocates that the means of production, tried. of property and the redistribution of

Friday • Oct Friday talism and socialism does not choose distribution, and exchange should be Just when you think you see social- wealth. between two social systems; it chooses owned or regulated by the community ism, even when its architects claim 20 between social cooperation and the as a whole.” that’s what they were up to, socialists » see REED | C22 A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE ARED BY T he Wa s hingt o n T ime s A dv THE WASHINGTON TIMES D e p o cacy artment | Friday • Oct o ber 7 • 2016

21 Acting on the ‘God moments’

equip people with an understanding so-called secular, between the Sunday of ministry that extends beyond the worship experience and the Monday pulpit. As the Latino population rises, workday. we will play an increasing role in the We are also closing the divides American family and our flourishing between cultures (North/South) and will be intimately connected to the language (English/Spanish). By closing flourishing of the broader community. these gaps, we can engage more deeply In the Latino evangelical commu- with the community and promote its nity, we refer to experiences like the flourishing. riots and the article as “God moments.” In addition to creating a new In these moments, the Spirit directs curriculum and certificate program us to act in response to a new and promoting the integration of faith, deeper apprehension of what it means work and economics, we will train six for us to exercise God-honoring do- cohorts of pastors in Southern Cali- minion in this world. In my case, these fornia — both English-speaking and moments led me to expand churches’ Spanish-speaking — to better minister capacity to promote human flourishing on issues surrounding vocation and By Dr. Jesse Miranda in America (March 14, 2015). Reading through whole-life discipleship, par- economics. In this effort, we will draw and Fred Oaks the article, I was struck by the jour- ticularly surrounding work, economic on support and resources from Made nalist’s description of my community. freedom and development. to Flourish: A Pastors’ Network for the s the plane began its descent In his estimation, Latinos can solve John L. McKnight, co-director of Common Good, an organization out of into the Los Angeles airport, the demographic issues descending Northwestern University’s Asset-Based Kansas City that helps pastors encour- I saw thick columns of smoke on industrialized countries: “America Community Development Institute, age and equip their congregants to live billowing up from the city. has been granted an extraordinary said that “communities are never built integrated and flourishing lives. That day in 1992, the Los stroke of luck: a big dose of youth and on needs and deficiencies, but rather All Christians are called to ministry AngelesA riots opened my eyes and heart energy, just as its global competitors on gifts and capabilities.” Today, the by virtue of their baptism. The connec- to the needs of my community. As the are greying.” Jesse Miranda Center at Latin Ameri- tion between faith, work and econom- overseer of 50 churches in the area, I As I felt the magnitude of my com- can Bible College is developing the ics answered my questions about the was haunted by questions about the munity’s potential contribution, my gifts and capabilities of Hispanic pas- involvement of the church in every strife that had overtaken my city: “Why conviction deepened that Hispanic tors in Southern California by closing area of life for the betterment of the is the city on fire? Where is the salt and pastors and churches needed to better the divide between the sacred and the community. By equipping God’s people light?” for works of service, many of which As a pastor, my quest to better serve will be offered through their paid and

m e n t art my community is deeply connected to unpaid daily work, pastors can minis- my faith. In this context, the 1992 riots ter to the entire community in every were a violent manifestation of the aspect of their lives. brokenness of the city. As I pondered We can help to heal the broken city

o cacy D e p the best way to address this need, I through our diligent work. As pastors began to focus on the importance of and churches celebrate the contribu- Latino pastoral ministry that meaning- tion workers and entrepreneurs make fully speaks to the broader community. through their labors, whole communi- Shortly after the riots, I transitioned ties will flourish. “When the righteous on T i m e s A dv t from my position as a denominational prosper, the city rejoices” (Proverbs officer to academia, where I spent 11:10).

sh i ng the next two decades. While at Azusa Pacific University and Vanguard Uni- Jesse Miranda, D.Min., is president of versity, I taught racial-ethnic minority the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic students, particularly those interested Leadership, CEO emeritus of the Na- in theology and pastoral ministry. tional Hispanic Christian Leadership Although I enjoyed working with these Conference and executive presbyter for Th e Wa ARED BY students, I felt a nagging concern that the General Council of the Assemblies the church was still failing to address of God. Fred Oaks is a director for the the needs of the entire population. Faith, Work, & Economics Program ON TI M E S

T Shortly after leaving Vanguard, I at The Kern Family Foundation. was interviewed by The Economist

SH I NG magazine for a special issue on Latinos A P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W | SWAT team behind them. They say, delivers strife and conflict. It pits class effectively answers the question, “Why REED “You’re going to eat these cookies, and against class. It cynically buys off one fac- not socialism?” It’s force, pure and simple. From page C20 you’re going pay for them too.” tion at the expense of another. It thrives If it were voluntary, it wouldn’t be social- If it’s not the use of force to shape on victimology and shuns personal ism. It would be capitalism. It all comes down to persuasion ver- society the way you want it, then social- responsibility. Its advocates are intellec- o ber 7 • 2016 sus force. Here’s what I mean: ism is nothing more than a nebulous tual dope pushers — foisting addictive, Lawrence W. Reed is president of the Under capitalism, two Girl Scouts fantasy. It’s a giant blackboard in the sky soul-sapping dependency and paternal- Foundation for Economic Education in show up at your door and ask, “Would on which you can write anything your ism on others. They concentrate wealth Atlanta and author of the recent book you like to buy some cookies?” You get to heart desires, and then just erase it when and power in the hands of the people “Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories

Friday • Oct Friday say yes or no. embarrassing circumstances arise. whose character and naivete make them of Courage, Character and Convic- Under socialism, two Girl Scouts So “why not socialism?” the most susceptible to corruption. tion,” published by ISI Books. 22 show up at your door with an armed Socialism preaches envy and theft and It’s the bottom line that most Why I am no longer a socialist

tried.” Yet there was a new reality that spoke the language of dignity with new words — ones that made me realize that I was not merely an insignificant drop in a vast ocean. I am no longer a socialist because I listened more and more to these words and the vital messages they conveyed — and I encountered the reality of American freedom and its constitutional primacy on the individual, which led to the realization that socialism is an anthropological mistake. Socialism fails not because a particu- lar approach fails, but because it is false in its foundational premises by misun- derstanding humankind’s very nature. By Ismael Hernandez I eventually discovered that I was unique and unrepeatable, not simply e stood proudly laughing as a drop in a collectivist wave. I have I retrieved my red flag from the moral capacity of self-realization a ditch. “Wave it, son!” he because, made in the imago Dei (Gen- encouraged. esis 1:26), I have the capacity to reason, It remains a vivid recol- to discover the truth and the volitional lection of a moment in a life capacity to choose, to do what is good. dedicated to revolution. As I leaf through I was willed into being by God for Hthe pages of my father’s CO-INTELPRO my own sake. I am loved by God in the file, over 50 years of revolutionary zeal radical concreteness of my existence and reappear, reminding me of a life I loved ordered to personal communion with that vanished about 14 years ago. others. I can transcend the dynamisms

My father was a founding member inherent in my biological life and look to A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE of the Movement for Independence, the heavens above. the Marxist-Leninist precursor of the It is in the exercise of dual capacity of Puerto Rican Socialist Party. Our family mingled with her dejected cries. Later But when seven Jesuits were mur- reason and choice, I came to see, that my life was informed by the politics and I learned who they were — intelligence dered in El Salvador — close to the dignity could be found. assumptions of socialism — assumptions officers of the Puerto Rican police work- border with Nicaragua — the order, What is needed is a social and politi- that explained our poverty and gave us ing with the FBI, and I hated them. A concerned for our safety, decided cal context that protects, affirms and op- purpose. My heart was sewn early with deep hatred of all they represented grew to send us to Fordham University in timizes these individual capacities. This

the thread of utopia, and my identity was within me with the force of a Caribbean New York instead. Frustrated, I left the social context incentivizes dynamism, ARED BY T he Wa suffused under a collective label that hurricane that sweeps bare all in its path. seminary and returned home. I’m not understanding, creativity and self-deter- gave meaning to my life. Though I blamed America for going to seminary in “the guts of the mination. Any collectivist understand- There were intoxicating promises of a destroying my parents’ marriage and monster,” I thought to myself, realizing ing of the human person I previously grand new world devoid of antagonisms our lives, in reality socialism was the that perhaps I did not have a priestly had was nothing more than a cluster of and social pathologies. We had a master destructive force. But I would not learn vocation so much as I was destined to be inferiorities — an expansive, yet shallow, plan to transform chaos into ease. As this until many years later, away from a revolutionary. sea of sameness. s hingt an embattled community, we sheltered the utopian allure of its grasp. At this point, I made the most beauti- A few years ago I buried my father,

ourselves under the mantle of the dream, At this same time, God was becom- ful “mistake”: I decided to come to who died a communist. At that time, o n T ime s A dv and I was committed to becoming a ing a vital factor in my life. America after all. I again silently sang the revolutionary faithful drop in the great wave of revolu- My mom regularly sent my siblings Curiously, I landed not at Fordham songs in homage to the fallen warrior. I tion — my dignity resided there. In fact, and me to Mass with friends, and those but at the University of Southern Missis- remembered his laughter when, by his apart from that wave, as I saw it then, I experiences shaped in me a sort of sippi. It was when my feet hit American side, I retrieved my red flag many years THE WASHINGTON TIMES was simply a particular but insignificant double consciousness. On one hand soil — in the Deep South no less — that ago. I mourned his death, and I honor his D e p o cacy arrangement of cells in a diaspora of God; on the other my other faith: social- my lungs were filled with the air of free- life to this day. meaningless existence. ism. How to reconcile this dichotomous dom. For the first time in my life, I was I remember still his words toward the “America is the enemy of humanity!” existence? By joining the Jesuit order, of able to challenge the safe and fiercely end of his life, “Don’t be a fence-sitter!” artment my father used to rail and, naturally, I course. This solution, joining the order held assumptions of my ideology. Ideolo- His example of leading a committed life believed him. His life had been shaped by in their embrace of liberation theol- gies — political, racial or otherwise — is an important legacy that I have woven regrets transformed into grievances, as if ogy — which came to the fore during are the result of pre-rational worldviews into my own coat-of-arms. |

a political alibi could shelter his psyche the mid-1980s amid the political turmoil and prism-filtering phenomena. After Now I fly the crest of God-given Friday • Oct from experiences of pain. The litany of brewing in Central America — was some time in the U.S., I dared to try on a individuality and the shield of liberty. I condemnations against “Yankee impe- inspired by the Jesuits I had met, and I new filter, and a new landscape informed am convinced that my father salutes this rialism” became my catechism, and the was accepted. by liberty facilitated the experiment. new and uniquely American flag as he meagerness of our existence nurtured my How I wanted to go to Central By the end of my first summer at the looks on in contented approval.

investment in rage. I soon learned to hate America to study philosophy and be university, I contemplated the pos- o ber 7 • 2016 America, and my mind filtered everything a part of that revolutionary liberation. sibility of staying. I soon found myself Ismael Hernandez is founder of the through an “us” against “them” prism. My drop had found its wave, I was troubled by heretical thoughts against Freedom & Virtue Institute and a fac- I will never forget the night when convinced. I felt ever more certain of socialism. The Berlin Wall had fallen ulty member at Acton University in I saw the look of desperation on my my decision when I learned I was to be and, in doing so, struck my conscious- Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the mother’s face as she stormed outside to sent to Sandinista Nicaragua, the heart ness. I still fought these thoughts with author of “Not Tragically Colored: confront the men monitoring my father. of the revolution — a socialist’s dream appeals to the last of all socialist ex- Freedom, Personhood, and the Re- I heard buzz of inquisitorial voices come true. cuses: “Socialism has never really been newal of Black America” (2016). 23 Does Acts 2-5 teach socialism?

actions] in historical narrative. There is occasional, in response to particular Elsewhere in Scripture, we see that no once-for-all divestiture of property needs, not once and for all.” Christians are even instructed to give in in view here, but periodic acts of char- There is also sufficient reason to just this manner, freely, for “God loves a ity as needs arose.” believe that the early followers of Christ cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:8). This point is even clearer in Acts 4-5. did not sell all they had, but rather oc- Even if the believers sold all their The NIV translation of Acts 4:34b-35 casionally sold part of their possessions possessions and redistributed them says, “From time to time, those who and gave the proceeds to the apostles among the community, this still would owned land or houses sold them, for distribution. For example, in Acts not prove socialism is biblical be- brought the money from the sales and 5, Ananias sold a piece of property (v. cause the state is not the agent selling put it at the apostles’ feet.” 1) and kept a portion of the proceeds property to those in need. There is also Blomberg comments: “Again we for himself and his wife, Sapphira. plenty of indication that private prop- have a rash of imperfect verbs here, this The problem was not that they were erty rights were still in effect; therefore, time explicitly reflected in the NIVs required to sell their possessions and this would not even be considered ‘from time to time.’ The periodic selling give all of the proceeds of their land to socialism if the term was used to refer of property confirms our interpreta- the apostles, but that Ananias lied about to a regulated system of community tion of Acts 2:44 above. This was not a the true price he received for the land ownership. By Dr. Art Lindsley one-time divesture of all one’s posses- (v. 7). Peter points out that he could sions. The theme ‘according to need,’ give or keep the money as he saw fit (v. ⦁ The narrative was not a “A truly strange thing has happened universal command. to American Christianity,” says a writer To prove Acts 2-5 commands social- at The Washington Post’s On Faith blog. ism, you would have to show that this He says Christians who defend the historical precedent is a mandatory free market are in a profound contra- prescription for all later Christians. You diction because Acts 2-5 is “outright cannot get the imperative (all Chris- socialism of the type described millen- tians should do this) from the indicative nia later by Karl Marx, who likely got (some early Christians did this). The the general idea from the Gospels.” fact that some Christians “shared all Does Acts 2-5 really command things” does not constitute a command socialism? A quick reading of these four that all Christians should follow their chapters might make it seem so. Acts example because it is not clearly taught 2:44-45 says that immediately follow- in passages of Scripture elsewhere. ing Pentecost, “[A]ll who believed were R.C. Sproul explains how Chris- together and had all things in common. tians must interpret biblical narratives

m e n t art And they were selling their possessions through the lens of broader Christian and belongings and distributing the teaching: “We must interpret the narra- proceeds to all, as any had need.” tive passages of Scripture by the didac- Acts 4:32-35, referring to the early tic or ‘teaching’ portions. If we try to

o cacy D e p congregation, says: “Now the full find too much theology in narrative pas- number of those who believed were of sages, we can easily go beyond the point one heart and soul, and no one said that of the narrative into serious errors.” any of the things that belonged to him The communal sharing in Acts 2-5 was his own, but they had everything was not the practice of the early church on T i m e s A dv t in common. … There was not a needy in the rest of the New Testament, so it is person among them, for as many as clear that this practice is not a manda-

sh i ng were owners of lands or houses sold tory command. Thus, even if Acts 2-5 them and brought the proceeds of what Even if the believers sold all their possessions and were socialism, it would hold nothing was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, redistributed them among the community, this still other than historical interest to later and it was distributed to each as any believers and would have no binding had need.” would not prove socialism is biblical, since the state is power on the later church. Though these passages may sound not the agent selling property to those in need. There Certainly, the communal sharing Th e Wa ARED BY like socialism to the average reader, is also plenty of indication that private property rights illustrated in Acts 2-5 was a beautiful such a superficial reading may miss picture of generosity and love. But it is what a closer examination of the text were still in effect; therefore this would not even be impossible to show that these passages ON TI M E S

T reveals. There are three major reasons considered socialism if the term was used to refer teach socialism given their temporary, why Acts 2-5 does not teach socialism. to a regulated system of community ownership. voluntary and strictly narrative nature. SH I NG A ⦁ This is not an example of reappears, too. Interestingly, what does 4) but still lied to Peter and to the Holy Arthur W. Lindsley, Ph.D., is vice presi- true communal sharing. not appear in this paragraph is any Spirit (v. 5). dent of Theological Initiatives at the P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| Acts 2-5 portrays a spirit of commu- statement of complete equality among But even if, for the sake of argument, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics nal sharing rather than an actual com- believers.” we grant that all believers sold all their (www.tifwe.org) and co-editor of “For mune. The people did not sell every- John Stott affirms Blomberg’s conclu- possessions and redistributed them the Least of These: A Biblical Answer thing they owned to legal title, as those sions on property in the early church, among the community, this still would to Poverty” (Zondervan, 2015). The typically do in a commune. This is also underscoring Luke’s use of the not prove socialism is biblical. The next Institute for Faith, Work & Economics evidenced by the imperfect verbs used imperfect tense: “Neither Jesus nor his two reasons explain why. (IFWE) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Chris- o ber 7 • 2016 throughout the passages. Craig Blom- apostles forbade private property to all tian research organization committed berg says in his study “Neither Poverty Christians. … It is important to note that ⦁ The actions in Acts were to promoting biblical and economic Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of even in Jerusalem the sharing of prop- totally voluntary. principles that help individuals find Possessions” that “[Chapter 2] verses erty and possessions was voluntary. … It Socialism implies coercion by the fulfillment in their work and contrib-

Friday • Oct Friday 43-47 are dominated by highly marked is also noteworthy that the tense of both state, but these early believers con- ute to a free and flourishing society. imperfect tense verbs, whereas one verbs in verse 45 is imperfect, which in- tributed their goods freely. There is 24 normally expects aorists [once-for-all dicates that the selling and giving were no mention of the state in Acts 2-5. MARKETS WITH A CONSCIENCE Faith, economic freedom and innovation in the Latin world At the start of the 20th century, Latin but subservience to the colonizers. in the next generation by reaching every America was 1 percent Protestant or ◾ Military governments, whose Latin child who will become an adoles- evangelical, but at the end of the 20th primary focus was security, often at the cent between 2015-2030, or some 232 century, 12 percent to 14 percent of the cost of economic and social justice. million children, according to U.N. statis- continent was evangelical. ◾ Conservative governments, which tics. Sustainable worldview and integrity This includes countries and sec- often focused on progress for a ruling starts with the children. tors where evangelical Christianity has class, but not the nation and its citizens ◾ The Cloud: The PreBanco App is reached levels of 40 percent to 55 per- at large. currently being developed with a ConEL cent of the population. This makes Latin ◾ Populist governments, which tar- partner. It fights the culture of debt by America, along with Africa, home to the geted economic justice, often at the cost promoting a culture of stewardship fastest-growing churches in the world of freedom, while establishing economic of every dollar or peso. It will permit during the last century. models that limited innovation and cre- people to easily sort their incomes into These statistics point to the con- ated dependency. spending (70 percent), investing (20 tribution by Latin evangelicals to the The result: bankruptcies in national percent) and giving (10 percent) through greatest change in the culture since our economies. options in the app. By Ricardo Luna colonization in the 1600s. Individuals Yes, over 70 million people joined the ◾ Governance: Our partners in the etween 2010 and 2012, the began to value the dignity of work and middle class since the year 2000, yet 120 government sphere have established a Latin World Evangelical of the worker. Churches, at first resistant million people — that is one in every five school of governance to teach worldview Alliance, or Confraternidad to community involvement, eventually Latin Americans — still live in poverty. and public policy of sustainability and Evangelica Latina (ConEL), became agents of change in their com- There is progress, but corruption integrity. conducted a survey of 7,169 munities, adopting a social agenda to our and greed continue to steal the dream ◾ Sustainable social change: Our Bleaders of the evangelical church in eternal worldview. These represent the of economic justice. According to a U.N. Colombian ConEL partners have estab- A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE seven countries of the Latin world. seeds of change in our culture. leader, “Latin America remains the most lished communities of sustainability We asked, “What is the greatest social ⦁ Economic Freedom unequal region in the world” — and the and integrity in a culture of poverty and challenge in the community where you According to the United Nations, most violent. Regarding poverty allevia- violence. There are currently 75 “Sowing live?” The top three responses were: since the year 2000, cooperation be- tion, it is not time to stop, it is time to Peace” microbusinesses in largely rural Families in crisis, addictions and poverty. tween government, business and civil so- accelerate. areas that are flourishing with invest- Yes, poverty is still a great issue ciety (including churches) has resulted ⦁ Create and innovate with ConEL ments of $500 to $2,500 each. Peace- in communities throughout the Latin in the greatest progress in the eradica- While the seeds of change have been making and a sustainable economy are

world. It is our view that the seeds of tion of poverty. planted, it is time to unleash the power brothers. ARED BY T he Wa faith planted in the early 20th century Extreme poverty (meaning an income of the 500,000 potential community- Friends, we are grateful for seeds of established a worldview and lifestyle equivalent to less than $1.25 a day) stood based social transformation centers, change in the Latin world. We need to of progress in the culture. Now, in a at 13 percent of the population in 1990, known as local evangelical churches in move to a harvest of economic sustain- continent with fragile democracies and but was reduced to less than 1.25 percent the Latin world. This is why ConEL is ability and integrity. Our next dream? A high levels of corruption, we must be by 2015. Chronic poverty among 1.9 actively promoting models of transfor- city of transformation. Join us! intentional in targeting and establishing billion people in 1990 was reduced by mation with a DNA of integrity and sus- s hingt a sustainable, market-based, integrity- almost half — 836 million people by 2015. tainability, for targeted local and digital Ricardo Luna is global vice

driven harvest of poverty alleviation and This is an incredible accomplishment communities. president of ConEL (Confrater- o n T ime s A dv economic progress. given our history: Consider the following: nidad Evangelica Latina), the Latin ⦁ Faith ◾ Colonized not to establish freedom, ◾ Next generations: We are sowing World Evangelical Alliance. THE WASHINGTON TIMES Profits and an ‘economy of mutuality’ D e p o cacy Money is often seen as intrinsically reflection, we can see the importance of particular market opportunities. artment bad or perhaps a necessary evil in the profit within an economic system. As a boy, I fished on one of Minne- world. However, we must not forget the When property rights are well- sota’s 10,000 lakes. When the fish started important role money plays in wealth defined and contracts are consistently biting in one particular part of the lake, |

creation and in facilitating the efficient enforced, profits perform important it didn’t take long for a crowd of boats Friday • Oct exchange of goods and services. functions within modern economies. to show up and take advantage of the Money and the trade it makes pos- Profits provide rewards for technologi- promising opportunity. sible further the common good and cal innovation and resource efficiency Like fish that are biting, profits also greatly enhance our ability to love our in delivering goods and services. In this draw crowds. Profits can and do at times

neighbors — both local and global. sense, profits are important incentives bring out the worst in economic actors, o ber 7 • 2016 Christian philosopher Dallas Willard for promoting research and develop- but in many ways the profit mechanisms reminded us, “Business is an amazingly ment, enabling enterprises to discover encourage people to look out for oth- effective means of delivering God’s love superior products and better ways to ers and to serve them in better ways. to the world by loving, serving and pro- meet the needs of people. Profits also are vital to government and viding for one another.” Within a modern economy, profits nonprofit organizations because these By Dr. Tom Nelson The idea of profit can, at first blush, are also signaling mechanisms encour- seem problematic, but upon closer aging others to devote more resources in » see NELSON | C26 25 Flourishing requires belief in human potential

was simple: institute laws and policies and chiropractic care. With tax reform flourish. to incentivize growth, reduce regulatory now law and their income tax burden But most of all, the promise of red tape, and empower people to build a lifted, the owners were able to reinvest America requires a belief in human po- stronger economy. Trusting that Kansans that money into their community, not tential. The capacity to dream, innovate should keep more of their hard-earned only in their own business, but helping and prosper lies in every person. The money — and, if given that freedom, other local businesses grow as well. In imprint of each life bears unique talents individuals and businesses will succeed the period from 2012 to 2016, they more and gifts. Economic freedom provides — we cut taxes. than doubled the amount of money they the space to realize that human dignity We cut taxes for everyone who paid could invest in their business and the through work, innovation and creativity. state income tax, enabling families to keep more of their wages to invest or spend as they see fit. We also completely lifted the income tax burden for nearly 400,000 of the poorest Kansans, giving By Gov. Sam Brownback the struggling among us relief and allow- ing them an opportunity to regain their he promise of America is a economic footing. dream. The last piece focused on job It is not the promise of an creators, bringing the small-business easy life, material wealth or income tax rate to zero. By unleashing even a white picket fence. these job creators, who employ nearly 70 TInstead, the promise is one of percent of the Kansas workforce, we are freedom. It is the promise of a coun- encouraging growth and spurring new try where citizens are free to create hirings, wage growth, business expan- their own futures, free to pursue their sion and innovation. own successes, free to build their own The principles put into practice lives. The promise of America is that brought success; greater economic the unique dignity and potential of freedom for Kansans allowed for greater each human life is allowed to pros- creativity and innovation. Last year per and flourish, free of government alone, a record-setting 17,298 new busi- intervention. nesses opened in our state. That figure local economy of their small town by Every American should have the This belief in the enduring capacity represents thousands of Kansans now purchasing goods and services from 12 ability to build their own American of people illustrates the need for eco- serving their communities with unique additional local companies. dream. For every person, that dream

m e n t art nomic freedom. faculties and talents, in addition to the With this greater economic prosper- looks different — a welder, a profes- A central part of the American prom- individuals they hire to join them in ity, Kansans are able to build a stronger, sor, a soldier, a businessman — but to ise is the idea that with hard work, every that mission. Last year marked the fifth brighter future for themselves, their become a reality, every dream requires person — regardless of age, background consecutive record-setting year for new communities and future generations yet hard work, passion and dedication. In o cacy D e p or religion — has the opportunity to suc- businesses in Kansas, despite a national to come. short, the American dream requires the ceed and achieve. Fundamental to this decline in startups. A more free country with limited gov- American spirit. We owe it to the next dream is that government remains small The story of a small business in ernment and lower taxes means greater generation of Americans, born and un- and limited, giving maximum freedom Osage County, Kansas, illustrates how economic opportunity for more people. born, to preserve a land where freedom to the individual. The great potential of increased economic freedom betters It opens the door for increased economic and opportunity reign, so they too can on T i m e s A dv t America lies not in her government, but the lives of not only the entrepreneurs mobility and security, and the promise live in a land of liberty where dreams are in her people. and their family, but eventually extends of a better future to more Americans. A plentiful and spirit abounds.

sh i ng As governor of Kansas, I have worked the benefits into whole communities. belief in limited government is a belief to pass laws that recognize and respect This particular family business served that given the freedom and opportunity Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was elected the capacity of our citizens. The goal their clients through physical therapy to succeed, individuals and families will in 2010 and won a second term in 2014.

Th e Wa ARED BY promoting the flourishing of people as complex bottom line than shareholder market system can function better for NELSON well as the planet. value only. Yes, there is a good and the flourishing of all our neighbors From page C25 Yes, profit remains a key bottom line. needed desire to sustain profitability and neighborhoods. The economics ON TI M E S

T But people and the planet become bot- for the long haul, but not without tak- of mutuality align well with biblical important sectors of society all depend tom lines as well. ing into account the resulting positives wisdom for human flourishing and

SH I NG on the economic engine of for-profit Supporters of this kind of economics and negatives on people and the planet suggest good possibilities for enhanc- A enterprises for their success. of mutuality are offering a salutary cri- as a whole. ing the common good. A corporation While it is true that business and tique of the hyperindividualism and nar- Mars board Chairman Stephen M. is a good thing, but a corporation that P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| commerce often fall short of meeting the row focus of those free market systems Badger II describes his all-in commit- has corporate social responsibility, not neighborly love standard, the impor- that assert the sole purpose of business ment to a free market system and his only to its shareholders but also toward tance of for-profit enterprises must not is to maximize shareholder profit. embrace of the economics of mutuality the value supply chain of the local and be minimized or discredited. Rather, I One of the thought leaders promot- this way: “Clearly, then, Mutuality — global neighborhood, is even better. believe profit should be seen in the con- ing the adoption of a triple bottom line creating shared value for all stakehold- text of a more integral paradigm called in business is Mars Inc. ers through a form of capitalism and Tom Nelson, D.Min., is senior pastor at o ber 7 • 2016 the “economics of mutuality.” The Mars company makes life responsible business practices that Christ Community Church in Kansas One promising possibility for making more enjoyable not only by produc- defines success in much broader terms City, Kansas, and president of Made the free market better is to move beyond ing peanut M&Ms, but also by paving than profits for shareholders — has had to Flourish, a pastors’ network for the approaches that look to the sole bot- the way forward for many profitable a profound effect on Mars, and indeed common good. This essay is taken

Friday • Oct Friday tom line of profit and to move toward business enterprises. For Mars Inc. my own life.” from an excerpt from his book to be re- triple-bottom-line approaches, which and other for-profit companies, there I am hopeful that with business leased in 2017 by InterVarsity Press. 26 take into account not only profit, but also is an increasing recognition of a more leaders like Stephen Badger, our free Creating marketplace success — and successful, godly people

Moser furniture factory in Maine one In the last 30 years, Cummins Spirit full credit, he was confident that, summer, Boeing’s wide-body airliner Inc. created a fuel system and other including the ministries he has helped factory in Everett, Washington, on ingenious innovations that improved to fund, the number has six figures. another. the thermal efficiency of their engines. Mark 10:29-30 states: “Truly I tell you,” The rapid pace of innovation on Their share of global market for diesel Jesus replied, “no one who has left home the factory floor validates the Genesis engines and its stock price have soared. or brothers or sisters or mother or father verse in which God said man would be Innovation transformed a fuel-thirsty, or children or fields for me and the gos- a creator like him. Some create in the black soot-belching engine into one pel will fail to receive a hundred times as classroom. Some in the kitchen. Some of the cleanest-burning, fuel-sipping much in this present age: homes, broth- By David Durell in factories. Some create in the context power plants available in the market. ers, sisters, mothers, children and fields of discipleship relationships. The most successful and creative — along with persecutions — and in the nnovation and creativity are And what do disciple-makers cre- business leader I have met, however, age to come eternal life.” credited with much of the vast ate? When they are successful, they is Dr. R. Stanley Tam, who built a The economics of working for Jesus material wealth and cultural create mature, replicating Christian business in Lima, Ohio, called United in this life are far more compelling richness that has been built in saints. 2 Timothy 2:2 says that we are States Plastic Corp. than any job we may be hired to per- the West. to “entrust the Word to reliable people Stanley loves Jesus Christ and form or even build for ourselves. There are multiple theories who will be qualified to teach others.” may have been the first businessman Jesus promises “a hundred times” to explain this phenomenon, return when we work for him. And but in my experience, this dynamic according to this verse, these benefits Istems from the nature of God, the first accrue to Christ followers in this life Creator. and in the age to come, eternity or As said in Genesis 1:1-5 New Interna- heaven. For the mathematicians in the tional Version (NIV): In the beginning crowd, that is a 10,000 percent return God created the heavens and the earth. and, significantly, it not guaranteed by Now the earth was formless and empty, the FDIC. It is guaranteed by the same darkness was over the surface of the deep, God whose power spoke the universe

and the Spirit of God was hovering over into existence. A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE the waters. And God said, “Let there be Apostle Paul and Stanley Tam light,” and there was light. God saw that worked in an environment designed the light was good, and he separated the for manufacturing and innovation, light from the darkness. God called the but these men understood the Great light “day,” and the darkness he called Commission and decided to “create “night.” And there was evening, and there disciples of Jesus Christ” in the very was morning — the first day. midst of their factories.

This God has creative energy so Why? Because they agreed with ARED BY T he Wa mighty that he merely needs to speak God about what the most important and the universe responds in creation. product one can create: mature, rep- He creates “ex nihilo,” or out of noth- licating Christian saints, who are the ing. The God of the Bible incarnates raw material from which God builds this creative impulse. Businesses, the Church of Jesus Christ. their leaders and associates create As Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) says, s hingt value from God’s creation in the form Then Jesus came to them and said, “All

of continuously improving products authority in heaven and on earth has o n T ime s A dv and services. Men seem compelled Businesses, their leaders and associates, create been given to me. Therefore go and make to create, and where there is political value from God’s creation in the form of continuously disciples of all nations, baptizing them and religious freedom, humankind has in the name of the Father and of the Son flourished. improving products and services. Men seem and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching THE WASHINGTON TIMES God asserts that he made man in his compelled to create, and where there is political them to obey everything I have com- D e p o cacy own image, a creator, in Genesis 1:26 and religious freedom, humankind has flourished. manded you. And surely I am with you (NIV): Then God said, “Let us make always, to the very end of the age.” mankind in our image, in our likeness, artment so that they may rule over the fish in St. Paul was a tent manufacturer, and to learn how to allow God to legally David Durell lives in Columbus, Ohio, the sea and the birds in the sky, over the I imagine he discipled many young own his company; an innovation to be where he and his wife, Anne, are en- livestock and all the wild animals, and tentmakers into mature Christians in sure. We invited Stanley to Columbus gaged with a growing team of local |

over all the creatures that move along the midst of that very setting. seven years ago to speak to over 200 church, parachurch and marketplace Friday • Oct the ground.” In my 35-year career in business, I business people. He led 22 individuals leaders who are praying for Jesus to I grew up working for a family- have had the good fortune to observe to receive Jesus Christ as savior that redeem their city. Dave attended Wil- owned company called UnionTools, a several innovative businesses. afternoon, and it is safe to say that he liams College. He and Anne raised three manufacturer of tools for lawn, garden, I worked for Cummins Engine Co., has led many thousands to Christ over children who, by the grace of God, are

farm and industry. I worked in a fac- when it converted a product, which his long lifetime. Additionally, Stan- all Christian disciple-makers. Anne o ber 7 • 2016 tory during summer breaks and devel- was almost outlawed by the Environ- ley has generously funded dozens of and Dave help co-lead a home-based oped a deep love for manufacturing mental Protection Agency in the 1970s ministries around the world to advance church affiliated with Xenos Christian processes — forging, metal stamping, for the tons of carcinogens diesel en- the gospel. Fellowship. Dave also serves on the welding, machining, wood milling, etc. gines poured into the atmosphere, into I asked Stanley that day as I drove board of trustees for Mission Columbus, Our own children were forced the contemporary diesel engine, which, him back to the airport how many peo- Hillsdale College, The Acton Institute to take the occasional factory tour in certain cities, emits cleaner air from ple he thinks he may have helped lead and Mercy Medical Center Cambodia. during our family vacations: Thos. its exhaust than it breathes in. to Christ, and while he gave the Holy 27 ‘Mankind is our business’

religious fervor within the marketplace! excluded from the public square. We Texas to see dozens set free from ad- Any casual review of the last decade don’t need a secular marketplace devoid dictions. It led James Ruder to leverage of “white-collar” crime, ethics scandals of faith. Our nation needs more au- L&R Pallets Service Inc., (Denver) to and corruption illustrates the dangers thentic faith expression throughout the provide jobs and training to refugees of free market forces devoid of values marketplace, with followers of Jesus ef- from Southeast Asia. It’s why Jeff Jaime anchored in something greater than fectively demonstrating the policies and would lead Taurean, a cybersecurity self-interest. priorities of His administration through firm, to impact the lives of hundreds of We recently engaged the Best Chris- every aspect of business. local foster children and at-risk families, tian Workplace Institute to assess our A society where faith-fueled stewards and build wells in Africa. own company culture around their eight in the marketplace demonstrate their These business leaders share a com- dimensions of “flourishing.” faith in the products, processes and mon faith, which fuels their values and We were assessed around fantastic people they manage will be a flourish- leadership. Their employees, customers teams, life-giving work, outstanding ing one by all measures. The God of and entire communities are the benefi- talent, uplifting growth, rewarding Abraham is in the people business and ciaries of such businesses operated with compensation, inspirational leadership, calls all followers in every sector of the a stewardship mindset. sustainable strategy, healthy communi- marketplace to remember that “mankind cation and overall engagement. is our business” — because it is His Mike Sharrow is CEO for The C12 Group, By Mike Sharrow For over 20 years, we have evaluated business! the nation’s largest CEO & executive thousands of C12 Group member CEOs We know the term “Puritan Work round table operator for Christians, serv- n December 2005, I sat with my against a “Tri-Value” model — economic, Ethic” because of how the early stages of ing 2,000 members across 32 states rep- wife in a small Chicago theater team and spiritual “value add.” All of the American Experiment was marked resenting hundreds of thousands of U.S. watching a charming production these assessment dimensions are rooted by entrepreneurial output that fueled employees and over $65 billion in annual of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” in a faith system that calls for the type of our nation’s formative GDP. Beyond pro- revenues. Through participation in over I found myself unexpectedly robust stewardship that yields prosper- ductivity, faith — rightly expressed with 250 peer advisory groups, thousands of moved. In the closing act, Eb- ing economies, flourishing people and dignity and humility — yields desper- leaders are committed to “building great enezer Scrooge has been wildly transformed communities. ately needed values, localized compas- businesses for a GREATER purpose.” transformed from his greed-fueled A flourishing society and prosper- sion, hope and stability. Find out more at www.C12Group.com. Ilife and is gushing in benevolence and ous economy requires values unlikely to Faith in the workplace led Trevor Bird generosity such that his old business germinate in a schizophrenically parti- to deploy Harley H.E.A.R.T. Programs advisers protest, “Ebenezer, you can’t tioned society, where faith is somehow across Harley Davidson dealerships in keep giving like this — think about what it will mean for the business!”

m e n t art To which Ebenezer passionately re- plies, slamming his fist on a desk, “From now on, mankind IS our business!” Right then, something about his dec-

o cacy D e p laration moved me to a place of clarity and resolve. Emotion swelled within me; he was right. What does faith in the marketplace have to do with a flourishing economy on T i m e s A dv t and prospering society? Everything. In 1800 B.C., a rancher near Baghdad

sh i ng was commissioned to be the patriarch of a tribe intended to “bless all people of the earth.” We know this man as Abra- ham, and his descendants are the Jewish people from whom we receive the Bible, Jesus, Albert Einstein, Solomon, Steven Th e Wa ARED BY Spielberg and even Bob Dylan. Abraham was an agricultural titan with a fantastic portfolio of assets and ON TI M E S

T hundreds of employees, but it was his faith that both prospered his enterprise

SH I NG and contributed to the flourishing of A every community he engaged in. Chinese economist Dr. Zhao Xiao P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W

| researched capitalistic market societies for implications for China. In 2002, his “Market Economies With Churches and Market Economies Without Churches” proved a scandalous treatise, as it boldly concluded that the success of American o ber 7 • 2016 capitalism greatly hinged upon the pres- ence of faith and Judeo-Christian values to counterbalance the cannibalistic ten- dencies greed fueled in such markets.

Friday • Oct Friday Essentially, he wrote, if China wanted to leverage capitalism and flourish, 28 it needed to simultaneously cultivate Redefining business leadership as ‘stewardship’

small business. Of the 28 million busi- nerve system of this nation? Can any this basic underpinning supporting it. nesses accounted for in our records, nation fulfill its constitutional respon- Many Christians don’t have an accurate 22 million are considered small busi- sibility with a heart for its people? To concept of what stewardship is all about. nesses with fewer than 25 employees make America great again, we must start When we hear the word “stewardship,” — but their impact holds up the arms of to care about its people again. We must most of us think about the program at America. start to care about small business owners church where we are asked to increase Some may say that what makes who make America great. our contributions to the budget. Unfor- America great is its vast military, educa- Lives are changed when we see tunately, that is a narrow view. tion system and economy. In our opin- ourselves as stewards committed to “Stewardship is the practice of sys- ion, what makes America great are small a greater purpose than self, a greater tematic and proportionate giving of time, businesses, whose owners feel called to cause than self. It all changes when our abilities, material possessions … and all serve others more than themselves. Not worldview and mindset commit it all to God’s gifts to us … based on the convic- for themselves, but for those who have a greater purpose and something eternal. tion that these are a trust from God, to been given to them to shepherd. These Proverbs 16:3 ESV says, “Commit your be used in his service, for the benefit of are our true warriors on the front lines work to the Lord, and your plans will be all mankind in grateful acknowledgment of fighting poverty in this nation. These established.” of Christ’s redeeming love,” John Haggai By Terence Chatmon are our true influencers who are making One of the foundational principles of wrote in his book “The Steward.” America great again. These are our true FCCI is that God owns it all, and we are Essentially, we are managers of God’s he Fellowship of Companies for shepherds caring for the flock, all for a stewards of what He has entrusted us possessions, all of which He owns. Christ International is redefin- greater purpose. with. We are to use our earthly resources It is not the wallet but the heart of ing the rules on business. Mar- Is America in decline? Is the decay of for His glory, not ours. This is steward- a man or woman that makes us strong. kets with a conscience thrive. our morals and values eating at the very ship. A country cannot prosper without A heart redefined will make America Most people would say that a strong, nurtured by principles that will Tbusiness exists to produce shareholders’ shape the very core of our nation. No value, or profits. This is a true statement nation can thrive with an inward, selfish of sorts, but can a nation thrive with this focus. We must look beyond ourselves belief? and love something or someone other Let me propose a different view. than self. Business leaders who are integrat- ing biblical principles in their lives and Terence Chatmon serves as president businesses learn that their companies and CEO of Fellowship of Companies A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE exist for a greater purpose: to honor for Christ International, a fellowship God, to create wealth and to support the of executive leaders in 139 countries. community through Christian service. In his role, he is leading unprecedented That is a different, or redefined, mission efforts to equip and encourage lead- statement with eternal objectives. ers in small-, medium- and large-size There are many ways to serve the companies. FCCI is known around the millions of people in grinding poverty. world for its global platform, world-

FCCI, for three decades, has equipped class annual international conference, ARED BY T he Wa and encouraged Christian business own- rich library of business leadership re- ers to integrate their faith at work, lifting sources and transformational Kingdom people up, and giving them hope and a Leader and Kingdom Company models. future through the marketplace. For more information, visit fcci.org. The core of America’s economy is s hingt o n T ime s A dv

Aiming at abundant lives — and livelihoods THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Washington, D.C., I have explored the for a construction company? We boil it them develop. We believe that everyone D e p o cacy driving force behind my work. I prayed down to three commitments: should be working, growing, becoming for a vision and landed on this: Use your 1. Employee development. — moving toward his or her potential. influence to create environments where 2. Repeat relationships. Each supervisor is responsible for the artment people can experience abundant life. 3. Operational excellence. growth of his employees. Success is mea- Since that time, I have been work- These three commitments lead to sured by team development and team ing toward creating a place where our both our individual and our corporate member growth. |

people can work in an environment that growth. Friday • Oct resembles what God intended. Frankly, 90 percent of our employees ⦁ Repeat relationships We are not a Christian company, but don’t know the spiritual “why?” behind Our core value of commitment to I do pray that God’s “kingdom will come our commitments. What they do know relationships is based on the belief that on earth as in heaven” in our organiza- is that doing business with these at our good relationships are important. If we

tion. As a construction guy, I am pretty core is satisfying. are going to be with each other forever, o ber 7 • 2016 practical, and I live with the end in then how we deal with others takes on a mind. The Bible says that in the end all ⦁ Employee development different perspective today. Our custom- things will be perfect and as they were Practically speaking, we have about 90 ers, architects, engineers, subcontractors, By John Scott intended. employees who are developing profes- co-workers — all are important and all I believe that abundant life means that sionally, educationally, relationally and these relationships should be nourished. As the second-generation owner of a we are growing and becoming who we spiritually if they choose. We have annual commercial construction company near are created to be. So what does that mean learning goals for each employee to help » see SCOTT | C30 29 Leveraging the workplace for greater good

For example, I met a dear friend in issues, from the board room to the base- calls to working from my home office, Dallas, Brittany Merrill Underwood, ment. I worked for years as a woman in but I am grateful that it did. I have for a through the Laura Bush Women’s Initia- a male-dominated industry. At times, I long time championed and supported tive. Brittany was so moved by a chance took my lumps, and over time, I decided the same cause that 4word supports encounter with a Ugandan woman that I wanted to make a change to lead successfully. caring for 24 children in her home that and support people in situations similar Now, as I meet people who ask me she moved to Uganda after graduating to mine. As I grew within the Trammell which model of philanthropy is correct, I college to build an orphanage to give a Crow Company, I started a corporate tell them that there are several that work home to abandoned children. diversity initiative that has, I am proud with the right mix of dedication, flex- While she was successful, she real- to say, outlived my tenure and continues ibility and personal responsibility. More ized through the process that building an today. I loved my job, and as a COO, I importantly, I challenge them to choose orphanage proved to be a high-cost, lim- was passionate about leading and build- their cause and to fight for it, so that ited-return endeavor. Without diverting ing teams. whether their path follows Liz’s or Brit- from her original mission, she radically redirected her multiyear, not-for-profit organization from a bricks-and-mortar By Diane Paddison construction strategy toward a strategy of training, employing and empowering n the Feb. 13, 2015 episode local women. What she had discovered of ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank,” was that by investing in women over my friend, Liz Bohannon, buildings, her organization could have and her husband, Ben, a far broader impact and enable women presented their Ugandan- and mothers to care for thousands more based footwear company children than her orphanage could hold. — Sseko Designs — to the famous board The result is Akola — which means Oof billionaire investors. “to work” — a not-for-profit jewelry en- The pitch started well, as Liz built terprise that produces goods that can be consensus by saying that they “believe found anywhere from her storefront in passionately that business has a role Dallas to the glass case in Neiman Mar- in making the world a better place,” to cus. And Akola’s reach has spanned from which the Sharks responded, “I love it!” national to international, employing But ultimately, the Sharks declined to women abroad in Uganda and at home

m e n t art invest, arguing that the best model for in Dallas with the same original mission philanthropy is to be hyperfocused on in mind — taking care of children who profits above all else, so that you can get could not care for themselves. Liz Bohannon leads fashion company Sseko Designs, which empowers women in rich and then give back, and not “bake in Stories like Liz’s and Brittany’s are Uganda and East Africa to further their educations and support their families. Image o cacy D e p social impact from Day One,” as Sseko unique, but they are not alone in found- courtesy of ​4wordwomen.org. has done. ing social impact-focused business As the former COO of two Fortune models. Many are familiar with TOMS 500 and a Fortune 1000 companies and shoes, which donates a shoe for every After several years, however, I de- tany’s or mine, they can leverage their now founder of 4word, the only global shoe purchased, or Whole Foods, which cided — like Brittany — that my passion workplace for the good of others. on T i m e s A dv t nonprofit organization dedicated to is the first certified organic grocer in the and my talents were necessarily limited connecting, leading and supporting United States. if I stayed inside a single corporation, Diane Paddison is founder of 4word

sh i ng Christian women in the workplace to As before, these examples, whether both because of the limited impact of (4wordwomen.org), the only global or- achieve their potential, I often get asked socially focused, for-profit or other, share our work and the level of commitment ganization serving Christian women which model is the better model for the same three ingredients for success, my leadership shared to the cause I care in the workplace. She is the author of philanthropy. but the major difference — and this is the so much about. So, after much thought “Work, Love, Pray” and the former mem- The answer to the question, to me, key — is that the degree of organizational and prayer, I decided to start 4word- ber of the Global Executive Teams of is simple. Both models can be effective, focus on a social cause is directly propor- women.org to support the 71 percent of two Fortune 500 and one Fortune 1000 Th e Wa ARED BY but long-term success in either requires tional to the personal investment by the women with children under the age of 18 companies. Josh Campbell, a real estate the same three ingredients: hard work, organization’s leadership in the cause. who work outside the home. executive, assisted with this article. organizational flexibility and personal In my own experience, I have worked I never imagined my career would ON TI M E S

T responsibility. in various corporate models on social lead me from the Wall Street earnings SH I NG A commitment that we pursue. Of course, How do we do all of this? What is the abundant life for our P RE L RE PO RT A SP ECIA t H E W | SCOTT we want to be excellent. We want to be We measure employee development, people? Growing, having great relation- From page C29 the best. We want to reach our potential we measure repeat-customer and archi- ships, being excellent and becoming who as builders, estimators, accountants, proj- tect relationships, and we measure our they are created to be. We don’t get to burn bridges. Relation- ect managers, carpenters and laborers. excellence by profits, quality and project ships are hard. Construction is especially Becoming excellent, mastering what we schedules. We promote our people based John Scott is president and CEO of messy and full of conflict, but if we can have learned, and reaching our potential on these measurements. Scott-Long Construction, Inc., a general o ber 7 • 2016 work to enhance our relationships, then is honoring to God. For the most part, our Again, our employees are not all in contracting firm in the Washington, D.C., we are working to bring the “kingdom” to people are not considering God when sync with me regarding the “why” behind area. The firm specializes in building earth. We are absolutely not perfect, but working toward excellence, but I think our commitments. However, for those that “projects that make a positive impact on we are trying. God made excellence something that are interested in pursuing spiritual things, the community,” including health care,

Friday • Oct Friday we naturally want to achieve, no matter we have a corporate chaplain who holds senior living, and faith-based and other ⦁ Operational excellence our beliefs. Being excellent is what God monthly Bible studies, leads a weekly community projects. John lives in Vir- 30 Operational excellence is the third intended for us. prayer time and provides mentoring. ginia with his wife and three children. Popcorn and lemonade sales point Detroit to fiscal health of his neighbors. a small group of government planners, fallen in love with the economic imagi- He launched an enterprise that sold no matter how well trained they may be. nation of John Maynard Keynes, who popcorn and lemonade that summer, This is because the knowledge needed to promoted an interventionist approach and it was massively successful. Folks make smart and efficient financial deci- to producing prosperity that featured from around the metro Detroit region sions is too vast and multifaceted for a an economy that was stimulated by a heard about this 9-year-old businessman handful of political leaders to amass. hyperactive government. and his entrepreneurial endeavor and Hayek was convinced the best thing Hayek was a prophet of sorts. He an- came to buy his product. His business that could happen for communities to nounced to a world gripped by socialism was thriving, and his Christian upbring- flourish was for individuals to engage on one side and enticed by intervention- ing motivated him to donate the profits in unencumbered markets of exchange, ism on the other that neither could pro- he produced to the redevelopment of where they could buy and sell products, duce a strong and sustainable economy. the neighborhood park where he and his services and productivity at price levels He prophesied that socialism was friends wanted to play. set by their own economic assessments untenable and doomed to fail nearly six Josh Smith’s story gained national at- of the value of these goods. It was the decades before the fall of the Berlin Wall tention. It attracted and inspired people unleashing of entrepreneurial enter- and the ultimate demise of communism from around the world to invest, launch prises that brought real and sustainable around the world. He predicted that the businesses and use entrepreneurial profit, as business leaders intuitively inevitable outcome of interventionism By Pastor Christopher Brooks thinking to help solve the stagnant prob- made adjustments to meet the needs of would be a boom-and-bust cycle that have had the privilege of being would leave high unemployment and born, raised and shaped by Detroit. even higher interest rates in its wake. Seeing the world through the lens Hayek knew that flourishing de- of this beautiful but broken city has pended on the acceptance of the idea framed my view of human flourish- that economic knowledge was disbursed Iing in ways that are truly amazing and among the many and not held by the counterintuitive. few, contextualized to local communities For example, I am convinced that and mostly intuitive to the individual. some of the best economists are urban The duty of any prophet, which is so

youth. often undesirable but undeniably neces- A SP ECIA L RE PO RTP RE That may seem like a ridiculous state- sary for social transformation, is to go ment to some, but for those of us who against the mainstream. have experienced the hood firsthand, we This is the legacy and brilliance of know that it is true. Inner-city youth may Hayek. He believed that enterprising in- not be Ivy League-trained, but they have dividuals, who were free to unleash their several strategic advantages over the entrepreneurial spirit on a community, rest of us. They are economic innova- could fix what government had broken.

tors who are blessed with an inexhaust- Hayek didn’t have the privilege of ARED BY T he Wa ible creativity, boundless faith in spite being born, raised and shaped by my of their difficult circumstances and an Detroit, and he never had the blessing of unmatched intuitive adaptability to the meeting Josh Smith. But I am convinced market environment and cities they that if he had heard of what this young occupy. urban business leader did in the face of Take, for example, Josh Smith, who his city’s bankruptcy, Hayek would be s hingt was a bright and budding 9-year-old pleased.

growing up in the heart of Detroit in Detroit is now on the rise and o n T ime s A dv 2012, when the city first publicly an- experiencing a renaissance driven by nounced that it was on the brink of in- an explosion of small businesses and solvency. Detroit had run out of money a cutting back of government. This is and the mayor had no more political proof that Austrian Economics is not THE WASHINGTON TIMES options in front of him. simply beneficial for solving large-scale D e p o cacy Although Josh had not pored over the geopolitical problems, but it is also good city’s financial statements and did not for the hood! possess the vantage point of Detroit’s artment highly paid accountants, he did see the Pastor Christopher Brooks is senior condition of the neighborhood park pastor of Evangel Ministries, a thriv- directly across the street from his home. ing 1,600-member church in the heart |

Josh knew that the once-picturesque lems of Detroit. their neighbors. of Detroit, and author of two books, Friday • Oct park, which was now rendered dysfunc- Detroit stood on the brink of bank- It is worth noting that Hayek sought “Kingdom Dreaming” and “Urban tional due to blight, was not going to ruptcy as a result of government mis- to mainstream Austrian economic ideas Apologetics.” He is also the daily host of be fixed by a government that had no management, but Josh knew intuitively during a time when it was unpopular to two radio program, “Equipped for Life,” money. that business could fix what government do so. aired daily on the Salem Network at

So this young urbanite did something had broken. The mid-20th century was marked 1500 AM, and a national live talk show, o ber 7 • 2016 that was innate and economically savvy: Without realizing it, Josh was em- by two other competing schools of “Equipped with Chris Brooks,” airing Josh started a business. ploying the central principle of what economic thought that were far more daily on Moody Radio. He was appointed Driven by a love for his neighbor- many refer to as Austrian Economics. widely accepted than free market eco- Campus Dean of Moody Theological hood and financial common sense, he This school of economic thinking was nomics. Eastern Europe saw the rise of Seminary’s Michigan Campus in 2013, divined that the best thing he could do championed by the famed economist Marxist Communism, which brought and can be reached at @equippedradio. as a citizen of Detroit was earn a profit F.A. Hayek, who believed that economies with it a heavy-handed socialism that by selling a product that met the needs are far too complex to be engineered by initially seemed altruistic. The West had 31 Are you asking the big questions?

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