The third paper “It’s a Rich Man’s World?”Exploring the Biblical Material on Money, Wealth and Economic Justice was given by Revd Dr Andy Hartropp Research Tutor, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.
Outline
Introduction
1.
A
Framework
for
Using
the
Bible
Ethically
–
With
Economics
in
Mind
Creation
–
Fall
–
Redemption
–
Eschatology
Eight
biblical
principles
for
economic
life:
human
beings
as
stewards
of
God’s
world
Principle
1
:
Human
beings
must
use
the
resources
of
creation
to
provide
for
their
existence,
but
they
must
not
waste
or
destroy
the
created
order
(e.g.
Gen.
1:26‐30;
2:15).
Principle
2
:
Every
person
has
a
calling
to
exercise
stewardship
of
resources
and
talents
(e.g.
Num.
26:52‐56;
Lev.
25:8‐10).
Principle
3
:
Stewardship
implies
responsibility
to
determine
the
disposition
of
resources.
Each
person
is
accountable
to
God
for
his/her
stewardship
(e.g.
Lev.
25:23--‐24).
Principle
4
:
People
have
a
right
and
an
obligation
to
work
(Gen.
2:15;
Ps.
104:23;
2
Th.
3:6‐13).
Note
that
work
existed
before
the
Fall!
(Gen.
3:17
cf.
2:15):
work
is
a
creation
principle.
Principle
5
:
Work
is
the
means
of
exercising
stewardship.
In
their
work
people
should
have
access
to
resources
and
control
over
them
(Deut.
24:14‐15).
Principle
6
:
Work
is
a
social
activity
in
which
people
cooperate
as
stewards
of
their
individual
talents,
and
as
joint
stewards
of
resources
(e.g.
Neh.
2:17‐18;
1
Cor.
12:12‐31).
Principle
7
:
Every
person
has
a
right
to
share
in
God’s
provision
for
human
beings
for
their
basic
needs
of
food,
clothing
and
shelter.
These
needs
are
to
be
met
primarily
by
productive
work.
See
Leviticus
chapter
25,
especially
the
sections
beginning
at
v 25,
v 35
and
v 39.
See
also
Lev.
19:9‐10/Deut.
24:19‐22.
Principle
8
:
Personal
stewardship
of
resources
does
not
imply
the
right
to
consume
the
entire
product
of
those
resources.
The
rich
have
an
obligation
to
help
the
poor
who
cannot
provide
for
themselves
by
work,
e.g.
Deut
26:1‐12.
This
was
partly
by
means
of
loans
,
at
zero
interest:
see
Deut
15:1‐11.
In
the
NT
we
find
similar
principles
at
work:
Lk
12:32‐34;
Acts
4:32‐35;
5:1‐11;
1
Tim
6:6‐10,
17‐19.
2. Righteousness and Justice - With Economic Life in Mind
Two main aspects of righteousness: (a) there is a relational context/meaning; and (b) conforming to a norm/standard
“Righteousness”and“justice”in the OT
Righteousness and the GospelThe righteousness of believers in response to God’s righteousnessJustice is part of the outworking of righteousness
3. A Biblical Understanding of Economic Justice
(a) Economic justice means appropriate treatment, according to the norms commanded by God
(b) God’s justice involves justice to the needy
(c) Justice is not only about allocation, but also concerns the quality of relationships
(d) Justice in the allocation of resources means that everyone participates in God’s blessing
4. Meeting Challenges to Biblical Economic Justice in Today’s World
Rights, need or desert?
Justice in production and justice in distribution
Global challenges
Justice in production and distribution: the contribution enterprise can make to help overcome poverty
We need a fuller conception of “social justice”
Challenges posed by the recent financial and economic crisis
Conclusion
This paper has presented a biblical understanding of economic justice, and it has shown that the Bible has much to say about economic justice in today’s world. Clearly this is not, ultimately, a matter for academic analysis only. Justice and righteousness involve action. God’s own example demonstrates this plainly. Christian believers–both as individuals and as church communities–should be demonstrating economic justice in their lives and relationships, from Sunday through to Saturday.
Questions
1) Can you think of ways in which Christians in the UK underplay the importance of Creation and New Creation? (See my paper on this point.)
2) The paper claims that the impact of Christians in the City of London has - in terms of the City’s values, culture and ’greed’ - been close to zero. To what extent do you agree? If you do agree, why do you think the impact has been so small?
3) In your church(es), how big a problem is the ‘love of money’?
4) What more help do your congregations need in living as disciples of Christ in the workplace?
5) ‘The righteousness of God clearly does have a relational meaning” (my paper). To what extent are you familiar with this idea, and do you agree?
6) The paper says: “Thus we have the following definition: justice is appropriate treatment, especially of human beings, and usually in a relational setting, according to the norms commanded and set by God in each particular case.” To what extent is this different from how you think of justice?
7) What are your reactions to the paper’s claims about four main aspects of a biblical understanding of economic justice?
8) The paper criticises the currently-prevailing sense of ‘social justice’. What do you think about this?
9) What can Christians say, from the Bible, about bankers’ bonuses?
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