Bible and Money: Why God Supports Free Market Capitalism

I believe the argument could be made to support capitalism from a Biblical perspective. There are also books that go in greater detail. But the Bible speaks to all parts of life and once you focus on one area, you will be surprised what the Bible has to offer on it.

But this is also within context how the Bible tells the individual, the church, and government to behave.

Deuteronomy 5:21 New International Version (NIV)
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

God also allowed people to inherit the land. And taxes prevent people from forever owning land.

Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

I still firmly stand by my belief that the Bible advocates neither side, but instead all things in balance for good purpose. The Bible isn't capitalist nor communist, these are both man made systems.

"Capitalism" of today is very far from the original capitalism, working people and children 20 hours a day during the industrial evolution. How did communism appear? Communism was wrapped to sell to workers, if they were so happy why did they switch to communism. The whole Marxist agenda was wrapped about why there was such disparity of wealth among people, and this is why people bought into it, because they wanted more equality and more rights. Then communism went off into the left field with their own agendas and also didn't work out for these peoples. Neither of these are of God. What you call capitalism is very far from what genuine capitalism actually is and was, what we have today is - thank God - a lot closer to middle ground because nowadays workers have a lot more rights and pay than they used to have and than bosses wanted (or want) to give them. The real spirit of capitalism today is evidenced through companies outsourcing, running sweat shops unscrupulously, just to line their pockets as much as they can find loopholes in the law, and destroying their own economies in the process.

do you think this contradicts & overrules the fact that God said all the land is His? that all the cattle are His? that all the gold and silver is His?

that's how you're using it, right?
as though the fact God may use language like "your land" means it is not truly His?

He says we are sojourners with Him. He assigns us a place. even in heaven, it is in "My Father's house" that there are many rooms. it's not going to be "your" mansion, with any sense of ownership. "yours" only as in He gives it to you to use. as a guest. you have been granted a responsibility of stewardship over His things that He lends you.

why are you upset about property taxes?

is the silver and gold yours?
is the land yours?

"Free enterprise" would be the correct term. The Bible does promote free enterprise, land ownership, property ownership, business ownership, payment of taxes, etc.

Capitalism is not exactly the same as free enterprise. It is more akin to "The concentration or massing of capital in the hands of a few; also, the power or influence of large or combined capital."

and that means what exactly, their way was right or wrong?

that means no rules, just let the system run its course freely.

this opinion is shared by every teacher, professor and textbook in the country as well as historical facts

labor laws are not part of the free market, thats regulation, again with that dirty word.

under communism the people own the factory, show me one factory in china thats owned by the people. good luck on that one. chinese economy is communism in name and capitalist in substance.

What of it? If God created the boundaries where people will be and gives land as an inheritance. You are correct all is His. We are only borrowing it or as Genesis states we are managing it.

I didn't say one way or another. You posted a verse that says land to not to be sold permanently. And it isn't.

We are talking about biblical design for government and economics not Heaven.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 ESV
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

these are social programs commanded by the Most High, but i thought the Father was a capitalist, not a socialist?

Meaning it isn't an example for the government. Nor was it commanded by Jesus or early church. It was group agreement and that changed as they spread out and grew as history portrays.

Nope. Limited government involvement to control fairness, equal opportunity, and to encourage competition as our textbook civics class explained.

Every? That is a big word. No, every source does not promote your belief. Maybe the anti-western civilization types which are many liberal colleges.

Yah as to why your quote about labor for 16 hours was pointless and no connection to the textbook design of a free market capitalist economy.

Hahaha. Wow. Maybe you should read up on how communism was created and the steps it needs to take to get to their utopian dream. China and Russia are straight up out of the communist manifesto. China is majority government-controlled including the economy which is the opposite of a free market based around capital earned by the liberty of investors, entrepreneurs, and inventors.

A tithe which is not the abundance. Abundance is made in order for parts of the produce to be given. Out of capitalism is the only way any social program can prosper. Plus socialism is the equalization of economics and a tithe is not that. 10% every 3 years is not equal vs 90%.

Acts 2:45 was a church freely cooperation as seen with Ananias and Sapphira. They wasn't commanded but chose to give except they tried to cheat God.

This wasn't a government operation and it also wasn't sustained as the church grew.

God has inspired man's direction in the realm of morality. If a system is good then God inspired it. If it is bad then God will hate it and it will likely be self evident in it's outcome. But just as you will not find the Trinity in Scripture we see the Trinity throughout Scripture. Just as why I made the case for capitalism. If you study it by looking in Scripture you will see why it is important within what the Bible calls good government.

Was that the original capitalism? Capitalism has been around much longer as it dates back to the days of trade and barter systems that eventually led into merchant capitalism as societies evolved so did trade and economics. The philosophy vs operation is different. In philosophy or in theory it works this way but action must fit the theory. Poor worker conditions had nothing to do with the philosophy of capitalism but more with the morality of the individuals who took advantage of it. You will have morality problems with any system for example in socialism you will have free loaders and worker clashes.

Also capitalism involves limited government involvement as in they in theory are suppose to create a economic environment that promotes equality, promotes opportunity, competition, and uphold the law to prevent corruption.

We have economic theories just as Marxism even though that is incorporated in more of a athiestic worldview just like sharia law is not separate of the Islamic worldview.

In theory capitalism is right for morality.

Morality being a pillar to uphold what is just.

John Adams, The Works of John Adams,
Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston:
Little, Brown, 1854), Vol. IX, p. 401, to Zabdiel Adams on June 21, 1776.)

We have no government armed with power capable of contending
with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution
was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the
government of any other.

No economic system will ever be without flaws especially without a good moral foundation.

I agree as we grow secular, more will abuse the liberty of capitalism. And the more secular government becomes, the more corrupt and more control they will seek to have.

That is true in Heaven, but there will be righteous buying and selling on earth (or so it would appear).

yes, so it does appear

That is only IN THEORY. Here is how Socialism works.

COMMUNIST BOSSES------> 99% OF THE COUNTRY'S WEALTH

THE REST OF THE PEOPLE-------> 1% OF THE COUNTRY'S WEALTH

Out of that 99% probably 80% goes towards building up a military.

You are equally poor but the human heart and the 1% who owns the 99% of the wealth, without checks and balances lead to the 1% ruling the 99% of the population. Then when people get tired of starving, poor healthcare, and poor living conditions they begin to revolt. The revolt needs an authoritarian to keep it in order. Then within a very short time period, true socialism becomes Communism.