The first in a series of essays explaining how America got into the state she’s in.
For instance, consider this: Biblical morality tells us a number of things about the subjects of work and charity. It tells us, for example, that those who do not work should not eat (II Thessalonians 3:10), and it tells us that theft is wrong (Exodus 20:15). This position is implicitly affirmed in our Constitution, with its complete lack of any provisions for social welfare or a social “safety net,” and with its ample protections of property rights. Yet, the “Social gospel” advocated by many professing Christians in America beginning after the Civil War (and continuing to this day), overturns this. Private works of charity (which were and are certainly laudable) began to be replaced by demands for the spending of public monies for the benefit of “the needy.” It became acceptable for “Christians” to call for theft from “the more fortunate” to give through direct redistribution to the “less fortunate.” This is using the power of the state to perpetrate theft, pure and simple, yet many professing believers involved themselves in the call for this type of theft and the encouragement of laziness, directly contrary to the demands of the Bible. You have millions who think this is the “Christian” thing to do. No, the welfare system is immoral. Compulsion to “do good” is neither moral not legitimate, it is not virtuous.
Likewise, rational capitalism based upon competition and having its origin in the liberty of individuals to use their abilities and assets to improve both themselves and the world around them, is a moral system of economics. Rational capitalism takes the often destructive drive of man’s self-interest, and channels it into outlets which benefit not only the capitalist, but also those whom he employs and those for whom he produces goods and services — what is often called “enlightened self-interest.” By being forced to compete for both customers and a labor force, the capitalist has the incentive to do right by them. Man’s sin nature being what it is, this ideal has not always been put into practice. Nevertheless, the “invisible hand” which Adam Smith wrote about has allowed enterprising individuals to generate profits for themselves while also providing meaningful employment for their workers and a generous standard of living for our society, as God has allowed us to be blessed. In America, even the poor live like the kings of other ages.
It’s long, but read the whole thing!
