Since both capitalists and socialists often point to the Bible to contend for their position, I thought it worthwhile to devote an article to that topic alone and in doing so speak to everyone making those arguments.
The Scriptures are full of the idea of work and merit, a key point of capitalism. Jesus said, “The laborer deserves his wages” in Luke 18. Paul wrote in 2 Thess. 3:10, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
Conversely then, an individual earns his own food through his labor. Paul also defended the apostles’ right to earn their living, saying that, “The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel,” while he cites the priests eating animals they sacrificed in order to make his case in 1 Cor. 9:13-14. Indeed, Paul mentions a few verses earlier that even oxen have the right to eat from the grain they tread out.
All these examples show the Bible teaches there is a real correlation between work and wages – that the industrious earn their living and the slothful do not. It’s basic ethics.
Also consider the parable in Matt. 20. In this story, a vineyard owner who represents God hired workers for his vineyard early in the morning after they agreed on a denarius for the day. The man hired more workers at several other times during the day, including some one hour before the work was over. Even though they had worked differing amounts of time, all the workers were paid a denarius. When those who had worked all day complained that their pay wasn’t fair, the owner told them that he had the right to do what he wanted with his business. After all, they had agreed on a denarius.
This parable is as capitalistic as you get. While it might appear on the face of it that the workers hired first are being exploited by the grossly unfair boss, the vineyard owner did them no wrong. Both parties agreed on the outset to an arrangement that would be mutually beneficial, and if he wants to pay others at a higher rate, he is free to do so.
Socialists have verses they appeal to as well. The early Christians seem to be practicing public ownership of property in Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-35. But can we really infer from this that this is how society should look? It would be fallacious to argue that just because it works well for a small community that it would work well for the whole population. Those verses don’t touch on how whole societies should operate. Besides, the key here is to understand that these Christians gave what they did voluntarily and were free to keep what they wanted to, as we see in Acts 5:4.
What about rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, as Jesus said? Though governments should be able to impose taxes to get what they deserve for their work, this verse says nothing about how much belongs to them.
Conversely, one of the Ten Commandments prohibiting theft applies to governments as much as to individuals, but how much is a government permitted to take? Samuel warned the Israelites in 1 Sam. 8 that the king they were requesting would take a tenth from their vineyards, flocks and grain. And if 10% is considered a curse, how much more 30, 50 or 70%? Thus the biblical ethic prohibits a socialist tax system.
When Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple in Matt. 26, was He denouncing free business exchange? He was is in this case, but not as a rule. He expelled them from conducting their business in a holy place, where God dwelled (Matt. 23:21). But when did He ever drive them out of the marketplace or otherwise correct the practice of voluntary exchange?
As concerns caring for the needy, James 1:27 tells us “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” Jesus likewise told us to help the indigent (Matt. 25:34-40). But how should we care for disadvantaged people? Wouldn’t you prefer to give directly or through an organization you trust rather than to have the government siphon your money through taxation to go who knows where?
There are needy people in the world, and we want to help them in the most efficient and ethical way possible. It’s not Uncle Sam’s job to provide everything for them. That’s something we need to own up to ourselves, and when we do that, we not only help them more effectively but also come closer to the heart of Jesus.
