Christianity and Economics

There are two passages from the Bible that deal with taxes specifically.  The first is in Genesis; Joseph advises Pharaoh to store (tax) the grain produced during the seven years of plenty that it might be distributed during the seven years of famine.  We often call this saving up for a rainy day.  It makes good economic sense to have a reserve stand as a bulwark against uncertain times.  More on this in a moment.

The second passage is the more famous, that of Jesus: "Render under Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's."  This one statement of Jesus makes it abundantly clear that Christians should not oppose taxation merely for the sake of opposing taxation.  In fact, Christians are to submit to lawful authorities, and to pray for their leaders to be given wise counsel.

So what are the ramifications of these passages?  First, the Religious Right, by tying itself to the anti-tax wing of the GOP, stands in direct violation of a command of Jesus, demonstrating that they are not interested in faith so much as power.  Secondly, taxation should be used to prevent injustice and economic injury brought about by causes beyond the control of governments.  

What appeals on taxes can progressives make to Christians?  On taxes themselves, nothing.  Instead, the focus should be on what those taxes will provide, and how they will be of benefit to all of society.  Thus, while the Religious Right would like to inculcate a hatred of taxes in Christians, it remains an obligation of the Christian to pay their taxes with a glad heart.  

The next issue is wages.  In another passage from the Gospels, Jesus tells his disciples that the laborer deserves their wages.  Christians have always taught that it is the duty of the employer to pay a fair wage to their employee.  Christians in general recognize the injustice done to an employee who is financially abused by their employer.  Furthermore, there are many condemnations of fraud in the Bible.

What is not so clear from the Bible is what constitutes a fair wage.  There has been much debate on the subject over the centuries, with some Christians coming to more progressive conclusions, and others to more conservative conclusions.  Thus, appeals to raise the minimum wage will resonate, but there is some division on this issue within Christian ranks.

So what can progressives do?  First off, emphasize the many ways in which their policies protect the employee from unscrupulous employers.  Focus on the job protection, portability of retirement plans, and the access to Health Care that progressives fight for.  Explain the employee-employer dynamic, and how the conservative model would give all of the power in the relationship to the employer.  But we should not demonize employers in general, for many are hardworking Americans whose votes we want too.  For the laborer to receive a just wage, there must be a proper balance in the relationship between employer and employee.

Obviously, in cases like Enron and Walmart where employees are getting the shaft, we need to continue to highlight them and focus on ways in which Democratic policies will help restore the Biblical balance that Jesus called for (even if we are not saying it like that!).

When it comes to welfare, we enter perhaps the most contentious of issues.  However, it is contentious only in that conservatives have misrepresented the truth for so long.  First, let us consider a history lesson.  During the first few centuries AD, it was Christians who practiced and created true charity.  Prior to this, it was considered rare for somebody to help another not of their family or clan without promise of reward.   But the early Christians did so, and gained many converts because of this.  After the fall of the Roman Empire, Christian monasteries became the havens for travelers, the poor, the sick and wounded.  The term Hospital derives from the notion of hospitality, and it was this shown by monks and nuns, and even some Knights during the Crusades.

Thus, the tradition of charity can easily be claimed to be imbued in Christianity.  Even to this day in many third world countries you can find missionaries working to feed the poor, clothe them, and build up their communities.  And charitable giving in the United States is higher amongst those who profess faith than it is amongst those who do not.  So why is there so much contention over welfare?

Because conservatives have been allowed to frame this issue.  Instead of people suffering through ill-times trying to get back on their feet, the typical welfare recipient becomes a welfare queen abusing the system.  Who would criticize the family where the parents (or parent) has been laid off, and now needs some support to see them through the months to come until they can find more work?  Who wouldn't want to help?  This is where our social safety net comes in, and it has done a remarkable job of reducing the crush of poverty in the United States.  Conservatives like to claim that the poor here would be rich in other lands.  Admit to it, and proudly proclaim that this success is because of our efforts to aleviate  suffering by giving out a helping hand via Welfare.

The job for progressives to appeal to Christians, who naturally want to see help given to the poor is to focus on the suffering, and the success of these many programs in succoring such hurts.

So, judging from these three Economic issues, what do we learn?  Christians are naturally progressives on economic issues.  The Religious Right has clouded this matter by being allowed to control the debate, and it has driven many Christians away from policies they would normally support.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

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