Would Jesus be a Capitalist? Part 1

Here is an interesting question ... Jesus was a CEO 2000 years ago. If he were a CEO today, would He be a capitalist? This problem with this question is that it looks at things from the wrong direction. Let's try to rephrase the question as this ... Is capitalism an appropriate philosophy for running a business which seeks to minister to others?

Think for a moment about what the question asks. We have said that as Christians and business owners, God has provided to us resources and influence for the purpose of performing ministry. Does capitalism support or limit our abilities to accomplish God's mission? Is capitalism the best economic system to permit us to perform ministry?


As we launch into this investigation it is important that we define our terms. Capitalism is an economic system in which wealth, and the means of producing wealth, are privately owned.... A distinguishing feature of capitalism is that each person owns his or her own labor and therefore is allowed to sell the use of it to employers. [Wikipedia - Capitalism]


When our Founding Fathers were developing the documents upon which the government of our Republic are based, they were very much conscious of the passage from I Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.


From this passage, they brought an understanding that an individual needed to control his or her own labor. From the sale of that labor, one needed to be able to purchase and then own property. Without property rights, one could not provide for the family's needs. A message that was clearly communicated from the economic systems of western Europe.


When one owns and controls his or her labor, they have access to their greatest wealth producing tool. From control of this resource, the individual can build careers and businesses. Under capitalism, it is this opportunity to develop a return for the investment of time and resources that creates wealth. From the accumulation of wealth, a person with a Judeo-Christian world view will find him or herself able to minister to those in need out of their prosperity. Capitalism has been the engine which has raised the wealth of the world. It is the system that demonstrates that economic success is not a net-sum game, a game where one person's success comes from another person's loss of economic resources. Our country has achieved an economic standard of living that is the envy of the world. Our nation has also shown itself to be the most generous in all the world, even providing economic support to our very enemies.


Capitalism rewards effort and promotes hard work, both are sound Biblical values. Capitalism provides the means for individuals to assist those who are less fortunate. Realizing that all the world bears the effects of man's fall, even capitalism can be corrupted and abused. But, when practiced by regenerate men and women, capitalism blesses them with the ability and resources to minister to others.

Jesus Calls Us To Ministry

As our CEO, Jesus calls us to ministry. We find this explicitly in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20. As Jesus' followers, we are to teach others to follow all the commands that He has given us.

This commission is often used to form an incorrect definition of ministry. Many believers talk about discreet activities, sharing Christ, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, etc. as ministry. This concept of ministry being the actual activities has led to a debilitating complex among believers that they are not ministering unless they hold in a job provided by a non-profit or a religious organization.

How many times have you heard someone say, "one day I want to go into full time ministry"? This incorrect (and I believe improper) view of ministry adds to the notion that there is a great divide between the secular marketplace and the activities of the church. The work in the marketplace is not seen as something of religious or spiritual value. Under this view, it is only when "working" for a religious or non-profit organization that our efforts can be deemed "holy" or sanctified. As a good friend of mine says, "this smells of smoke!"

Let's try a different definition of ministry. How does this sound? Ministry is permitting others to experience God's presence through us - through you and me! This definition treats ministry as a continuous aspect of our Christian character. It should cause each of us to consider how each contact to with another person can be used to permit them to experience God's presence. It should cause us to look at each encounter as God-planned. It should cause us to be better listeners and more loving practitioners of God's grace. Now our actions can be evaluated and placed in the context of their effectiveness in presenting God's presence.

We see this definition in Luther's view on vocation. God is milking the cows through the vocation of the milkmaid, said Luther. According to Luther, vocation is a "mask of God." He is hidden in vocation. We see the milkmaid, or the farmer, or the doctor or pastor or artist. But, looming behind this human mask, God is genuinely present and active in what they do for us.

So should be our actions as we seek to allow others to experience the presence of God through us.

For a detailed analysis on the Doctrine of Vocations, consider reading Gene Veith's article on Our Call and God's Glory

Jesus ran His business from the market place

Jesus was a CEO. Despite the teachings that He came to establish a new religion, the reality was that He came and successfully established Himself as a businessman. It was through His business relationships that He performed ministry. Consider this ... if you ask me where I work and I say a church, more than likely, you will assume that I am involved with religion. If on the other hand, I say I work in the business world (what would have been called the market place in the past) you are more likely to consider me as a businessman rather than a religious leader.

As Christ entered into the period most often referred to as His earthly ministry, an examination of where and how He spent his time should be telling. Consider these facts about the time Jesus spent after His consecration by John the Baptist:

• New Testament – Of Jesus’ 132 public appearances, 122 were in the marketplace
• Of 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context.
• Of 40 divine interventions recorded in Acts, 39 were in the marketplace.
• Jesus called 12 workplace individuals, not clergy, to build His church.
• Work is Worship - The Hebrew word "Avodah" is root for word from which we get the words work and worship.
• Work in its different forms is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible, more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise, and singing combined.

Based on this data, it is reasonable to consider Jesus more as a business man and less as a religious leader. This data also points out the value God places on our work and our work place. Finally, if workplace ministry was good enough for Jesus, shouldn't it be a focal point of our business efforts on a daily basis?

* Source: Os Hillman, International Coalition of Workplace Ministries, www.icwm.net