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28. The Bottom Line
Freedom -- whether it be spiritual, intellectual,
political or economic -- is it indivisible? People who
enjoy private economic freedom have greater liberty
to search for intellectual truth and personal spiritual
growth, in all its variety.
Profound, yea perfect, occupational instruction
comes from the Scriptures. The successful pursuit of
a professional career in business, in education, or in
any.other honorable vocation is inherently consistent
with a righteous life. Furthermore, close adherence to
New Testament principles enhances -- not hinders -–
the probability of professional success.
In the course of nearly three decades of teaching
economics to young people, and in order to be sure
we're keeping them right side up and on the
''straight
and narrow,
"I make it a point to include the following
question in one of their multiple choice examinations
(based on Mark 8:36-37 as cited on page two of this
monograph):
Ifyou gained the whole world and lost your soul
you would:
a. be a fat cat
b. be a "big-man-on-campus"
c.
have made an excellent tradeoff
·
d.
have made a poor bargain indeed
If
you did not pick the last option from the above
choices, please start reading again at the beginning of
this monograph.
I sometimes tease my students by saying,
"You
can't go to Heaven unless you've taken one or,
preferabl~
two economics courses."
Far from it,
actually. What I do want for them is that they very
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