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PART
II.
DOLLARS AND SAINTS
12. Capitalism and Christianity Examined
Our economics and our religion -- are they destined
to be allies or enemies? This is a profound and
perplexing topic which should be approached with great
care, caution, and consideration. Let us begin.
Regarding our amazing American incentive system, it
is possible that John
J.
Davis, author of Your Wealth in
God's. World, was right on the money as he boldly
observed,
"When the dynamism of a society of free
individuals is tempered and permeated by Biblical
values, the resulting system would appear to be the
best one attainable by imperfect individuals this side of
eternity.
"
What shall we discover? Whatever our findings, the
purpose of this monograph is certainly not to sanction
every action or deed committed down through the ages
by individuals and enterprises in the name of capitalism.
Nor is it the goal of this publication to give credence to
all that has ever been written, said, or done by people
of faith who have embraced the name of Christ. On
either side of the barricade are some who have neither
understood nor cared.
We may, in time, and with reason and good
conscience, be able to demonstrate that, at their best,
free markets and free will tend to stand or fall together
-- because both are deeply rooted in the servant
leadership nature of man. George Gilder, one of our
American Studies Institute Lecture Series speakers and
author of best-selling Wealth and Poverty, suggested
this synergism:
"Our greatest and only resource is the
miracle ofhuman creativity in a relation ofopenness to
the Divine."
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