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17. Money Changers in the Temple?
Are people rightly concerned about whether or not
a tandem relationship between capitalism and
Christianity is proper? Yes. Perverted, it creates money
changing in the temple. Few of us would want to be in
the position of superficially trying to use each to prove
the other.
It
would be the same as those who use
science to prove the Bible -- or use the Bible to prove
science.
Nevertheless, consider this. Ayoung man wrote me
some two decades ago about just that -- actually
proposing that communism was more compatible with
Christianity than capitalism. Granted, Christianity was
born, if you will, at a time in history when there was a
dictator in power. However, I felt compelled to respond
to the above mentioned individual. Here is a composite
of my reply to him:
~
too, cringe when occasionally I hear
someone say that he believes capitalism and
Christianity mean the same thing. And I think
you have vety capably zeroed in on an issue
about which we must be most careful.
I do believe, however, that the free market
economy at its best is the actual application of
the Golden Rule.· we help others as we would
want them to help us. As we help others more,
we help ourselves more. As we help ourselves
more, we help others more. I'm assuming, of
course, that were describing people in the
market place who operate with integrity and are
good stewards.
As you know, a collective or a planned
economy is basically founded on two denials.· a
denial ofthe existence ofGodanda denial ofthe
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