Comments on: two lists http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/ when faith like a child isn't enough Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:51:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Wasp Jerky http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-20 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 17:15:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-20 <I>(Heh, I feel like right-wingers who say, "Some of my friends are homosexual." Now I can say, "Some of my friends are conservative capitalists!" And he is a really great guy, you'd love him.)</I> I never cease to be amused that so many churches are squeamish about homosexuals in their congregations, yet have no problem with bankers. The Bible condemns usury and even calls it an abomination. Where's the "God hates bankers" movement? (Heh, I feel like right-wingers who say, “Some of my friends are homosexual.” Now I can say, “Some of my friends are conservative capitalists!” And he is a really great guy, you’d love him.)

I never cease to be amused that so many churches are squeamish about homosexuals in their congregations, yet have no problem with bankers. The Bible condemns usury and even calls it an abomination. Where’s the “God hates bankers” movement?

]]> by: Jenny http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-19 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:27:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-19 Zeke: <I>That's a pretty Marxist perspective...</I> That it is. <I>...and just plain incorrect. You can say that unrestrained capitalism results in a considerable amount of inequality and exploitation, but it doesn't require those things to function as a sustainable system.</I> I think that's a matter of perspective, but I will concede that in theory, capitalism could work better than it does in practice. Like most theories. :) <I>My thinking is, practice principled free enterprise on the job (make your tents and sell them, in other words), and practice the kind of loving, charitable living with the income you derive and you will be living as Jesus would have you live.</I> I, too, think that's the best option we have. Zeke:

That’s a pretty Marxist perspective…

That it is.

…and just plain incorrect. You can say that unrestrained capitalism results in a considerable amount of inequality and exploitation, but it doesn’t require those things to function as a sustainable system.

I think that’s a matter of perspective, but I will concede that in theory, capitalism could work better than it does in practice. Like most theories. :)

My thinking is, practice principled free enterprise on the job (make your tents and sell them, in other words), and practice the kind of loving, charitable living with the income you derive and you will be living as Jesus would have you live.

I, too, think that’s the best option we have.

]]> by: Zeke http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-18 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 03:15:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-18 Hey, you are pretty smart. For a chick. And a Canadian. ;) Anyway, it would be fair to say that there is nothing inherently Christian about capitalism, but I don't think that it's fair to say as you did that "capitalism requires inequality and exploitation to function." That's a pretty Marxist perspective (as expressed in that assertion at least) and just plain incorrect. You can say that unrestrained capitalism results in a considerable amount of inequality and exploitation, but it doesn't <I>require</I> those things to function as a sustainable system. It would be perfectly acceptable for Christ-minded believers to engage in free-enterprise transacting; there is nothing in Jesus' teachings that says we should practice socialism in all of our dealings. My thinking is, practice principled free enterprise on the job (make your tents and sell them, in other words), and practice the kind of loving, charitable living with the income you derive and you will be living as Jesus would have you live. But just to be clear, evangelicals who think that God ordained capitalism as the highest economic system for man are full of shite. Hey, you are pretty smart. For a chick. And a Canadian. ;)

Anyway, it would be fair to say that there is nothing inherently Christian about capitalism, but I don’t think that it’s fair to say as you did that “capitalism requires inequality and exploitation to function.” That’s a pretty Marxist perspective (as expressed in that assertion at least) and just plain incorrect. You can say that unrestrained capitalism results in a considerable amount of inequality and exploitation, but it doesn’t require those things to function as a sustainable system. It would be perfectly acceptable for Christ-minded believers to engage in free-enterprise transacting; there is nothing in Jesus’ teachings that says we should practice socialism in all of our dealings.

My thinking is, practice principled free enterprise on the job (make your tents and sell them, in other words), and practice the kind of loving, charitable living with the income you derive and you will be living as Jesus would have you live.

But just to be clear, evangelicals who think that God ordained capitalism as the highest economic system for man are full of shite.

]]> by: Steve http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-17 Tue, 10 Jan 2006 21:23:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-17 James... STP is a Motor Oil... but that's OK. Glad you made to Jenny's site anyway.... I am going to link to Jenny over at our site because my readers need some education... myself being chief amongst them. Why go to college when I can come over here and learn from you Jenny? Geesh I wasted a lot of time and money. :-) Do you mind if I link to you Jenny.... oh and would you email me please... I couldn't find a link to email to you on your site... Thanks! Steve steve@stupidchurchpeople.com James… STP is a Motor Oil… but that’s OK. Glad you made to Jenny’s site anyway….

I am going to link to Jenny over at our site because my readers need some education… myself being chief amongst them.

Why go to college when I can come over here and learn from you Jenny? Geesh I wasted a lot of time and money. :-)

Do you mind if I link to you Jenny…. oh and would you email me please… I couldn’t find a link to email to you on your site… Thanks!

Steve
steve@stupidchurchpeople.com

]]> by: Jenny http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-16 Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:23:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-16 Hey, good to meet you, James. Thanks for reading! Hey, good to meet you, James. Thanks for reading!

]]> by: James http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-15 Mon, 09 Jan 2006 23:48:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-15 Hi Jenny! First time visitor. I discovered your site via link from your latest comment at STP. I like your blog and have already sent the link to my wife, Deea. Later! Hi Jenny! First time visitor.

I discovered your site via link from your latest comment at STP. I like your blog and have already sent the link to my wife, Deea.

Later!

]]> by: Jenny http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-14 Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:03:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-14 Ha! So true. (This reminds me of a particular issue of <I>The Manifesto</I> *cough* from years ago...) Also, the "c" word was uttered by my capitalist friend yesterday. Good thing I love the word commie and find it amusing to apply it to myself and many of my friends. Ha! So true. (This reminds me of a particular issue of The Manifesto *cough* from years ago…)

Also, the “c” word was uttered by my capitalist friend yesterday. Good thing I love the word commie and find it amusing to apply it to myself and many of my friends.

]]> by: pastor dylan http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-13 Mon, 09 Jan 2006 18:51:00 +0000 http://www.steeplesandpeople.com/blog/2006/01/08/two-lists/#comment-13 i always thought it was funny when people lifted up north american culture and socio-economic systems as "the christian way." i love to tell people that i am teaching that the only truly biblical form of government is deocratic socialism where God is above and all others equal. the usual response is "commie!" cracks me up every time. i always thought it was funny when people lifted up north american culture and socio-economic systems as “the christian way.” i love to tell people that i am teaching that the only truly biblical form of government is deocratic socialism where God is above and all others equal. the usual response is “commie!”
cracks me up every time.

]]>