Kevin Snyman, Programme Manager for Commitment for Life, kicks off a series of reflections on what it means to Walk the Way in different areas of life, beginning with God’s Economy.
Read Luke 12: 19-26
Have you ever thought about whether there will be money in the kingdom of God? Many Christians intuitively answer, “No, I think not,” but struggle to say why they feel this way. Jesus had a lot to say about money, but it is not always easy to understand him. Money, to be frank, dominates almost every aspect of our lives today.
Our money is based on debt. Banks create debt out of thin air and issue an IOU – et violá! The original debt bears interest, which means that debt grows exponentially. Because debt piles up so quickly, it eventually outstrips our ability to repay it. The early Hebrew scholars knew this and tried to issue a periodic debt forgiveness called ‘jubilee.’ However, we have been pretty much brainwashed into not understanding the sheer immorality of paying this debt. This all means that a few people benefit and many others do not. Debt creates a hierarchy of haves and have-nots.
The need to repay the debt is relentless. Everything eventually becomes monetised. It ‘strip-mines the commons’ said one author, which explains why so much of western civilisation is despoiling the earth. Things that were once shared in common such as food, water, healing, mutual care, learning and entertainment are slowly taken out of the commons and privatised. This leaves most of us unable to feed, house, heal or entertain ourselves unless we submit to the logic of the market place.
Of course, we have simply taken money as a given. We were born into its logic and so struggle to imagine a world without it, like water to fish. But Jesus pushed back against debt and its offensive offspring, money. Jesus’ original prayer – before the priests got hold of it - was crystal clear: “Abba, forgive us our debts, as we forgive the debts of others. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from the evil banking system.” How’s that for subverting the debt system?
Jesus not only subverted the debt system, he also refused to carry money. In fact, when the Herodians and Sadducees tried to trap him by asking, “Should we pay tax?” Jesus’ reply was brilliant. “Which of you has a coin?” Jesus himself did not carry or partake in the monetary system. Only one disciple did that…
‘Give unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar,’ advised Jesus. This was obviously not a command to pay the tax. That was one half of the carefully constructed trap, after all. Rather, it was an instruction to those who wish to Walk the Way of Jesus not to partake of a system that causes inequality, strip-mines the commons, divides humanity into master and slave, and ultimately brings death.
How difficult this message is for us to hear today who are utterly caught up in the monetary system and have no idea of how to break free… Will there be money in the kingdom of God? Not on your life.
How should we, as disciples of Jesus, feel about money and economy? What impact should this have on our everyday lives? Why not start a conversation on our Facebook page or on Twitter?
