Economic Principles of the Kingdom of God

Bryan Johnson, based on Viv Grigg, May 2007

Jesus was anointed by the Spirit,to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release the captives, economic recovery for the blind, and to

set free the downtrodden:to declare the favourable year of the Lord (– the year

of Jubilee) Luke 4 :18, 19.

What did the poor envisage from Jesus proclamation?

The anointed ministry of Jesus targeted four groups of

economically disadvantaged people

The poor – probably destitute poor

The blind – relied on alms The demon –possessed – if

they were like the man at Gadarene – he was tied to tombstones with chains – no income

The unjustly treated – slaves and other dispossessed people in society who received no pay for their labour

The good news of the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed was a holistic message

The kingdom is holistic because God created every aspect of our lives

We are required to integrate the holistic principles of the kingdom into every area of our lives

We expect transformation in every area of our lives from a secular way of thinking to an holistic praxis

No area of life is unholy/sinful after this transformation

Was there an intended economicoutcome in Jesus proclamation of the good news for the poor?

Good news for these four groups had to include economic change

The favourable year of the Lord referred to “jubilee”, a year of economic renewal

The Bible teaches that God has always being trying to develop viable

communities among His people as an expression of His pastoral care

Exodus 18-20 – Moses was instructed by God to develop viable community life among the people

Acts 2 – The early Apostles and the N.T. Church

Paul writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 3

Viablility is economic, social, infrastructurally developed, and spiritually vibrant

Creation reflected God’s economic genius……

– an expanding global economy

God’s first command to mankind was to be fruitful and multiply.

God envisioned an expanding economy

God made the animal, plant, and fish kingdoms more productive than man, so there would be provision for mankind’s obedience to His command.

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God - Genesis 1

God’s Nature is to be reflected in us Principle 2: Creativity

He creates (Gen 1:1) Take risks to create Makes something from nothing Transforms the chaotic into

something of beautiful Transforms the despised/useless

into something of beauty Makes continuous creative

development and innovation His creation is expanding, viable and

sustainable His creation is beautiful and

purposeful glorifying the Master designer

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God - Genesis 1

Principle 3: Productive Success “He made”, “it was good” “He

transformed” the despised into the climax of His creation.

Dust was transformed into Man by the breath of His Spirit.

His Spirit enhances intelligence, beauty and creativity.

Principle 4: Cooperative endeavour. He works cooperatively (“Let

us”1:1). There is no selfishness in His motives. This avoids greed. It facilitates equitable profit sharing. It maximises reward for labour and effort. It eliminates exploitation.

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God - Genesis 1

Principle 5a: Work. God works for six days. His work is of

outstanding quality and value that it glorifies Him.

Our work becomes an expression of our relationship with and worship of Him.

Principle 5: Work Human work

To manage the earth To subdue it To fill it

Work was cursed in the fall It became hard work

From gardener to farmer, from fulfilment to frustration

But the command to manage did not change

Principle 3 & 4: Work & Productivity

God is the creative worker His work was good,

expressing beauty Made something out of

nothing Evolved each step into

something new His work was artistic

His work was good Work is honorable God’s work can be seen in

four categories: creation, providence, judgement, redemption

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God - Genesis 1

Principle 5b: Rest. Savings from well paid

work enables rest and holidays. His rest shows good financial planning and management.

Principle 5b: Rest Abuse of work takes two forms:

Idleness Overwork

Work without rest is one of the major sins

The Sabbath a symbol of the covenant

between God and his people a time to reflect and rest out of this reflection, worship.

Christians enter a permanent rest We rest in the Spirit in our work But we also take seasons of rest

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God - Genesis

1

Principle 8: Management implies Accountability.

To God, ourselves, marriage partner and the next generation.

God entrusts resources to us to be used wisely in our time and then passed to the next generation for their diligent and wise use. He has made us trustees.

Principle 8: Fruitfulness. God requires us to be fruitful with the resources He provides… see parable in Mark 4 v 20

Principle 7: RedistributionThe Jubilee (Lev 25:8-17)

Every 7th and 50th year, It was a time of justice for the unjustly treated.I. LIBERTY It is synonymous with the year of liberty. Slaves are to be set free. II. DEBTS ARE TO BE CANCELED. Economic freedom is inherent in the gospel message.III. CELEBRATION. Celebration is inherent in the gospel message.IV. REDISTRIBUTION The means of production, the land was to be returned to the

original owners. Redistribution of the means of production is inherent in the gospel message.

V. OWNERSHIP Even the Levites were to have their own home

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God – Leviticus 25

Principle 8: Management means Replenishment.

Our trusteeship requires us to leave creation in a better state than it was received. This facilitates earths ability to provide for an expanding population in keeping with God’s command to be fruitful and multiply. This implies viable and sustainable utilization of resources.

Principle 7: Redistribution involves Giving.

Both sacrificially and out of the abundance of fruitful labour as an act of worship to God. Again this implies good financial planning and management.

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God – Leviticus

Principle 8:Management implies Investment.

Savings enables the ability to invest. Investment in people and resources.

Can involve very costly and sacrificial personal decisions to develop the innovation required to accomplish the Divine mandate of fruitfulness and replenishment. Capital has the ability to create income, and make innovative ideas a reality.

Principle 7: Redistribution. Wealth sharing so there was a

demonstration of justice in the community of God’s people. “Jubilee” redistributed wealth by forgiving debt, and restored land lost through unpaid debt. Debt was a mortgage on future work and limited response to God’s will for our life.

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God – Leviticus 23

Principle 10: Land Security. Identity and security is created through

Land ownership. God’s people gained an identity through the land they owned either individually or collectively. Both methods of land ownership are in scripture. Both are without possessiveness. Abraham and Lot in Genesis; The rich N.T. Christians in Acts 2 who sold their excess property and redistributed the wealth to those in need.

They gave to immediate needs and invested in income generation for the poor members of the church.

The N.T. community expanded from 3,500 in Jerusalem in 33AD to 25% of Mediterranean population by 300AD. “Jubilee” restored land lost to poor families and forgave debt.

Economic principles of the Kingdom of God

Principle 8 : Management & Measurement

Money is not evil. It measures the value of labour. Labour is intended to be a form of worship by creative production.

God commands His subjects to be fruitful and measures and rewards fruitfulness.

It is the “love of money” that is the root of all evil. Money becomes an idol when we love money rather than the God who gave the power to create wealth.

Greed possesses the soul of those who have a wrong attitude to money. The rich suffer a hard heart as a result of their love of money. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Economic principles of the Jubilee – Leviticus 23

Principle 9: Celebration. We commence work with

prayer, thanking God as the source of our creative talent. We sing songs, write poems and design artwork in His honour. We eat and feast together. Worship of God becomes a daily activity of joy from a heart of gratefulness.

Acts 2 verses 41-47.

Jesus’ Message of the JubileeThis theme of the Jubilee

becomes central to the New Testament In the central passage

around which Luke builds his gospel and the Acts, Luke 4:18, Jesus declares his mission

He inaugurates the Jubilee eternally.

Jubilee Economics in the

Acts Community (Acts 2:42-44)

1st PRINCIPLE: Spirit &Love 4th PRINCIPLE: Cooperative

economics 9th PRINCIPLE: Celebration7th PRINCIPLE: Voluntary

giving7th PRINCIPLE: The just

gospel

Middle Class 10%

Labouring Poor 45%

Destitute Poor 40%

A JUST GOSPEL TRANSFORMING SOCIETY

A RANGE OF JUSTICE & EQUALITY

Rich 5%

Principle 6: Simplicity I Tim 6:6-10

A Lifestyle of Simplicity

Earn much

Consume Little

Hoard Nothing

Give Generously

Celebrate Life

Principle 6: Jubilee and

International Redistributio

n (2

Corinthians 8,9)

The principles of Jubilee as evidenced in Jesus community, then in the Acts community are further extended globally in Paul’s teaching on global redistribution between the churches

Principle 6:InternationalRedistribution

Sacrificial Simple Lifestyles

lead to

Interchurch InternationalEconomic Justice

(II Cor 8,9)

Summary of Principles of Kingdom Economics

Principle Genesis/ Jubilee Gospels & Acts Epistles1. Creativity God the creator Spirit sets free

2. Cooperative Economics

Let us make Sharing Provide for others

3. Productivity Good outcomes

4. Work He makesHe structures

Labour in the gospel

Work with hands (1 Thes 4:11)

5. Rest God rests Jubilee come 3. Rest

6 Redistribut’nfor Equality

Jubilee –return of land Tithing

No needy one

Weekly Giving

Global redist’n (2 Cor 8,9)

Simplicity

7. Savings & Debt

Jubilee cancels debts

Debts cancelled

Owe no man

8. Celebration It was good Worship daily

9. Ownership / Own home / Forsake all, / Provide family (Levites) yet own home (1 Tim 5:8)

Put the pieces together in a

square