Economic systems are pervasive and consuming. Entrenchment in the economy of your world/ nation/state will impact your worldview. It will also invade and shape your faith.
Exactly why Jesus talked about money often, and demanded separation from its Lordship for those who would enter the Kingdom of God and receive a new revelation concerning true value.
The language of economy fills the pages of the Bible. Theology of merit and demerit, redemption, loss and gain, performance and reward are central in both old and new covenant theology.
Not hard to understand why then the economy you serve will affect your theology and faith. Your reference for biblical language will derive from the economy you serve.
Once again, exactly why a drastic separation must be made from servitude to ingrained monetary AND theological traditions before entrance can be granted into the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. Whether the chicken came before the egg or vice versa, theology and economy have been family for a long, long time.
It is for this reason Jesus made statements like: ‘How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’ or ‘ it’s easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for on jot or tittle of the law to fail’. That he wasn’t playing with his words is proved by the demand he placed on the rich young ruler, as in ‘sell everything’ or the statement he made in regards to the Pharisees and scribes in Luke chapter 16; where in between some parables he basically tells them they must allow themselves to be condemned as sinners and adulterers before they can get through the kingdom gate of the new age. One they had kept shut to the poor and hungry for generations while they were in charge.
My conclusion is this, without deliverance from the love of and servitude of money, our kingdom theology will be faulty. The degeneration of the kingdom message, into another prosperity gospel in recent years is proof of this. People with multiple titles and preachers with extra business prowess are seen as more ‘kingdom’ than others. Disciples with money are seen as more beneficial to ‘kingdom advancement’ than those that are poor. Certainly no one is asking the rich to give all their money away for the revelation they have…..unless, of course they give it to them.
I would like to write another blog soon containing what I believe is God’s understanding of true value, revealed in Christ. But first things first, what do you think? Is it possible to have accurate revelation concerning the kingdom of God, value, even the atonement, without leaving behind the Lordship of money? Economic involvement in the story of God and His people is unavoidable, but how does it shape our views?
Josh
fierystones.com 