Torch, Fall/Winter 2010

26 TORCH | Fall–Winter 2010 CHAD JACKSON | CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY and was free to choose how to use the surplus her investment provided. Not only does capitalism create wealth, which Christians and others may share with people in need, but perhaps more importantly, a market-based economy provides the vehicle for economic growth. By embracing capitalism, currently impoverished cultures could rise above simply meeting their economic needs to becoming net providers of wealth. Even Karl Marx, certainly no friend of capitalism, acknowledged in his 1848 Manifesto of the Communist Party that economic organization according to free markets produces more wealth than any other system humanity has been able to devise. Let me be clear — no economic system is perfect. As Christians, our support for any worldview, philosophy, or political viewpoint should be tempered with biblically informed reason. Capitalism has its shortcomings, but it is the best system we have to exercise personal freedom to create wealth. It is also the system that best supports biblical philanthropy. A Surplus to be Shared There’s no question that a freer society with greater choice is preferable to a less free society with limited choice. Free will is an essential aspect of our creation as God’s image bearers. A free-market economy allows us the greatest latitude to choose how, when, and where to help those less fortunate than ourselves. This past January, a high school student in our small town passed away. Members of the community reached out to the family in their time of grief with tangible expressions of love and support. The churches in town mobilized volunteers to prepare meals and help with chores and errands. The community reached out with the love of Christ to help this family get back on its feet. Most of the gestures of generosity were not financial, but they were heartfelt and motivated by compassion. On a broader scale, there are hundreds of reputable charitable organizations maximizing resources to help the poor. When people choose to volunteer or give a financial contribution, they choose what charity they will support, the amount of their contribution, and often how they wish to designate their gift. In return, a reputable charity will provide a gift acknowledgement and a transparent report to donors about how gifts were used. A free market determines whether a charity will be successful based on how many people choose to direct gifts to that cause as well as how effectively the charity uses its resources to accomplish its mission. If donors become dissatisfied with the charity’s use of their gifts, they can choose to direct their gifts elsewhere. Satisfied donors may choose to increase their giving and become more involved in the charity’s work. When we surrender the privilege of choice to another entity, like the government, we are robbed of the responsibility, accountability, and joy of giving. The taxes we pay are not voluntary, and the government’s stewardship of our resources is anything but transparent. Moreover, we assign undue responsibility to the government to make moral decisions about who deserves assistance and how much. A gift that is coerced, no matter how deserving the recipient, is not generosity. Genuine care and compassion for the poor flows from a sincere heart. PHOTO CREDIT 26 TORCH | Fall–Winter 2010 Not only does capitalism create wealth, which Christians and others may share with people in need, but perhaps more importantly, a market-based economy provides th vehicle for economic grow h. By embracing capitalism, currently impoverished cultures could rise above simply meeting their ec nomic ne ds to becoming et providers of wealth. Even Karl Marx, certainly no friend of capitalism, acknowledged in his 1848 Manifesto of the Communist Party that economic organization according to free markets produces more wealth than any other system humanity has been able to devise. Let me be clear — no economic system is perfect. As Christians, our support for any worldview, philosophy, or political viewpoint should be tempered with biblically inf rmed reason. Capitalism has its shortcomings, but it is the best syst we have to exercise personal freedom to create wealth. It is also the system that best supports biblical philanthropy. A Surplus to be Shared ere’s no question that freer society with greater choice s preferable to a less fre society with l mited choice. Free will is an essential aspect of our creation as God’s image bearers. A free-market economy allows us the gr atest is past January, a high school student in our small town passed away. Members of the community reached out to the family in their time of grief with tangible expressions of love and upport. e churches in town mobilized v lunteers to prepare meals and help with chores and errands. e community reached out with the love of C rist to help this family get back on its feet. Most of the gestures of generosity were not nancial, but they were heartfelt and motivated by compassion. On a broader scale, there are hundreds of reputable charitable organizations maximizing resources to help the poor. When people choose to volunteer or give a nancial contribution, they choose what charity they will support, the amount of their contribution, a d o en how wish to design te their gi . In return, a reputable charity will p ovide a gi acknowledgement and a transparent report to donors about how gi s were used. A free market determines whether a charity will be successful based on how many people choose to direct gi s to that cause as well as how e ectively the charity uses their resources to accomplish their mission. If donors become dissatis ed with the charity’s use of their gi s, they can choose to direct their gi s elsewhere. Satis ed donors may hoose to incr ase their giv ng and beco e more involved in t charity’s work. When we surrender the privilege of choice to another entity, like the government, we are robbed of the responsibility, accountability, and joy of giving. e taxes we pay are not voluntary, and the government’s stewardship of our resources is anything but transparent. Moreover, we assign undo responsibility to the government to make moral decisions about who deserves assistance and how much. A gi that is coerced, no matter how deserving the recipient, is not gen rosity. Genuine care and compassion f r the poor ows from a sincere heart.