James 2:1-8
New International Version
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,“ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
M. Douglas Meeks
God the Economist (p 38), Fortress Press, 1989
Christian theology should call into question the logic of the market, not to overcome it (such would be preposterous), but to put it in its place, in its own proper sphere, and to free many social spheres in which, if they are forced to live by the logic of the market, human beings succomb to the power of death.
Comments (3)
Quote by Weeks
The quote by Weeks doesn’t make any sense to me. Could someone help me on this one?
My mistake. I should be Meeks not Weeks
I thought it was Weeks. I should be Meeks.
Will’s question
Thanks for asking, Will. It is a bit confusing.
I believe that Meeks is saying that our focus should not be on bringing down the marketplace, as if the whole notion of a marketplace is evil. But that we should challenge the logic, the thinking, the assumptions, the worldviews by which the marketplace operates. For example, a marketplace that places efficiency and profit as the most important values of the market, will inevitably lead to decisions, actions, and results which can destroy people, the environment, etc.
In the above scripture, that thinking had crept into the church and people were being valued on economic terms and not according to how God valued people.
For those of us who live and work in the marketplace, our challenge is to not throw out the marketplace - which serves good and useful functions when operating properly - but to challenge the operating assumptions that control it, develop alternative business models to demonstrate a better way, and live, serve, and lead in ways that demonstrate the reality of a better way.
Hope this helps.