Politicians constantly boast about how they are helping people. Gary disagrees.
The only functions allowed to the state by the Bible are defense of its people and punishment of criminals. To go a step beyond this is forbidden. Biblical law works to prevent power being concentrated in anyone institution, by creating and sanctioning many institutions—family, church, community, voluntary associations, and the state—all of which have legitimate but limited powers, all acting as buffers against the other powers, in a system of counter-balanced authorities. Gary North writes: “No one institution should be regarded as sovereign outside of its own legitimate, but strictly limited, sphere. Society in this perspective is a matrix of competing sovereignties, each with certain claims on men, but none with total claims in all areas.”
Statism is thus the infringement of God’s limits on the state. It is sin, defined by the Westminster Shorter Catechism as, “any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.” For the state to fail to conform to God’s law (e.g., by refusing to execute those who should be executed) is statism, because it is the state playing god by attempting to relax God’s standards. For the state to transgress God’s law (e.g., by interfering with the price mechanism of the market) is statism, because the state is claiming omniscience and omnipotence over the creation. God has given the state certain legitimate and necessary functions; but ruling the world is not one of them. The state’s only duty with respect to the market is to guard against and punish what the Bible defines as public crime—which, as we have seen, is not absolutely identical with sin. I may have sin in my heart in refusing to do business with red-haired people, but it is not a crime legitimately punishable by the state. God will deal with me. Again, if my prices are “too high,” the search for bargains will induce people to patronize the business of a competitor whose prices more closely are in line with the reality of demand. God’s imposed scarcity (Genesis 3:17-19) induces men to become less wasteful. The free market is free only with respect to state intervention. It is never free from the providence of God.
Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators
In Productive Christians: A Biblical Response to Socialist Economics, David Chilton exposes the follies and fallacies of socialism, but he also systematically outlines the biblical alternative — an alternative that lays the groundwork for real justice, progress, prosperity, and freedom for the rich, the poor, and everyone in between. First published nearly half a century ago, it is more relevant and more prescient than ever. Chilton’s crystalline prose and take-no-prisoners style is as entertaining as it is informative. This is the way books on economic issues should be written: biblical, understandable, and practical. This new edition also includes a 23-page appendix that Chilton wrote 43 years ago. "Studies in Amos" is an eight-part article series originally released in 1980.
Buy NowPoliticians constantly boast about how they are helping people. Whether it’s free food, money, or anything else, they always claim to be helping the people who voted for them. Gary points out that an episode from The Twilight Zone reveals the complete scam of political, or other worldly, promises.
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