The Christian Capitalist: The Gospel of Hard Work and Generous Giving
Overview
Have you ever pondered the relationship between faith and economics?
In The Christian Capitalist, you are invited to explore this relationship in depth through a blend of scripture and real world history, uncovering a philosophy that’s both traditional and applicable to modern capitalism.
The Christian Capitalist explores various scriptural references that support twin pillars of Christian belief:
- Working hard to make a productive benefit from talents and materials that God has provided all people; and
- Giving generously to share those benefits with our neighbors in the name of Jesus Christ.
Through a discussion of Holy Scripture, it analyzes various passages that relate to these concepts of productivity and generosity, along with two thousand years of history discussing the good works of Christians as examples.
Ultimately, this book develops a philosophy that is uniquely Christian and capitalist: the Gospel of Hard Work and Generous Giving!
Order your copy of The Christian Capitalist on the author’s website or Amazon!
Author’s Bio
Rich Sanders is a pastor, small business owner, healthcare attorney, retired adjunct professor at Emory University, and former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. He is the founding pastor of Online Home Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, which has met weekly online since the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. He earned his Master’s in Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2015. Rich follows a bi-vocational calling, serving in both ministry and business. As the retired President of Southern Health Lawyers, he practiced law for nearly thirty years. He has been named annually to The Best Lawyers in America- Healthcare since 2011, and he is a past president of the Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys. Rich is the founder of the charitable organization St. Michael’s Mission, Inc., which is a ministry organized to assist and serve active duty and veterans of the armed services. Sanders also founded GoodWorks Mission, a faith-driven publishing company.
Endorsement
“As a campus pastor who serves students, I understand how young adults often feel pressured to find their worth in successful, well-paying careers. But The Christian Capitalist affirms instead that as people created in God’s good image, our worth is rooted first in Jesus’ free gift of grace for us rather than material possessions. Such abundant grace also empowers us to ‘act as Christ to our neighbors,’ as we give generously to others and put their needs before our own. I am eager to share this book with students who are discerning how their vocations in the world might best serve God and their neighbors.” –Rev. Amanda L. Highben, Duke Lutherans Campus Pastor and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) Associate Pastor, Durham, North Carolina
Scripture
“As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” –1 Timothy 6:17-19
Review
The Christian Capitalist by Rich Sanders is full of inspiration, motivation, and practical information about living a Christian capitalist life. I must admit, I was a little leery of the title, wondering if this book was going to be another prosperity gospel message. In the prosperity gospel, financial blessings are supposed to be a sign of virtue and God’s favor. The prosperity gospel teaches that faithful donations to the church will bring health, wealth, and happiness to believers.
Instead of prosperity theology, I’m pleased to report that this author touts “The Christian Capitalist Ethic” in which we gain wealth through HARD WORK, and in turn “the more we make, the more we give.” Sanders may have been influenced in part by the Catholic social gospel based on all his talk about good works. However, he emphasizes that Christian capitalism is non-denominational and ecumenical.
In 276 pages, Sanders strongly defends capitalism in his book as a positive outcome. Yes, Jesus spoke of the difficulty for a rich man to enter Heaven, but not because having money is evil. The New Testament tells us that it’s not money itself, but the love of money, that leads to evil. The love of money is rooted in envy and covetousness, something that the Ten Commandments warns us against.
“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy” (Gen. 26.12-13). Wealth is not a curse and poverty is not a blessing. We can be one, or the other, or in between. What matters is your saving faith in Jesus Christ and how you use the resources that God has entrusted to you.
Sanders shows that Christians can be capitalists and concerned about the salvation of others at the same time. He explains that socialism is not the way to run an economy, because the socialist system actually encourages people not to work. As an example, the commune from Acts 4 in the Bible wasn’t sustainable. In fact, God told Adam in the very beginning “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Genesis 3:19).
There are so many scriptural references in this book, they’re too numerous to list here. But trust me when I say this guy did his research! His Biblical Verse Index is five pages long! The Christian Capitalist reviews thousands of years of human history and hundreds of verses from the Holy Scripture that refer to work, wealth, and giving.
Through it all, the author shows how Christianity and Capitalism go hand-in-hand. “We can’t serve God AND wealth, but we can serve God WITH our wealth.” Jesus cared about helping and uplifting the less fortunate. And the only thing that has ever created wealth and lifted masses of people out of poverty is free market capitalism.
Capitalists can be productive and make great fortunes, but if their only purpose is self-benefit without the purpose of generosity and love of neighbor, their work and the fortunes they amass are hollow. On the other hand, just think of how much good they could do! As one small example, consider the parable of the Good Samaritan, and how he used his own resources to help a man who had been beaten and robbed.
What does it mean to be a Christian capitalist?
The Christian Capitalist book emphasizes the value of hard work and the value of giving to your neighbors. We can teach children from a young age to share and be generous.
Christians can work without giving, but they subconsciously know this is not God’s will and that such purposeless work takes them off the path of their walk with Jesus.
The Christian Capitalist Ethic is a set of principles upon which a person can attempt to follow the path to a closer relationship with God, as set out by Jesus Christ, through hard work and giving generously to the poor and needy.
The last chapter of Sanders’ book is all about a statement of ten principles that people can agree to, and if they do that means they’re heading in the direction of being a Christian Capitalist.
This is actually a great book for high schoolers and graduates who are just entering the workforce, so that the concepts of hard work and generous giving will become part of who they are as they go out into the world.
Who can be a Christian capitalist?
Sanders felt called to take the gospel and show how it applies in a business setting. The core principles of the Christian Capitalist Ethic include general principles that can be adapted to all industries, all types of businesses, and all types of personal involvement in those businesses.
Anyone can be a Christian Capitalist, from young interns to retirees, when they’re committed to the twin pillars of hard work and generous giving. Sure, you want to make money, but you should also use it for beneficial purposes. God said to love and help your neighbor, so if you happen to have some wealth you can share it with them.
Now, Rich Sanders was fortunate to have become a successful businessman. But what if you’re not that well off? You might work hard but fail.
Being rich doesn’t necessarily mean having a lot of money or material possessions – it can be any manner of wealth, such as your relationship with God. Again, absolutely anyone can be a Christian Capitalist, no matter how much money they have. You don’t have to be wealthy in materialistic terms. The story of the widow’s mite keeps us humble about how much we need compared to how much we can share with others.
Of course, giving away money has to be balanced with providing for yourself and your inheritance. Pastor John Wesley, who was known for his relentless work ethic, summarized the concept with three key points: “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.”
Be good stewards so that you can take care of yourself and your family, and still have some left to give to others.
Order your copy of The Christian Capitalist on the author’s website or Amazon!
Author Interview
Giveaways
Giveaway #1 – 1 copy of The Christian Capitalist
Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of The Christian Capitalist book, a $10 value! Contest ends at noon Pacific Time on 7/5/24. This winner will be randomly chosen by Homeschooling Teen. The winner will be asked to provide their full name and mailing address. This is limited to US winners only. Comments are moderated, so don’t worry if yours doesn’t show up immediately.
Giveaway #2 – GoodWorks Mission $500 Donation
Beyond the book giveaway, you can ALSO enter for a chance to win a $500 donation to a Christian ministry/organization of your choice, courtesy of GoodWorks Mission, LLC! However, only ONE winner across ALL participating blogs will be chosen for this (so it may not be a winner from here). For the $500 giveaway, you must fill out this Google Form. It’s pretty simple, just enter here to be included in the drawing for a $500 to be donated to a Christian ministry/organization of your choice! This is limited to US winners only. The winner for this one will be chosen by GoodWorks, not Homeschooling Teen.
Disclosure
Many thanks to GoodWorks Mission, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
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I feel like this topic is not addressed enough in traditional education. The financial mindsets we have as unbelievers bleed into our faith when we give our lives to Christ.
Our homeschooled children will benefit when we learn concepts like this as their parents. So glad you are promoting this here.