Can economics be taught from a distinctly biblical perspective?
[This is part 3 of my posts with notes from my presentation at the 2009 TPA Homeschool Conference. The topic is Understanding and Teaching Your Children a Biblical View of Economics. Read Part 1 and Part 2.]We saw in Parts 1 and 2 that economics deals with human choice and action in light of scarcity (the condition of unlimited wants and limited available means to satisfy those wants). This subject is especially relevant in our day of widespread economic ignorance because God has called us to be wise stewards of the resources He owns and has entrusted to us.
As we study, understand, and apply economics, not just any framework will do. As Christians, we are called to pursue a distinctly biblical and comprehensively Christ-honoring perspective in every thought, word, and deed. This applies no less to our study of economics.
Some will assert that economics is a "pure science" and can be taught from a "neutral" standpoint that is neither distinctly biblical nor humanistic. We saw in the introduction that economists distinguish between so-called "positive" and "normative" economics, and they usually try to show forth an air of "objectivity" in communicating their conclusions, at least on matters dealing with "positive" economics.
The Bible shows us, as summarized by the late Dr. Greg Bahnsen, that humanists are not "neutral," and we should not try to be "neutral" because it is impossible, immoral, and it robs us of the riches of knowledge and wisdom in Christ. Psalm 1 tells us that we are blessed if we do not walk in the way of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. Romans 1:21-25 speaks of the darkness, vanity, and foolishness of unbelieving thought that suppresses God's truth and refuses to honor Christ as the source of understanding. Colossians 2:8 warns us against being taken captive through vain traditions and philosophies of the world, and II Corinthians 10:5 tells us to instead take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Again, Colossians 2:3 says that all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are hidden in Christ. And on and on Scripture goes with proof that even the very thought of "neutrality" is vain and foolish.
God’s Word must be the foundation, starting point, and final court of appeal in all our intellectual and academic endeavors. As distinct from "deductivism" (rationalism) or "empiricism," a sound Christ worldview will adhere to "presuppositionalism." We presuppose the truth of God as our foundation, rather than starting and ending with man's mind or observations. Although the Bible is not specifically an "economics textbook," per se, Scripture is God’s sufficient and authoritative revelation, a "source book" for every area of human life and thought. Without the framework of Scripture, we would be completely lost in our understanding that this is God's world that He created and owns, He is completely sovereign over all things, and He gives and takes and establishes standards by which we steward His resources and govern the creation that He has entrusted to us.
In short, striving for “neutrality” is vain, an affirmation of the supremacy of man’s mind over God’s Word, and a denial of Christ’s Lordship because it excludes God and His Word from their rightful place of supremacy. We will either teach economics from a distinctively Christian standpoint, grounded in God’s Word and drawing from the riches of wisdom in Christ, or from a humanistic standpoint -- no “neutral” middle ground exists!
In the next installment, we will start to delve into some Scriptures that lead us to a proper understanding of economics.
posted by C.S. Hayden @ 12:25 AM
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