作者: Albert Mohler
譯者: Maria Marta
很遺憾，許多美國基督徒對經濟學所知甚少。此外，許多基督徒認為聖經根本沒有談及經濟。而實際上，一種符合聖經的世界觀，在經濟問題方面有大量的內容要教導我們。工作的意義、勞動的價值、以及其他的經濟問題都是聖經觀點的世界觀的一部分。基督徒必須容許以在聖經裡找到的經濟原則來陶塑我們的思想。以下十二條論題是關於基督徒的經濟認識所涵概的必須部份。
1. 它必須以上帝的榮耀作為它的最高目標。
對基督徒而言，所有的經濟理論都是以榮耀上帝的目標開始（林前十31）。我們有一個卓越的經濟權威。
2. 它必須尊重人的尊嚴。
無論何種信仰系統，無論工作的人知道與否，他們都在顯示上帝的榮耀。 人們可能相信他們是為自己的原因工作，但實際上他們都出於一種驅動，這種驅動是造物主為了祂的榮耀，將它放置在他們的內心的。
3. 它必须尊重私有财产和所有权。
有些经济制度把私有财产的观念视为问题。但圣经从不认为私有财产是需要解决的问题。圣经的私有财产观表明，拥有私有财产是人的劳动与管治的报酬。第八条和第十条诫命告诉我们，我们无权侵犯勤劳者的金钱回报。
4. 它必須對罪的勢力有足夠的估計。
充分考慮聖經關於罪的普遍影響，意味著我們預期，在每一種經濟體系裡壞事情都會發生。基督徒的經濟認識會竭力緩解罪惡的影響。
5. 它必須維護和獎勵正義（righteousness）。
每一種經濟和政體系統都包含激勵機制。這方面的一個例子是美國的稅務代碼，它刺激鼓勵所期望的經濟行為。它們是否得到貫徹實行，是一個無休止的，要在政治上一再校準的問題。然而，在基督徒的世界觀裡，這種「一再校準」必須繼續維護和獎勵正義。
6. 它必须奖励主动性、工业、与投资。
在基督徒的经济与神学詞彙中，主动性、工业、与投资是三个關鍵字眼。主动性超过行动。它是一种产生差别的行动。工业是人类协同完成的工作。投资是在圣经中找到的尊重私有财产的一部分。最终证实了投资与伊甸园一样古老。投资积累值是值得尊敬的，积累价值的驱动是值得尊敬的。因此，基督徒的经济理论控告任何不工作的体格健全的人，和任何不尊重私有财产或投资回报的人。
7. 它必須尋求獎勵和鼓勵節儉。
在一個墮落的世界，金錢和投資可能被迅速扭曲，變為偶像崇拜的目的。因此，節儉是基督徒世界觀中一個舉足輕重的議題。在墮落的世界裡，今天的充裕會轉變為明天的貧乏。在貧困時期，節儉能提供生存的資源。
8. 它必須維護家庭這種最基本的經濟單位。
思考一下植根於聖經開頭的經濟理論，管治的命令固然是核心，但神聖的婚姻制度也同樣重要。在創世記第二章描述的離開與連合的模式是我們的經濟認識的基礎。亞當和夏娃是第一個經濟單位。因此，聖經所定義的家庭是經濟最基本和最重要的單位。
9. 它必須尊重社區。
大多數世俗思想家和經濟學家都以社區為開始，然後在轉向家庭。然而，沿著較大到較小經濟單位這一思路，不僅在理論上行不通，而且在實踐上也是失敗的。從家庭單位開始，然後向社區進展是一個更明智的選擇。基層決定原則 (或稱輔助性原則 Subsidiarity) 的教義---------源自於自然法理論---------教導意義、真理、與權力屬於最小的，有意義的單位的可能性。如果家庭單位缺乏，沒有政府能滿足市民的需求。當家庭強大，政府可以弱小。
然而，當家庭弱小時，政府必須彌補其缺乏。借者對家庭的關注，我們尊重和改善社區。
10. 它必須獎勵慷慨與勝任的管家。
委身於上帝國度經濟和下一代益處的基督徒，必須活出面向未來的金融觀。我們每個人都有責任，不管我們擁有多少，我們務要慷慨，直到我們生命的年限。屬靈慷慨------在聖經中有如此清晰的教導-------對基督徒的經濟世界觀來說是必不可少的。
11. 它必須尊重教會和教會使命的優先順序。
基督徒必須擁抱經濟的優先順序，這是世上其余的人不能理解的。基督徒必須投資教會、神學院、與國際宣教使命。這些都是基督徒特別的財政承擔。我們最終的財務承擔並非為了我們自己，亦非為了我們自己的投資，而是為了基督的國度。因此，基督徒總要作好準備，經歷經濟優先次序與安排中的劇變，因為緊急的國度問題可能隨時會介入。
12. 它必須重視末世的審判和對末世的應許。
生命及其資源不能帶來最終的喜樂。基督徒的世界觀提醒我們，我們必須活出這種認識：我們要為我們的資源的管家職份向上帝交賬。同時，基督徒必須仰望新的天地這一末世應許，並視之為我們最終的經濟盼望。我們必須把財寶積聚在天上而非在地上。
本文原刊於Tabletalk雜誌2017年二月號 。
Toward
a Christian View of Economics
by
Albert Mohler
Regrettably,
many American Christians know little about economics. Furthermore, many
Christians assume that the Bible has nothing at all to say about economics. But
a biblical worldview actually has a great deal to teach us on economic matters.
The meaning of work, the value of labor, and other economic issues are all part
of the biblical worldview. Christians must allow the economic principles found
in Scripture to shape our thinking. Here, then, are twelve theses for what a
Christian understanding of economics must do.
1. It
must have God’s glory as its greatest aim.
For
Christians, all economic theory begins with an aim to glorify God (1 Cor.
10:31). We have a transcendent economic authority.
2. It
must respect human dignity.
No
matter the belief system, those who work show God’s glory whether they know it
or not. People may believe they are working for their own reasons, but they are
actually working out of an impulse that was put into their hearts by the
Creator for His glory.
3. It
must respect private property and ownership.
Some
economic systems treat the idea of private property as a problem. But Scripture
never considers private property as a problem to be solved. Scripture’s view of
private property implies that owning private property is the reward of
someone’s labor and dominion. The eighth and tenth commandments teach us that
we have no right to violate the financial rewards of the diligent.
4. It
must take into full account the power of sin.
Taking
the Bible’s teaching on the pervasive effects of sin into full account means
that we expect bad things to happen in every economic system. A Christian
economic understanding tries to ameliorate the effects of sin.
5. It
must uphold and reward righteousness.
Every
economic and government system comes with embedded incentives. An example of
this is the American tax code, which incentivizes desired economic behaviors.
Whether they work is an issue of endless political recalibration. However, in
the Christian worldview, that recalibration must continue to uphold and reward
righteousness.
6. It
must reward initiative, industry, and investment.
Initiative,
industry, and investment are three crucial words for the Christian’s economic
and theological vocabulary. Initiative goes beyond action. It is the kind of
action that makes a difference. Industry is human work done corporately.
Investment is part of the respect for private property found in Scripture.
Investment, as it turns out, is as old as the garden of Eden. That which
accrues value is honorable, and the impulse to accrue that value is honorable. Thus,
a Christian economic theory indicts any able-bodied person who won’t work and
anyone who won’t respect private property or reward investment.
7. It
must seek to reward and incentivize thrift.
In a
fallen world, money and investments can quickly be distorted to idolatrous
ends. For that reason, thrift is a very important issue in the Christian
worldview. In a fallen world, abundance one day can turn into scarcity the
next. Thrift may be what provides survival in times of poverty.
8. It
must uphold the family as the most basic economic unit.
When
thinking about economic theory embedded in the beginning of the Bible, the
dominion mandate is central, but so is the divine institution of marriage. The
pattern of leaving and cleaving described in Genesis 2 is fundamental to our
economic understanding. Adam and Eve were the first economic unit. The result
is that the family, biblically defined, is the most basic and essential unit of
the economy.
9. It
must respect community.
Most
secular thinkers and economists begin with the community and then move to the
family. However, thinking from larger to smaller economic units not only does
not work in theory, it also fails in practice. Beginning with the family unit
and then working out toward the community is a much smarter option. The
doctrine of subsidiarity—which emerged out of natural law theory—teaches that
meaning, truth, and authority reside in the smallest meaningful unit possible.
If the family unit is deficient, no government can meet the need of its citizens.
When the family is strong, government can be small.
When
the family is weak, however, the government must compensate for the loss. By
focusing on the family, we respect and better the community.
10.
It must reward generosity and proper stewardship.
Christians
who are committed to the economics of the kingdom and to the good of the next
generation must live with a future-oriented financial perspective. We each have
the responsibility, whether we own a lot or a little, to see that our
generosity endures far beyond our lifespan. Spirited generosity, which is so
clear in Scripture, is essential to a Christian economic worldview.
11.
It must respect the priority of the church and its mission.
Christians
must embrace economic priorities that the rest of the world simply will not
understand. Christians must invest in churches, seminaries, and international
missions. These are distinctive Christian nancial commitments. Our ultimate
financial commitment is not to ourselves or to our own investments but to the
kingdom of Christ. Thus, Christians should always be ready to experience
upheaval in economic priorities and arrangements because urgent kingdom issues
can intervene at any moment.
12.
It must focus on eschatological judgment and eschatological promise.
This
life and its resources cannot deliver ultimate joy. The Christian worldview
reminds us that we must live with the recognition that we will give an account
to the Lord for our stewardship of our resources. At the same time, Christians
must look to the eschatological promise of the new heavens and earth as our
ultimate economic hope. We must lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth.