Kingdom Economy?
If we are to respond to climate change, peak oil, or a spiritual malaise caused by mass consumerism, at some point a confrontation with economics seems inevitable There is global unrest cause by the current economic downturn, and, as usual, it is the poor who are hardest hit; social services in New Zealand are already stretched. And yet we are seeing only the start of what would happen if western nations heard the cry for ‘enough’ and stopped our environmentally destructive spiritually eroding over consumption. It is not sufficient to simply say ‘stop buying things.’ Maybe this is why we are attempting to buy our way of trouble by suggesting a switch to bio-fuels and energy efficient eco-consumables instead of driving less and downsizing our lives. We seem to be attempting to consume our way out of the problems our consumption caused. I am aware this is a simplification, there is a lot of positive engagement also; yet it is a simplification that I believe reflects enough truth for us to see ourselves smiling back. Despite all the global posturing about emission reductions for example, global emissions continue to climb.
So what are our options in terms of economic transformation? Not being an economist I feel overwhelmed. I lap up the complaints against the un-level playing field of the IMF and World Bank structural adjustment regime, and see the flaws around power in the putative free market approach of the WTO, but don’t see how the entire economic system could be transformed or redeemed. Those in the greatest position to transform the system are those most advantaged by maintaining it. Even well thought out and engaging books like ‘Being Consumed’ by William Cavanagh – a fantastic theologian who is also an economist of some standing – doesn’t seem to get much beyond suggesting fair-trade tea instead of normal.
For a Christian response I can see two directions to explore. At one end of a spectrum is the idea that the church is called to be a gathered body of believers who live in such away among themselves that they bare witness to the present reality of our future hope – life characterized by the kingdom of God. A counter-cultural community living ‘now’ in light of what is ‘not yet.’ In this case local currency alternatives within church communities might be the best approach. Time-banks and or green-dollar systems would form the heart of our economic engagement, creating the space where it becomes possible to simplify, become less busy in isolated work places, and step out of consumerism. The church community holds out a new hope, people are drawn to participate in this kingdom living. For want of a label this might be called an Anabaptist approach. The danger is that we become so separated that we cease to be a witnessing community and become a reclusive community that doesn’t engage with the suffering around us.
At the other end of the spectrum we work to transform all of society, to make the current system more in keeping with the ideals of the kingdom of God. Perhaps characterized as a Reformers approach. In this case we may need to be involved in an entire remake of the current economic system globally that may have created unsurpassed wealth, but without conscience has also created unsurpassed environmental destruction and global wealth disparity. The danger of this approach is that we become so involved and complicit in the system that there is no distinctive in the believing community; we look no different than the culture we are immersed in.
Somewhere along the spectrum may be response that is both pragmatic and faithful. Any assistance would be appreciated.
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