In this twelfth and final installment of this series on Christianity and Economics, we explore how Christians can work to address problems in the market without resorting to violence or coercion. Building on the previous discussions regarding the benefits of voluntary exchange and a free market, we explore how Christian can influence market outcomes in a way that aligns with Christian ethics as revealed in scripture.

As was previously discussed in this series (Part 4), when people are free to exchange goods voluntarily, market prices function as signals which guide buyers and sellers in allocating scarce resources efficiently. A significance price increase of a good incentivizing buyers to economize their purchases and seek alternative solutions, while encourages producers to increase production. Both actions work together to increase supply and lower the price of the good in question. Allowing market prices to fluctuate freely in response to changes in supply and demand is necessary for individuals to make informed decisions about resource utilization.

Moreover, when individuals are allowed to voluntarily exchange goods, the division of labor deepens, leading to increased productivity and a broader array of economic goods and services, ultimately resulting in economic growth (Part 7).

The free market not only promotes economic growth but it aligns with the teachings of the Bible, as it consistently rejects violence and the confiscation of other people’s property (Part 5).

Problems within the Free Market System

Although it can be demonstrated that a free-market economy leads to economic growth and aligns with the teachings of Scripture, it would be a mistake to conclude that the free market guarantees perfect outcomes. Because the free market is simply the sum of countless voluntary exchanges between individuals, the market will only be as perfect as the people in it. If individuals within a free-market economy demand alcohol, drugs, pornography, profane entertainment, or other sinful vices, then it is likely that there will profits which can be gained in providing these goods. Some people fear that a truly free economy will result in a system dominated by greed, where the wealthy and sinful exploit the poor and needy.

We must not envision free market economics as a solution to the problem of sin. As long as sin exists, people will make harmful choices. Sin will create problems in any society, regardless of the level of economic freedom they enjoy.

How Should Christians Respond?

The question then arises: How should Christians respond when we see the consequences of sin in the marketplace? Some argue that Christian morality demands that Christians should step in and constrain the free market in certain situations. They contend that some degree of state regulation, wisely implemented, could lead to a superior outcome which is more consistent with Christian morality than a completely unregulated market.

A commitment to Jesus Christ and Biblical teachings does require that Christians oppose certain sinful behaviors. Christians should be grieved when profit is gained by promoting sinful activities such as pornography or blasphemous entertainment.

Nevertheless, resorting to state regulation that employs threats of violence and attempts to claim control of other people’s possessions contradicts God’s commandments regarding theft and violence. Although Christians must oppose sin, the existence of sin in the lives of others does not justify aggression against their lives or property. Biblical justice demands that we must use our own resources to combat sin, convincing others to voluntarily choose better behavior.

Lobbying for rulers to intervene in the economy violates the property rights of others, and for this reason, it violates Christian ethics. Christians are instructed to love and do good to their enemies, not to threaten violence to constrain their behavior when we disapprove of their choices.

How Christians Can and Should Regulate the Economy

In a free market, entrepreneurs cannot force anyone to buy their products. To succeed, they must convince people to voluntarily exchange with them. For this reason, the free market is anything but unregulated. It may not be regulated by rulers, armies, or police, but it is strictly regulated by the consciences and preferences of consumers. If people do not want to buy from a company with a bad reputation, they are free to refrain.

This is how Christians can regulate the economy in a way that is consistent with God’s commands. Since the Bible forbids theft and violence, Christians cannot enlist the service of worldly governments to create a better society. However, Christians can spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples of all nations.

When people become disciples of Christ, their values and behaviors will change. Faithful Christians strive to exhibit greater kindness to their neighbors, demonstrate greater concern for the poor, and treat their employees and customers fairly. Their preferences shift towards more wholesome products and away from unwholesome ones. As priorities change, the demand that drives unwholesome market outcomes diminishes.

If Christians really want a different and better outcome, they should obey the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20), pointing others to Jesus Christ who can transform their heart and renew their mind. As individuals who make up the market change, the market itself changes.

Conclusion

The first commandment that God gave to mankind was to rule over and subdue creation.

And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Genesis 1:28

The only way Christians can fulfill this command, without descending into the barbaric struggle of greed, theft, and violence, is by embracing the importance of voluntary exchange, the division of labor, and wise entrepreneurship. By these means, Christians can contribute to the economic growth of their society. These sources of economic growth will only flourish when people align their actions with Christian ethics, emphasizing peace, and respecting the private property of one another. In so doing, Christians can promote economic prosperity in harmony with the wisdom revealed by the Creator.