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Institute for Faith Work and Economics

Ownership and Property in the Old Testament Economy

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  • Walter C. Kaiser Jr

Does the Old Testament teach anything on economic matters like ownership and property? Kaiser examines the case some have made for a duality of the material and spiritual world. He then examines themes related to property, theft, land, and Jubilee. The stewardship responsibilities attributed to human beings are noted.

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What Does the Old Testament Say about Poverty and Riches?

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  • Walter C. Kaiser Jr

Kaiser summarizes what the Torah and Wisdom Literature teach on poverty and riches.

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The Economics of the Minimum Wage and the Christian Response

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  • Joy Buchanan

This article shows that minimum wage law hurts the poor it seeks to help, it takes away their freedom to create their own work or get work themselves, and it is against the biblical principle of charity. Therefore, it should not be embraced by Christians as a way of alleviating poverty.

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How Then Should We Work? Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work

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  • Hugh Whelchel

To the Reformers all labour was accepted as a calling and performed as unto the Lord. This article maps the path that led the church to embrace the dualistic view of life and forget the implications of the priesthood of all believers. It shows that embracing the call to follow Christ is foundational to understand the theology of work. This is how the church can recover the biblical truth of vocation.

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God and Government: A Biblical Perspective – The Bible and Limited Government

  • Semi-Technical
  • Tom Pratt

Tracing the development of government through the Bible, this article shows that the government must be limited in its reach. This limitedness is due to the fall and the reality that all authority belongs to God.

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A Biblical Theology of Human Flourishing

  • Technical
  • Jonathan T. Pennington

Every action of humans is directed towards happiness and flourishing. Looking at key biblical words, this article shows that true flourishing and well-being can be found only in relationship with God and through alignment with his kingdom. The concepts of peace, blessedness, and completeness point to this conclusion.

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Sell Your Possessions and Give to the Poor’: A Theological Reflection on Jesus’ Teaching Regarding Personal Wealth and Charity

  • Semi-Technical
  • Jonathan T. Pennington

This article shows the impact that Matthew 19:16-26, Luke 12:33, and Luke 14:33 have on personal wealth and charity. It shows this by looking at how the church in history interacted with these texts, and what Jesus meant by them, and then it draws implication for the church today.

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A Biblical Case for Limited Government

  • Semi-Technical
  • J. P. Moreland

The Bible teaches a minimalist view of government. To show this, this article evaluates three worldviews and their impact of the role of government in society, it shows how to read the OT and NT on government involvement, and it distinguishes between positive rights and negative rights.

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Calling in the Theology of Work

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  • William G. Messenger

Fundamental to the calling to particular kinds of work is the calling to follow Christ. This article shows how the two callings relate. Then it shows how to view God's calling and guiding of people to various kinds of work.

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The Absence of the Ascension

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  • Art Lindsley

Failure to understand the implications of the ascension of Christ is failure to grasp the lordship of Christ and Christian ministry. This article shows what it means to apply the truths of Christ’s ascension to everyday life.

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Knowing, Feeling and Doing

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  • Art Lindsley

The church is paralyzed when it fails to see the relationship between knowing, feeling, and doing. This article shows the relationship between doctrine, piety, and reform. It shows that to lose one is to lose all, which impoverishes the Christian life.

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Calling

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  • Art Lindsley

Atheism, lack of work ethic, and a dualistic approach to life by the church have killed the sense of life and work as a calling. This article shows that developing a theology of work can help the church to regain the sense of life and work as vocation.

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The Call to Creativity

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  • Art Lindsley

The call to creativity is realized once believers understand what it means to be created in the image of God. To achieve this thinking we must see ourselves within the scope of the gospel narrative, which is creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. This article explains.

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The Image of God

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  • Art Lindsley

Human dignity is rooted in the truth that man is created in the image of God. This article shows what it means to think about man being in the image of God in terms of creation, fall, and redemption.

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The Priesthood of All Believers

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  • Art Lindsley

The priesthood of all believers is a teaching that is taught in the Bible, rooted in the priesthood of Christ. This article shows that recovering this teaching is crucial to the health of the church. It shows the privileges and responsibilities of being priests.

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Moral Law and the Ten Commandments

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  • Art Lindsley

After looking at the threefold use of the law, this article looks at the use of the law as a guide. It shows how the Ten Commandments can be applied to public life.

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Private Property

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  • Art Lindsley

The commandments "Do not steal" and "Do not covet" enshrine the right to private property. This article shows that this has profound implications for political and economic theory, and that it is against socialism.

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Government: Small or Large?

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  • Art Lindsley

How big or small should the rule of the government be? Acknowledging that the government is established by God, listening to biblical warnings, pondering the pervasiveness of the fall, and learning from the lessons of history are four areas to consider to answer this question.

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Gifts of the Spirit in the Old Testament

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  • Art Lindsley

This article looks at the work of the Holy Spirit in the OT, in creation, individuals believers, and the people of God as a nation. It draws implications for the church today.

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The Biblical View of Freedom

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  • Art Lindsley

True freedom can only be experienced once we are freed from sin and made slaves to Christ. This article shows how such freedom flows to bring freedom in the community.

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Does Acts 2-5 Teach Socialism?

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  • Art Lindsley

The early believers did not sell all their property; their sharing was voluntary, and the texts of Acts 2, Acts 4 and Acts 5 are descriptive in nature. Therefore, to claim that these texts teach socialism is a fallacy. This article explains why.

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Five Myths about Jubilee

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  • Art Lindsley

It is assumed that the Year of Jubilee involved forgiveness of debt and land redistribution. This article shows that this assumptions and the objection to land ownership based on jubilee principle are myths. So what was the point of the Year of Jubilee? Let the article explain.

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Do Good Workers Do “Good Works”? A Biblical Review of the Meaning of “Good Works” in New Testament Marketplace Contexts

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  • Joshua Greever and David Kotter

After looking at key passages from the New Testament, this article shows that good works should not be limited to works of charity. Good works include works done in the marketplace and home.

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Collectivism and/or Christianity: An Exegetical Study of Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-5:11

  • Semi-Technical
  • Paul S. Jeon

Is Christianity against capitalism? After examining Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-5:11, this article shows that all giving in the early church was a voluntary and joyful response to the gospel and its powerful attestations through the apostles. Therefore, Christianity cannot be used as an objection to capitalism.

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Three Exemplary Jesus Practices about Money and Work

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  • Klaus Issler

Loving God means developing a proper attitude about money. However, having a biblical view of money requires some idea about a biblical view of work. By looking at Jesus' life and teaching, this article shows how Christians can integrate their spiritual life with their work life.

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Examining Jesus’ Inclusion of Work Roles in his Parables

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  • Klaus Issler

Christians are called to full-time Christian service. This article argues for this by looking at the role of work in the life and teaching of Jesus.

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Jubilee and Social Justice

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  • Michael A. Harbin

After examining Leviticus 25, this article shows that the Year of Jubilee cannot be equated with social justice and land redistribution.

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A Christian Perspective on Income Mobility

  • Semi-Technical
  • Joseph Connors

Upward income mobility can only be realized through a system that supports economic freedom. Looking at the biblical evidence, this article calls Christians to embrace income mobility.

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Embracing Economic Liberty: A Commitment to Justice and Mercy

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  • Paul A. Cleveland

Embracing free enterprise and economic liberty promotes human dignity and provides the institutional structure in which economic justice and mercy will most likely flourish. However, entrusting the good of society to government coercion leads to despotism and tyranny, which destroy society’s original object. This article explains.

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Biblical Foundations of Limited Government

  • Basic
  • Doug Bandow

The role of the government is to make sure that there is order, which allows people to live peaceful and quiet lives. This article shows that this truth forms the foundation for what the government must do and not do.

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Globalization and Poverty: The Engine of Economic Growth and Development

  • Semi-Technical
  • Doug Bandow

The Bible makes it clear that the poor will always be among us. This means that the fight against poverty will be a constant one. This article shows that globalization contributes to economic growth and development.

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Entrepreneurship within a Biblical Worldview

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  • Brian Baugus

Entrepreneurs are basically agents of change. This article shows that entrepreneurship is rooted in the model of creation and the call to be creative in using what God has given us. Therefore, entrepreneurship is a form of stewardship. Let the article explain.

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Usury in Scripture

  • Basic
  • Chad Brand

Should Christians accept usury or interest? After looking at the OT and NT teaching on usury and interest, this article shows that the Bible is not against charging interest.

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Economic Freedom and the Path to Flourishing

  • Semi-Technical
  • Joseph Connors, Anne Bradley

Economic freedom can be measured through higher life expectancy, lower levels of child mortality, better performing and cleaner environments, higher incomes for the poor, better protected civil liberties, less child labor, and less unemployment. This article shows that this can be achieved by economic freedom, and shows how the pillars of economic freedom are rooted in Scripture.

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Five Reasons Christians Should Embrace Economic Freedom

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  • Anne Bradley

Economic freedom allows everyone to use their unique gifts to serve God and others. This article gives five reasons why Christians should embrace economic freedom.

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Whole-Life Stewardship: The Call to Greatness

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  • Anne Bradley

Stewardship has to do with every choice you make. This is what the article calls whole-life stewardship.

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Why Does Income Inequality Exist? (Part 2)

  • Semi-Technical
  • Anne Bradley

Income inequality is a fact of the economic life. This is so because we are created with different gifts that yield different rewards here on earth. This article show how this principle functions in economics. This is part two of the article.

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Why Does Income Inequality Exist? (Part 1)

  • Semi-Technical
  • Anne Bradley

Income inequality is a measurement of the distribution of wealth across households. This article looks at six aspects that lead to income inequality: family structure, technology, growing markets, immigration, property rights, and income mobility. This is part one of the paper.

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I am more than ever convinced that sanctification is carried on by the Spirit, by means of our direct looking on the face of Jesus, hour by hour. Andrew Bonar
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