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Nine Principles of Kingdom Economics
Viv Grigg, June 2006
When people heard him, what did they understand?
Jesus came to preach good news of the Kingdom of God to the poor, to set the
captives free, to declare the acceptable year of the Lord (– the year
of Jubilee) (Luke 4:18, 19).
Kingdom Economic Principles in Genesis 1
God’s Nature is to be reflected in us Principle 1: Creativity – He creates (Gen 1:1)
Take risks Makes something from nothing Evolving one thing from the next – we are to grow
business incrementally Principle 2: He works cooperatively (“Let us”1:1) Principle 3: Productivity – “he made”, “it was good” Principle 4: He works Principle 5: He rests
Principle 1 & 3: Creativity & Productivity
God is the creative worker His work was good, expressing beauty Made something out of nothing Evolved each step into something new His work was artistic
His work was good Work is honorable God’s work can be seen in four categories:
creation, providence, judgement, redemption
Principle 4: Work Human work
To manage the earth To subdue it To fill it
Work was cursed in the fall It became hard work
From gardener to farmer, from fulfilment to frustration
But the command to manage did not change
1.What rate of interest do they charge?
Principle 5: Rest
Abuse of work takes two forms: Idleness Overwork
Work without rest is one of the major sins
The Sabbath a symbol of the covenant between God and
his people a time to reflect and rest out of this reflection, worship.
Christians enter a permanent rest We rest in the spirit in our work But we also take seasons of rest
Principle 6: RedistributionThe Jubilee (Lev 25:8-17)
Every 50th year, It was a time of equalizing.I. LIBERTY It is synonymous with the year of liberty. Slaves are to be set free. II. DEBTS ARE TO BE CANCELED. Economic freedom is inherent in the gospel message.III. CELEBRATION. Celebration is inherent in the gospel message.IV. REDISTRIBUTION The means of production, the land was to be returned to the
original owners. Redistribution of the means of production is inherent in the gospel message.
V. OWNERSHIP Even the Levites were to have their own home
Jesus’ Message of the JubileeThis theme of the Jubilee
becomes central to the New Testament In the central passage around
which Luke builds his gospel and the Acts, Luke 4:18, Jesus declares his mission
He inaugurates the Jubilee eternally.
Jubilee Economics in the
Acts Community (Acts 2:42-44) New PRINCIPLE: FORSAKING2nd PRINCIPLE:
COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS 6th PRINCIPLE: MEETING NEEDS
6th PRINCIPLE: VOLUNTARY GIVING
6th PRINCIPLE: THE EQUALIZING GOSPEL
8th PRINCIPLE: CELEBRATION
9th PRINCIPLE: PRIVATE OWNERSHIP WITHOUT POSSESSIVENESS
Rich 5%
Middle Class 10%
Labouring Poor 45%
Destitute Poor 40%
AN EQUALIZING GOSPEL
A RANGE OF JUSTICE & EQUALITY
Principle of Simplicity I Tim 6:6-10
A Lifestyle of Simplicity
Earn much
Consume Little
Hoard Nothing
Give Generously
Celebrate Life
Principle 6: Jubilee and International Redistribution
(2 Corinthians 8,9)
The principles of Jubilee as evidenced in Jesus community, then in the Acts community are further extended globally in Paul’s teaching on global redistribution between the churches
Principle 6:InternationalRedistribution
Sacrificial Simple Lifestyles
lead to
Interchurch InternationalEconomic Justice
(II Cor 8,9)
Summary of Principles of Kingdom Economics
Principle Genesis/ Jubilee Gospels & Acts Epistles1. Creativity God the creator Spirit sets free
2. Cooperative Economics
Let us make Sharing Provide for others
3. Productivity Good outcomes
4. Work He makesHe structures
Labour in the gospel
Work with hands (1 Thes 4:11)
5. Rest God rests Jubilee come 3. Rest
6 Redistribut’nfor Equality
Jubilee –return of land Tithing
No needy one
Weekly Giving
Global redist’n (2 Cor 8,9)
Simplicity
7. Savings & Debt
Jubilee cancels debts
Debts cancelled
Owe no man
8. Celebration It was good Worship daily
9. Ownership / Own home / Forsake all, / Provide family (Levites) yet own home (1 Tim 5:8)