My internet friend, Sarah, is becoming disenchanted with capitalism because it leads to tacky malls, sprawling suburbs, and a seeming lack of taste and sense. I agree, but I am not surprised by it. I responded to her most recent post on the subject and I am going to re-post my response here because I think it does a better job of explaining some things I've been trying to hash out on this blog for awhile now without much success. Please read Sarah's post before you read mine. Perhaps I won't be any more successful this time, but it is worth a try:
I ask the same question I ask of all of my political junky Christian friends who are angered and surprised when teachers can't teach creationism in schools, or when people want to pass laws making gay marriage legal: what do you expect when you give freedom to people who are inherently sinful? Democracy, capitalism, anything based on personal liberty may be superior to a single ruling tyrant, or to communism, especially when it allows Christians the free exercise of religion. But no amount of political or financial freedom will liberate non-Christians from their sinful selves. Christ offers the only true way to liberty; every other route leads to a solipsistic cycle of selfish desire, indulgence, and bitter disappointment.
You expected or hoped the ultimate fruits of capitalism would be beauty and community? Capitalism is popular because it works. It works because it is based on reality, and the reality it is based on is that people do everything out of their own perceived self-interest. It acknowledges the Christian truth of the in-born selfishness of all mankind. If the results are starting to seem ugly, it is because the real end of human desires is showing. Capitalism may propel the economy, and certainly some good comes out of it (reducing poverty, improving health) but we should not expect the ultimate results of anything that thrives on the selfishness of entire countries to be fulfilling and good. Capitalism (and democracy), in my mind, is superior to other systems only because it feeds (and feeds on) the self-interest of many people rather than few. It is less susceptible to the uncontrollable whims of single individuals or small groups.
Churchill said, “Many forms of government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time.” The same could probably be said of capitalism. Don’t expect it to redeem anything. Nothing that depends on human will and desire can do that.
If you expect people to desire what is right and good, don’t just show them beauty and assume they will recognize that it is Good, and want it, and know how to pursue it. We are cursed to grasp for what is good with filthy hands, dirtying it in the process, or to chase after the shadowy reflection of what is good and beautiful, all the while running in the opposite direction of where we need to go. Keep showing them the Creator of true beauty through your art, and in knowing Him, their eyes will be opened to the true way to what is Good.
Having dutifully read Sarah's post and all the responses to it, I find myself thinking about the scene in the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia, "The Last Battle," where the renegade dwarves have been admitted to Heaven, but can't recognize it because they are so caught up in their selfish "Dwarves for the dwarves" mentality. "Enlightened self-interest" indeed: believing themselves to be in a filthy stable, they miss Heaven itself.
The Apostle Paul wrote "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right; whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things." A mind so disciplined is repelled by the images and excesses around us; a mind not disciplined in such a way will likely fail to recognize excellence when confronted with it, or to accept something much less as "good."
The truest beauty we can offer is the person of Christ Himself. He lived in a world much uglier, physically, than the one we inhabit - more disease, greater poverty, and daily brutality almost beyond our 21st century imaginations. And His glory was largely unrecognized, but that didn't stop Him from doing the Father's will: being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are absolutely correct that, as "little Christs," we must not expect the culture to develop goodness on its own, but rather we must bring Christ to the culture in whatever way He has given us (sculpture for Sarah, writing and music for you).
Outside of Christ, our sinful natures will simply bring us ever lower, as the mega-malls attest. They are the result of mankind's seeking to establish Heaven on earth. We humans have an innate consciousness that things have gone off course, and are always trying to correct it, generally unsuccessfully, because we do so on relying our own direction and strength. We know in our hearts that there is a place where every need will be met, where the sun always shines, but mistakenly believe that we can create that place here through endless shopping to satisfy our desires (not just our needs), and burning electric lights 24/7. Those efforts simply result in more work, and less satisfaction.
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Praise God for His wonderful Gift!
Posted by: Mom at December 3, 2005 6:27 PMThank you for this post!!
Posted by: Sarah at December 4, 2005 8:27 PMHey, wait, aren't I your IRL friend, too!?!?!
Posted by: Sarah at December 5, 2005 10:26 AM