It is impossible for there to be a complete explanation of what a Christian Capitalist Conservative (CCC) is with the space granted to the column. However, it is necessary to briefly clarify, I believe, any misunderstandings or questions one may have about this particular religion and its role in economical, social and political beliefs. The issue was raised through a continuous traffic of e-mail between a friend of mine here at Plymouth and myself. The question from the opposite side, in full, is as follows:
I mean this sincerely: why do Born Again Christians become conservatives? I’ve never understood that. I have a sister who has those leanings and I don’t get that, either. Should she be FOR social programs; helping the poor; non-violence, and so on? I have never understood that. As I understand Christianity, I am far more “Christian” than she. I don’t get the marriage of Christianity and conservatism. Honest.
Christians believe in the redemption of souls through a life and belief in Christ. Capitalists believe in the freedom of persons to pursue greatness in life via hard work and a given basic chance. Conservatives, in short, believe in limited government and a strong defense to protect them. Where is the marriage? Let me explain.
In respect to social programs, for this case welfare, liberals in America show pride in their willingness to pay high taxes for the purpose of “feeding the hungry” or “housing the poor,” whichever the government determines. The payment of taxes for that purpose, to me, is a selfish act. Where is the heart in letting big government take over the personal responsibility of every American? The true spirit of giving and caring takes place not by paying off somebody or something else to do the work for you, but by charitable services like community organizations and churches; of which any person can be involved. The same goes for the Peace Corps, Ameri-Corps, and any other national organization where effort is required. The welfare system, however, seems to take on an elitist form where the taxpayers dribble pennies to the peasants, only to leave them waiting for more. Where is the heart in that?
(It is important to note that I am not including federal agencies with social programs due to the fact that agencies are for the protection of the people where as social programs are nothing short of handouts.)
Setting up an infrastructure that allows people to pursue possible successes in life via hard work and effort is the key to eliminating a welfare state. This is where capitalism enters the mix. A socialist society does not allow people to pursue greatness; however, it reduces the amount of opportunities for success by suspending growth with government regulation whereby all things are dictated by a federal budget. The “greater good,” as a Marxist would argue, is achieved through this very system, where all things are distributed by a centralized government. For a CCC, the greater good is through individual rights and freedoms that allow for all good and necessary deeds to be done by those individuals, thus benefiting the “greater good.”
Christians often run into a problem with the argument of capitalism being a “pursuit of wealth” and thus not listening to Christ’s teachings when he said, “It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven.” Indeed it is easier for that camel to pass through, but only in the case of those that use their riches to expand their own needs and wants; as opposed to those that use their wealth for the benefit of their fellow man.
Andrew Carnegie spoke to this very issue in his essay “The Gospel of Wealth,” which serves no other purpose now but to mention its relation to what this topic is addressing. We must realize that some may succeed at a greater level than others may and that is what human nature dictates. The responsibility of those who possess the wealth must be for their fellow man and not for themselves. Therefore, we see how capable it is for us not have a government sponsored welfare system where no real effort is made by anyone, but to have a system where those that have done well can provide for those who have not; via jobs, housing, health care, etc.
Let us not forget the famous quote, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Certainly there are abuses within the capitalist system but we must not dismiss it entirely because of those instances. The freedoms given within the system allows for individual contributions and does not require big government to do the work of helping the poor. Let us move on from the elitist act of paying a percentage of our tax on a welfare system. We must address the core issues involved with welfare such as teen pregnancy, unwed mothers, and alcohol and drug abuse. Christianity and compassionate conservatism can help all these issues much more effectively than a constant monetary feeding into a failed welfare system.