...the Enlightenment emphasis on human reason and autonomy 'left nothing to restrain the competition for wealth', so that the laissez-faire economics of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was powerless to restrain corporate human greed...Associated with the unrestrained use of capital (and interest) without regard for the human consequences, 'capitalism' came to have a bad name in many christian circles. Conversely, the prohibition of private property in Marxist 'socialism' has had similar dire consequences for human society.
Rebuilding a theology of social relations has been a major challenge facing the churches in the last century. This task is made more difficult by a lack of awareness of the corporate dimensions of sin among many Christians, seen at its worst in the simplistic identification of personal prosperity with divine blessing, or of 'freedom of choice' consumerism with gospel values. Debates about wealth creation in modern western societies illustrate some of the issues involved...According to the Christian vision, wealth creation is inseparable from the growth of people as persons in relationship. Christians are to be effective contributors in the manufacturing industry, on the factory floor, in the research laboratory, and as directors. Nevertheless, those so involved are called not only to ensure the quality of the product, and a fair return to all involved, but also to implement policy that is consistent with Christian ideals of what it means to be human, in social as well as personal terms...On a wider front, matters such as national policy on aid and development, support of cross-cultural evangelism, or the promotion of peace and justice come into view. Christians who see their role in the divine economy as limited to immediate friends or neighbourhood fail to catch the breadth and grandeur of the divine vision for a 'commonwealth' of all races, tribes and tongues.
- Charles Sherlock, The Doctrine of Humanity, pp. 108-110.
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