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: Redistribution The 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 Jubilee  This 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: FORSAKING 2nd 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

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: International Redistribution Sacrificial Simple Lifestyles lead to Interchurch International Economic Justice (II Cor 8,9)

Summary of Principles of Kingdom Economics Principle Genesis/ JubileeGospels & Acts Epistles 1. CreativityGod the creatorSpirit sets free 2. Cooperative Economics Let us makeSharingProvide for others 3. Productivity Good outcomes 4. WorkHe makes He structures Labour in the gospel Work with hands (1 Thes 4:11) 5. RestGod restsJubilee come3. Rest 6 Redistribut’n for 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. CelebrationIt was goodWorship daily 9. Ownership / Own home / Forsake all, / Provide family (Levites) yet own home (1 Tim 5:8)