The sovereignty of God guarantees the continued relevance and indispensability of evangelicalism.
Karl Polanyi is a historian and political economist who wrote the book, The Great Transformation, as historical explanations of the political and economic origins of the collapse of nineteenth-century civilization, and the great transformation that he had lived through in the twentieth century.[1] Jason Clark is a Theologian, leadership expert and a pastor in the city of London who has written Evangelism and Capitalism where he explores written materials from different authors on the two phenomena and epiphenomena, and tries to diagnose the pathogeneses of the relationship.[2] Polanyi considers capitalism as a recent invention in human history where “the self-regulating market is a new human invention for which there are no parallels in past human history.”[3] It is important to note that Max weber also considered capitalism as a late arrival in human history, which he say was inextricably linked to the great reformation that saw the emergence of the protestant church.[4] This new development of capitalism was held at bay by religion which was able to ‘discipline’ behaviors away from the profit motive. Polanyi identifies the emergence of the self-regulating market (SRM) as the defining feature of capitalism where, for the first time in human history the market was disembedded from social relationships, such as those of religion.[5] Polanyi is clear on the limitations of the SRM that left on it’s own, capitalism would be harmful to society and the environment, and that there is necessity for a countermovement that corrects the ills of SRM. Gregory Baum writes:
In the past, Polanyi argues, economic activity was embedded in the social relations that make up the community as a whole. What was new and startling with the self-regulating market was that it ‘disembedded’ the economy from its social base, created widespread cultural alienation among workers and owners, and left the society and the natural environment without protection. This ‘disembedding’ of economic activity from people’s social relations remains a key concept in Polanyi’s analysis.[6]
Polanyi has been particularly criticized for his argument that the reciprocative and redistributive forms of integration have been more common in human history than the self-regulating market systems. There is no doubt that Polanyi’s work of logic and historical account helps us to understand the origins of where we stand today. To me, the big question is where do we stand as evangelical Christians in our quest to invest all that God has given us to live for Christ, in today’s capitalist society? Is evangelicalism relevant in our capitalist society and will it remain relevant, or will it be swallowed up in irrelevance in future. The screaming truth is the fact that religious actors in the arena that is history have been ignored and if the left-wing liberals were to have their way, religion would have no place in society. Weber and Polanyi play an important role of bringing history to bear witness of the key and pivotal role that religion plays in bring corrective balance and sobriety in society. There is no doubt that Weber’s ‘discipline’ that religion brings to bear in society is critical and cannot be dismissed without negative consequences to our society, and I will dare that pure capitalism would not last without the corrective balancing by true religion that is evangelicalism. God is sovereign and rules over all the affairs of men. Though He is ‘invisible’ and does not ‘literally control’ things in the world, He remains ‘in charge’ of the affairs of the world, and is actively involved. As Christians, we are His agents who should play an ‘active’ role and significantly influence and impact society by investing all that we have in living for Christ. Man has been given the free will and but tends towards independence from God because of sin that dwells in Him which, is enmity with God. We are to live our lives as God’s ‘active’ agents who reconcile men to God. Polanyi’s account of capitalism and it’s resultant: ‘disembedding’ of the economy from its social base; widespread cultural alienation among workers and owners; and leaving the society and the natural environment without protection, are very important indicators of the dangers of pure capitalism. Polanyi also highlights how religion encourages and nurtures relationships that shapes the morals and values in society that helps in reciprocity and redistribution that are important for equity. Christianity in particular has been credited with promoting high moral standards and values that have contributed to significant human progress in broad and diverse range of fields, both historically and in modern times.[7]
The big task, challenge and responsibility for Christian leaders is as clear as daylight and there is no denying it, how shall we remain “active and not passive” players in our capitalist society today and in the future as: the salt of the earth and light of the world; a city that is built on a hill that cannot be hidden, and a lamp that cannot be hidden under the table? The threat to evangelicalism, of capitalism and the liberalism that it promotes is real and cannot be downplayed. It behooves on Christian leaders to discern this threat but more so to understand the indispensability of the church in influencing and shaping the future of our society. I stand to be counted as a Christian leader in not absconding from my responsibility of not only remaining relevant but in empowering other Christians to stand tall and play their important role as the salt and light in our society. In my research, I intend to draw attention to the church, the important place of holistic ministry in transformation of society.
[1] Karl Polanyi. The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of our Time. 2nd ed. (Boston, MA. Beacon Press, 2001).
[2] Jason Clark. “Evangelism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,” 2018. Faculty Publications – Portland Seminary. 132. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gfes/132.
[3][3] Ibid…5.
[4] Max Weber and Talcott Parsons. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2003), 36.
[5] Polanyi, The Great Transformation, 5.
[6] Gregory Baum. Karl Polanyi on Ethics and Economics. (Montreal: McGill-Queen University Press, 1996), 4.
[7] Sheridan Gilley (2006). The Cabridge History of Christianity: Volume 8, World Christianities c. 1815 -c. 1914. Brian Stanley. Cabridge University Press. P. 164. ISBN 0521814561. “…many of the scientists who contributed to these developments were Christians…”
About the Author
Mary Kamau
Christ follower, Mother of 3 Biological children and one Foster daughter, Wife, Pastor, Executive Director of Institutional Development and Strategy in Missions of Hope International, www.mohiafrica.org.14 responses to “The sovereignty of God guarantees the continued relevance and indispensability of evangelicalism.”
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Mary, thank you for your post.
It is fascinating to understand your ministry context and the theological landscape of Christianity in your country.
Of course, in America, Conservative Christianity has played an integral part in the development of Capitalism. Conservative politics and Evangelicalism have become synonymous.
For those who are progressive, the desire is to see a greater plurality in the conversation, along with the desire to see “Christian” corporations lead the charge on fair wages, healthy working conditions, and embracing of a diverse workforce with people from different walks of life, religious convictions, sexuality, and more.
Often, this can be slated as “liberals” wanting to take religion out of the workplace. On the contrary, I’d argue that it is to keep faith in the workplace but a religion from those who actually claim to follow Jesus to live in the way of Jesus and allow all people to express their religion without fear of reprisal or discrimination from conservative Christian owners.
In the name of Jesus, you have Christian corporations like Hobby Lobby that make astronomical profit margins by underpaying laborers in foreign countries, under horrible working conditions, playing the global economic system to skirt American taxes and labor, and then limiting the healthcare rights of their workers based around a limited perspective of pro-life.
Thank you Andy for your comments, American politicals scenery is very interesting and seems to have polarised the country between the concervatives and the “liberals. In our country, Politics has always been see as “dirty” and conservative Christians have tended to shy away from politics which in my opinion should not be the case. Christians should play an active role and confront such vices as corruption and other ills in society.
Mary: I appreciate your post on Polanyi’s work. I’m very interested to know, given your context geographically and vocationally, what do you envision it looking like for the Christian leader to play an active role in a capitalistic society? Does it play out differently in Africa than the US or do the same concepts cross borders?
Thank you Kayli, in my context, Politics and the market place have been mistakenly feared as “dirty” by conservative Christians and the church has shied away from active politics and viewed the market place as prone to a lot of temptations. In America, it seems to me like Evangelicals have been very actively been involved in promoting capitalism.
Love your last paragraph Mary. It is clear that no matter the debates about economics and politics, it is the church that is called to fulfill its mission of helping the poor and feeding the hungry. It is when the church acts in this way that everyone can see God and what is most important to him — people, not philosophical arguments. I’m sure in your role as a Christin Leader you will have plenty of opportunities to model evangelicalism. What most concerns you in your country present day?
Thank you Troy for your comments. My biggest concern in my country is the level of poverty as especially since the gap between the minority rich and the majority poor is growing at an alarming rate. I see the Church having the great opportunity and responsibility to leverage their strategic position in society to care for the poor and bring transformation.
Thanks Mary! This is an excellent question you pose: “where do we stand as evangelical Christians in our quest to invest all that God has given us to live for Christ, in today’s capitalist society?
I too, like you, base our ultimate confidence in the Lord. A Kingdom Assurance, if you will. I think of Friedman and the culture of chronic anxiety that we fall prey too.. . just as much those in the Church as well as outside of the Church. Herein lies our assurance: His Kingdom will come, in fullness, therefore, we are to be a people of great hope, assurance, and peace.
Mary, Thank you for your reflection. Your post helped to clarify my conceptualization of Polanyi, especially around the idea of “embeddedness”. Thank you! I’m curious, we read of Jesus opposing the economic and religious structures of his day. What opposition do you feel Jesus would have to evangelicalism in regards to its economic and social structure?
Mary, thank you for your insight . You close by stating your desire to empower “other Christians to stand tall and play their important role as the salt and light in our society.” How do you do this in your context?
Thank you for your post Mary.
Great point on your thoughts on “how shall we remain “active and not passive” players in our capitalist society today and in the future as: the salt of the earth and light of the world.” I am curious how your capitalist society in your surrounding is influencing the church and members of your church these days?
Mary I appreciate your summary.
You state, “The screaming truth is the fact that religious actors in the arena that is history have been ignored and if the left-wing liberals were to have their way, religion would have no place in society”, If you were to have a conversation with Leiberman and Long, what might be their response in light of what research has revealed about dopamine and politics?
Mary, thank you for your thoughtful post and engagement with Polanyi’s writing. I especially valued your quote from Baum and his review of Polayni’s concept of embeddedness (or lack thereof) of the economy in social relations. I was also struck by your statement about ‘left-wing liberals,’ and am curious to learn more about how you would define that term or how you understand that term?
My own church denomination would identify as oriented to social justice issues, which some would understand as falling into the ‘left-wing liberal’ camp. I find however, that our advocacy work is centered on re-embedding economic issues into societies/communities so that economic policy and impacts have accountability to values more inclusive than merely profit. I experience this work to be profoundly rooted in Christ’s gospel.
Mary,
Thank you for sharing your perspective on the texts. I would be interested to hear more about how “the threat to evangelicalism, of capitalism and the liberalism” is manifest in your context?
Mary, thanks for your clarity on Polanyi and your thoughts on the implications you see in this day. You state, “To me, the big question is where do we stand as evangelical Christians in our quest to invest all that God has given us to live for Christ, in today’s capitalist society?” Are there specific ways you are seeking to answer this question in your context?