{"id":16986,"date":"2018-03-08T21:41:59","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T05:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=16986"},"modified":"2018-03-08T21:41:59","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T05:41:59","slug":"doing-stewardship-weber-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/doing-stewardship-weber-style\/","title":{"rendered":"Doing Stewardship Weber Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Weber\u2019s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism<\/em> is considered to be one of the most controversial, canonical, and renowned 100 year works that foretells the Protestant influence in the creation and development of modern capitalism.\u00a0 Parsons describes Weber as \u201cone of the most eminent empirical analysts of society of his time.\u201d[1]<\/a>\u00a0 I connected with Weber\u2019s stewardship theme and will attempt to draw dissertation ideas from his amazing God honoring work.\u00a0 My post will focus on the idea that capitalism is both \u201ca calling\u201d and \u201ca religious responsibility.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

First, I examined Weber\u2019s analysis of Luther and Calvin and how they helped him form an ethos from their Reformation theologies.\u00a0 He developed a thesis that Protestantism becomes the divine driving influence for advances in capitalism for the next 100 years.\u00a0 Houle says that in the past 100 years there have been over \u201c2000 published scholarly items\u201d pertaining to The Protestant Ethic.[3]<\/a>\u00a0 Lindbekk says that Weber\u2019s Protestant doctrines of \u201cworldly asceticism, secular calling, and predestination\u201d is sound, offers the correct essentials, and displays theologically correct salvation strategies.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 Weber\u2019s analysis of \u201cself-restraint in consumption, diligence in secular work, and respect for one\u2019s secular calling\u201d appealed to my personal journey from public safety to military aviation to Armor of God ministry to mission aviation to market place ministry.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 I think I align with Luther\u2019s position that my \u201ccalling\u201d was set before my parents union that sparked my single cell beginning.\u00a0 Somehow God put my DNA in that cell, which he already knew was me before He created the universe.\u00a0 I do not know how, but I have a deep inner desire to believe, obey, and follow the transcendent and eminent God that knows my name. On the other hand, Calvin\u2019s idea on calling is appealing too.\u00a0 If I aligned with Calvin, my calling would not be predetermined, but instead would be a \u201cstrenuous and exacting enterprise to be chosen\u201d by me with a conditional warning to pursue \u201cwith a sense of religious responsibility.\u201d[6]<\/a>\u00a0 Can my calling be both?<\/p>\n

Second, I focused on Weber\u2019s ideas on predestination, profit, and \u201csecular fortune as a sign of being God\u2019s select.\u201d[7]<\/a>\u00a0 I do believe in the Augustinian doctrine of predestination, but think of it in more of an abstract reasoning inspired by the Holy Spirit that is hard to describe, but easier to believe through faith and obedience to God\u2019s word.\u00a0 Profit, I agree with Weber\u2019s use of the parable of talents to leverage his Protestant theme that we are called to be good stewards of whatever God entrusts us with.[8]<\/a> I for one do not want to receive the judgment as a wicked and slothful servant.\u00a0 I believe this parable and Weber\u2019s principle applies to more than money, including anything that the Lord gives us stewardship over.\u00a0 My break-thru in financial stewardship happened several years ago when I began tithing through my bank\u2019s electronic bill pay system.\u00a0 This might not work for everyone, but in my situation with secular-missionary vocations coupled with frequent international travel the \u201clock and leave\u201d theme of biweekly tithing amounts suddenly created a similar situation for me that Weber refers to as \u201cGod\u2019s select.\u201d\u00a0 The auto-tithing option takes away all available schemes the devil normally uses to discourage, disrupt, and destroy a Christian\u2019s weekly or monthly position on giving to the Lord.\u00a0 No more, I forgot my checkbook, I am out of town, I am short on cash, I will double up next week, and more well-meaning excuses.\u00a0 I think Weber\u2019s idea on profit stewardship, in many cases, is a conditional contract with God, who wants to multiply our smallest attempts at obedience and faithfulness.\u00a0 The parable of the sower fits Weber\u2019s position that if we sow good and profitable seed, and pursue the Lord through Protestant ideals, that we may obtain yields of 30 to 100 times our investment.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

When it comes to how Weber handled his critics in the early 1900\u2019s he was called an \u201cintellectual street-fighter.\u201d[10]<\/a>\u00a0 Weber\u2019s book has had nine publishers and sixteen editions to date, and Gorski comments that the some revisions, especially the Parsons version, has made translation errors that impact the original intent of Weber\u2019s work.[11]<\/a>\u00a0 For instance, Wahlverwandschaft<\/em> was translated as \u201ccorrelation\u201d instead of \u201celective affinity,\u201d which Weber meant to show as a specific type of relationship. Tawney says Weber\u2019s conclusions are \u201cilluminating\u201d but prone to more than one understanding.[12]<\/a>\u00a0 Tawney\u2019s observation could account for the different translation interpretations over the years. Marshall downgrades Weber\u2019s work for not developing the Biblical \u201cstewardship\u201d doctrine saying that God \u201cdemands\u201d self-restraint, hard work, and efficiency.[13]<\/a> I thought of Mark\u2019s philanthropy ministry and the idea that Weber endorsed a profit motive in his thesis.\u00a0 I am looking forward to reading his post on Weber\u2019s ideas.<\/p>\n

In summary, I found Weber\u2019s book very challenging, inspiring, and I was able to find spiritual truths that encouraged me, deepened my dissertation reference list, and expanded my viewpoint on the relationships between religious asceticism and material goods.\u00a0 We must always remember that wealth can lead to temptation, idleness, and sin if not managed from the Christian stewardship perspective.\u00a0 Nevertheless, \u201cAs a performance of duty in a calling it is not only morally permissible, but actually enjoined.\u201d[14]<\/a> Has the \u201clightweight cloak\u201d of materialism become a present day \u201ciron cage\u201d for Protestant capitalists?[15]<\/a><\/p>\n

Stand firm,<\/p>\n

M. Webb<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, and R.H. Tawney. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism<\/em>. (Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2003) Kindle Edition, Location 80.<\/h6>\n
[2]<\/a> Ibid., 164.<\/h6>\n
[3]<\/a> Jason Houle, Breandan Jennings, G. W. F Meyer, Pat Rafail, and Richard Simon. “Book Review: Weber, Passion and Profits: \u2018The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism\u2019 in Context.” Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 38, no. 6 (2009): 602.<\/h6>\n
[4]<\/a> Tore Lindbekk. “Book Reviews : Gordon Marshall: In Search of the Spirit of Capitalism. Aldershot, Hampshire: Gregg Revivals, 1982; Reissued 1993; Michael H. Lessnoff: The Spirit of Capitalism and the Protestant Ethic. Brookfield, Vermont: Edward Elgar, 1994; H. Lehmann & G. Roth (eds.): Weber’s Protestant Ethic. Origins, Evidence, Contexts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.” Acta Sociologica 40, no. 3 (1997): 315.<\/h6>\n
[5]<\/a> Weber, Protestant Ethic, <\/em>1929.<\/h6>\n
[6]<\/a> Ibid., 160.<\/h6>\n
[7]<\/a> Ibid.<\/h6>\n
[8]<\/a> Matt. 25:14-30.<\/h6>\n
[9]<\/a> Matt. 13:23.<\/h6>\n
[10]<\/a>Philip S. Gorski. “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.(Book Review).” Social Forces 82, no. 2 (2003): 835.<\/h6>\n
[11]<\/a> Ibid., 834.<\/h6>\n
[12]<\/a> Weber, Protestant Ethic<\/em>, 250.<\/h6>\n
[13]<\/a> Lindbekk, Review Protestant Ethic<\/em>, 316.<\/h6>\n
[14]<\/a> Weber, Protestant Ethic<\/em>, 1929.<\/h6>\n
[15]<\/a> Gorski, Protestant Ethic<\/em>, 839.<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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