Is money wrong?

The Good Of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth John R. Schneider. Grand Rapids, Michigan/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002. Bruce G. Epperly. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. 236 pages.

In his new book, The Good Of Affluence, John R. Schneider describes a reasonable Christian view on wealth that is cleverly placed between the extreme positions of the “prosperity gospel” on the one hand, and the negative analysis of capitalism on the other.

Schneider, professor of religion and theology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, believes that “affluence is a cosmic good, a creation of God for the purpose of the free human cultivation of delight.” But just because Schneider defends affluence does not mean he defends materialism. He supports the idea that the writings of the prophets largely deal with the unique evils brought about by affluence. “God really did destroy the Northern Kingdom of Israel for the economic sins of its rulers.” He points out that money, in and of itself, is not the problem. Rather, it is the moral attitudes of those with money that need to be addressed. “God identifies neither with the rich nor the poor apart from moral situations in real life.”

Schneider is not afraid to investigate the real issues surrounding wealth, such as: Can anyone be both wealthy and faithful to God at the same time? Was Jesus rich? What do the anti-money parables mentioned in the Bible really mean? He is also willing to point out the problems with capitalism, one of which is that we have bought into the quantity of life and not the quality of it.

The Good of Affluence is in continual dialogue with moral theorist Ronald Sider whose views, Schneider says, represent unchallenged thinking about wealth. Sider believes people should live as frugally as possible and abstain from “non-necessities”. Schneider combats this thinking by showing that Christians need to work out for themselves the obligations they have in a global community.

Schneider concludes with a fascinating summary of the problems in underdeveloped countries. He maintains that the means by which a poor country can advance is not through foreign aid, but rather through the development of a formal system of property law. The greatest challenge is not the lack of external help – it is the problematic political structure that prevents a nation from achieving its potential.

No doubt people will differ on what to do with their money. The $60 a couple spends going out for dinner could also be used to feed, clothe and shelter a child in Africa for two months. Like the way Oscar Schindler felt, we, too, can feel there is always more that can be done. How to resolve this kind of tension probably has as many answers as there are people in the world.

This book is a well thought through rebuttal on traditionally held beliefs about the apparent financial irresponsibility of people living under capitalism. It is an insightful, fresh look into how we as Christians can live accountably in a culture of wealth. Schneider paves a new road that will be of help to people who are interested in the critical, yet often misunderstood, relationship between God, Christians and money.

Paul Boge is a writer and an engineer. He lives in Winnipeg and attends North Kildonan MB Church.