Moral issues can break pragmatic policy.

You may have caught on by now that while this is a ‘review’ in the sense that it does often summarize and recommend, in design this is more of a ‘response’ to the various articles. This is not, however it fits the circumstance, a result of Islander’s relative unavailability now that it’s out of print. In truth, it results from my love of arguing these topics and demonstrating the truth (I’m not working towards a law degree for nothing).

I – II – III – IV

Alex Masters’s article spends its first few pages on an intriguing perspective of ‘power,’ framing ‘money power’ and its ilk as the progression of different forms of man causing physical change. Given the basically metaphorical nature of language, the unification of mechanical power and human agency-power is fitting, as they exist in a sort of metaphor ping-pong, one deriving meaning by similitude to the other and then back again according to cultural and personal-context circumstances.

Thus far, Masters has made a worthwhile point: the man has spent much time gathering and harnessing and organizing the means of altering the world. To the Christian, this is a manifestation of man’s drive towards dominion (Gen. 1:28, 9:1-7) and too often of its perversion (Rom. 1:18-25). Masters then turns to the ‘call to action’ of his piece, encouraging the reader- particularly the English reader- to start gathering the means of physical power (in the economic, not the military, sense) via small-scale industry.

The call is wholesome, if terribly incomplete. A healthy country will have a home-grown industry run by its own people on a relatively decentralized scale (decentralized in terms of society, note, more than numbers; this is the decentrality wherein the millionaire is a member of the same culture and on genuinely friendly terms with those who work in his industry. Number-decentralization is nice but relatively unimportant, as in a free society that will fluctuate over time). The problem lies in the moral framework surrounding this healthsome admonition.

First, Masters does not couple his call with a call to faith in Christ, without which all this will come crashing down. Perhaps he is no Christian, perhaps not; I don’t know. The facts of history and Scripture, however, are clear. Britain rose to greatness when it was most thoroughly Christian; America did the same. Both entered decline within a few decades of Christianity’s retreat from the public sphere and overall decline. Deuteronomy 28 and countless other passages give us the explanation: the nation which honors the Lord is blessed, and the one which rebels (Ps. 53:1) is cursed. No matter their industry, they will fall into misery and decay, leaving the inheritance for the Godly (Prov. 13:22).

Second, Masters suggests that the entrepreneur present himself in terms congenial to the moneyed elite, partly for the purpose of cozening grants out of the government. On the one hand, this is sound policy; Christ commands His people to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). On the other, this advice urges men to accept poison into themselves.

Government money in the current system is essentially stolen money. While I can see the honor in seeking the return of what money was thieved from oneself, if the grant exceeds that amount, the recipient becomes a purveyor of stolen goods, knowingly. He becomes involved in the taint of the theft; he receives its curse, as the men of Achan’s house received the curse (Josh. 7:10-26).

Much better, much more pleasing to God, much safer (for being pleasing to the ultimate patron of all endeavor, the Lord), is the alternate course offered in the article- to pool the investment or contribution of people, freely given, in order to renew the country’s economic strength. That is a course which, carried out in honesty and integrity, poses much less risk of compromising the conscience. Thus can a house be built on stone, rather than on sand (Matt. 7:24-27); thus the foul spirit can be cast out without fear that it will return with seven others of its kind (Matt. 12:45).

God bless.