My initial reaction was one of shock, denial and disbelief. There is no way that one’s finances equate with their moral character or ethical decisions. Only a world operating apart from absolutes would yield such a selfish perspective.

However, after some prayer, deep thought and Scriptural searching, I have begun to see how this might actually bear some truth. There are elements to our economic situation that DO hold moral value:

– The poverty-stricken who are struggling due to the loss of a job or a health issue. The Bible addresses helping the poor far more often than many of the moral standards we establish.
– How about the greed and avarice that lie behind a corrupt financial system built on false pretences and encouraging people to make bad decisions. Proverbs anyone?
– Speaking of which – how many of us are in direct conflict with Scripture simply by being in debt? (See, my hand is raised too)

Each of these is a moral issue operating as a direct result of our ‘amoral economy’. So do we as Evangelicals, as Christians face the economy as a moral issue?

From Habakkuk 3:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Picture the background of this verse: an agricultural based economy that has fallen on hard times…In agri-business, the recovery will take longer than tomorrow, next week or even next month…YET…I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

So even if the morals of money pollute our horizon, we find refuge in a God who cares about sparrows and hairs on our head, not to mention the dollar in our pocket.