Jesus was not a free-market Neo-liberal capitalist. Obvious, right? There were both small-hold and commodity economies in Galilee and Judea, but they didn't look at all like our familiar model, where the stock tanks after an earnings call because the increased profit was not increased as much as Wall Street analysts had predicted. All “Emperor's New Clothes” to me...
We do know that the Tanakh, the only “Bible” Jesus knew in Pre-Rabbinic Judaism, insisted on fair wages. But it also allowed for limited duration debt-slavery, so there's that. Jesus called people away from their vocations, while Paul told everyone to work. Both expected the end of the world. Not particularly useful as a HR handbook.
What we can say is that justice is a constant theme in the Tanakh and in the teaching of Jesus. Matthew 25 makes the measure of our faith how we have treated others, specifically the most vulnerable. Christians would come to value work not only as a way to avoid sin, but also as a virtue in and of itself, developing what German sociologist Max Weber called “the Protestant Work Ethic.”
We end what we culturally think of as summer with Labor Day. Far too many seem to have forgotten that the “Labor” is organized labor or unionized labor, that faithful Christians have often been on the frontlines of labor organizing. While CEO compensation has soared, and investors benefit from stock buybacks, wages for most workers have not kept up with inflation in years. Between the cost of childcare and an Epi-Pen, it is amazing anyone works at all.
This Labor Day, let us be thankful, for the inconvenient folks repaving the road and the ones who are up in the middle of the night stocking the shelves, for everyone who works hard. Then, better than a pandemic “thank you,” let us direct as much of our business as we can to union shops and small local business.
Happy Organized Labor Day, Gary
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