God doesn’t need your good works (but your neighbor does)

In modern America, our view of vocation has become increasingly narrow and individualistic, focused only on economic action and our own preferred paths to self-actualization. As David Brooks explains in his book The Road to Character, vocation is now mostly imagined as a journey of self-discovery and wish fulfillment, a way to satisfy inner longings so we can put up with the broken world around us. Continue Reading...

The 3 things you need to make ‘socialism’ work

Occasionally, our antagonists think they have discovered the silver bullet argument in favor of “Christian socialism.” One such apology recently came into my inbox. In its entirety, it read: Acts Chapters 4 and 5 Tell of The Holy Spirits Work with The Apostles to Establish SOCIALISM for The Christian Church…What further proof is needed ??? Continue Reading...

The free market vs. the ‘Really Really Free Market’

Recently in Grand Rapids an old idea served as a catalyst for a new community event, the “Really Really Free Market.” This “market” was open to guests where they are free to give and take a range of goods provided by community members and organizations free of charge: Organizer MC Camp said the community-building event feels too good to be true to many, but represents local generosity. Continue Reading...