Economics is a System of Order
When President Trump took office in 2025, the country was reeling from high inflation rates, and many Americans are still feeling the squeeze.
As we head into the midterms this fall, politicians will ramp up the rhetoric about “affordability,” with some promising “relief” via socialist tactics. In difficult times, it sounds good for the government to freeze rent and utilities, or foot the bill for “free” child care, health care, or transportation. Yet history has shown that socialism doesn’t relieve the populace; it enslaves it.
In his popular lecture, “Politics, Easy as PIE,” former Ohio congressman Bob McEwen claims we vote on only two things in the United States: integrity and economics. If McEwen is right about casting 50 percent of my vote on the basis of economics, I find myself getting curious enough to do a little extra research on the topic. Drawing upon Thomas Purifoy Jr.'s Economics for Everybody Study Guide, here are a few things that stand out to me:
God created economics. This statement immediately sets me at ease. I know something about the Creator and His ways, so maybe I know more about economics than I thought. Even more important: God is in control of everything (including the economy).
Economics is a system of order, designed to hold us accountable to godly stewardship. In Genesis 1 and 2, God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and take care of it. Genesis 2:5 says, “Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no one to work the ground.” These passages help us understand how God has chosen to collaborate with human stewardship.
Sin created the need for government. Adam and Eve’s sin resulted in a cursed ground. This leaves humankind with two choices: Accept God’s grace and flourish His way, or hurt others to serve myself. After God rescued Israel from slavery in Exodus 12, He provided laws, leaders, and judges to protect His people and support their flourishing.
Government enforces laws for the protection of life, property, and borders. According to the Founding Fathers, our most basic human rights are given by God—for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments protect those God-given rights so that citizens can be rewarded for their labor, provide for their families, and contribute to the well-being of their communities.
Government cannot create wealth. Individuals create wealth by cultivating land, skill, or goods and providing value through voluntary exchanges of those goods and services. Those who provide greater value are more likely to receive a greater reward. Government can help support favorable conditions for prosperity, especially through the protection of life, family, and property.
Wealth should be shared, not redistributed. Whether created by natural disaster, personal sin, or corporate brokenness, people will suffer from scarcity and need help to restore what’s lost—financially, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. This is the essence of ministry. But a closer relationship between the giver and receiver means greater discernment and accountability that benefits everyone.
The redistribution of wealth can cause suffering for receivers, as well as givers. Because the government can’t create wealth, taxes fund the redistribution of wealth. When more funds are forcibly redirected for consumption rather than production, the economy becomes less prosperous for everyone. Government assistance distances givers from receivers, which can undermine the ministry and accountability that helps restore suffering people to God and redeem broken circumstances for His glory.
The free market economy is weakened when corporations rely on government funding to grow their businesses. When corporations grow because of government influence and intervention, it weakens their ties to the values that drive efficiency and consumer preference. In the free market, customers determine what goods and services they want and need. When the government steps in, it usurps that authority. This intervention can crush creative enterprise on smaller scales and cause the economy to suffer from increased waste, fewer consumer options, and decreased productivity.
The free market system reinforces the power of the people. Here are a few examples: 1) Private property, including intellectual property, is key to wealth production; 2) innovators take risks because of high reward; and 3) consumers hold businesses accountable to the best possible products and services for society.
Whoever controls wealth controls society. To the extent that government controls the wealth of the people, it controls the people.
Voting for integrity
Now, back to McEwen’s principle that Americans vote only on integrity and economics. When it comes to integrity, McEwen describes two types of immorality—doing what’s wrong and NOT doing what’s right. He also breaks down leadership into two types—those who serve the living God and those who serve themselves as gods.
Throughout scripture, we see the Lord working through extremely broken people and systems, and He does this, of course, with supreme integrity. We can rest assured that God will guide us through the messiest choices we have to make as voters.
Stay vigilant and prayerful as you prepare to vote wisely. And be on the lookout for the voter guide we’ll be sending to help you get ready.
