Is Capitalism Christian?

The Pope's argument is no different from condemning the church because it contains hypocrites.

by Rod D. Martin
November 1, 2015

Modern society constantly demeans capitalism, and this is no different within the church. Indeed, Pope Francis' continued attacks on Capitalism raise important questions all Christians should consider.

But while unbridled human activity of any sort is fraught with sin -- it is our nature -- the Pope’s critique misses the mark. Biblically, historically and practically, Capitalism is rooted in Scripture, no matter how some may pervert it, or in many cases, misrepresent or just misunderstand it.

Here are just a few of many reasons:

1. Nothing in human history has done so much to alleviate human poverty and suffering as free market capitalism. Nothing. This shouldn’t even be a controversial statement.  Before capitalism took root 250 years ago, the entire world lived in vastly greater poverty than the Pope’s slum-dwelling parishioners in (socialist) Argentina. And they had lived in exactly that level of poverty since at least Noah’s flood.  

Were there redistri…