Jesus:
Blessed are the poor, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
Capitalist:
I'm sorry, but I have to take
exception to that. In a capitalist society, if you are a loser, that means you
or your family haven't tried hard enough to play the game. The game has rules.
You have to play by the rules or socialism will happen, and we know that
socialism is the work of the devil.
Jesus:
But that doesn't fit with the way I
treated people who were poor, right?
Capitalist:
That may have been true in your
time, but that was before the United States and other industrialized countries
discovered the marvelous power of capitalism to make lives better for the poor.
You just don't understand today's world. We have come a long way since the
first century. Adam Smith and Ayn Rand, you know.
Jesus:
I think it is you who doesn't
understand the world. The way you see the world is not so different from the
world governed by the Roman Empire. And I know that world, first hand.
Let me explain it this way. Your
capitalism is founded on a fine insight: that people do better when they can
compete in a fair game. People don't want to be spoon-fed. They want to
compete. But the game has to be fair. When the game isn't fair, the players get
discouraged and walk away from the game. Your capitalism makes people compete
with one hand tied behind their back. Then you blame them for being poor
losers.
Capitalist:
But look at all the good capitalism
has done for the world! Billions of people lifted out of poverty, billions
living healthier and longer lives.
Jesus:
True, but look at the billions who
are living on the edge of deprivation. Look at the people who have to leave
their homes because it never rains any more and their crops and animals can't
survive. Do you think those people don't want to play in the game?
Capitalist:
If they are losers, they must not
want to play in the game.
Jesus:
I would say that you need to change
the rules of the game. You have to make the game fair for all the players, not
just for the ones who got there first.
Capitalist:
I hate to say it, Jesus, but you
sound like a socialist.
Jesus:
They have called me worse.
Look. How will you lose if you
change the rules so more people can compete on a fair playing field? The way I
see it, God creates every human being to live life with abundance. When more
people can do that, you should be happier.
Capitalist:
I wish I could, but the world just
doesn't work that way. You are too soft-hearted. Life is hard. I said it before
and I'll say it again, people just have to play by the rules.
Jesus:
You sound like some Pharisees I
know. They get carried away multiplying the rules so people can't get in the
game. I tell them that it is not God's will that one person gets lost.
Translated: not one of them gets kicked out of the game.
Here's the problem. The system you
call capitalism has a fine insight into how people live. But a disease has
infected the insight--call it a demon--that inspires people to take as much as
they can get even when they ruin the game for others. I'd like to do something
about that demon--I have some experience with such things. But these days I
have to depend on human beings to drive out such demons. I suggest you pay
attention to people who talk like I do. You can learn, you know. You can change
your mind. We call that repentance. It can lead you to a more abundant life
yourself.
Capitalist:
I'll think about it.
Jesus:
One more thing. This fine way you
play the capitalist game, it is heading for disaster because it is making the
world unlivable. It is chewing up resources and pouring things into the air
that are making the whole world hotter. You say that capitalism has done more
for more people than anything before it. But it is on the brink of doing more
harm to more people than anything before it. That is the way things go when
they are infected by a demon. You should think about that too.
Capitalist:
You are messing with my head. You
would mess up the whole capitalist world.
Jesus:
That's the idea. I appreciate your
honesty. Do think about it.
