Limited supply of altruism?

Recently I read the book What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, and while not the greatest critique of the moral limits of market values, it was a good read that I would recommend to someone who has never been exposed to this subject matter.

The bottom line in this book is that when we introduce money into the equation, then we push out other values. For instance, when we pay children for cleaning a room, then the market value of gaining money for hard work can push out the value of cleanliness. Over time the child learns that the only things worth doing are those things that give you money. 

I also saw this in my friends in college. They were angry when they had to take a class that was not in their major and they would "never use again" in their lives. The assumption is why should we be forced to take a class that will not at some point in time get me more money? The value of a democracy - having an educated population - was being pushed out for the values of a market - to gain money. 

It is a very interesting book to say the least. 

One of the interesting things that came across in the reading is the thought by some economists that just as there is a limited supply of say, oil or gold, there is a limited supply of altruism. And so since this precious commodity can run out in people, it is best to create systems so that we can be selfish and greedy so that we do not waste altruism in areas where altruism is not valued. Here is the excerpt from the book:

He concluded with a reply to those who criticize markets for relying on selfishness and greed: “We all have only so much altruism in us. Economists like me think of altruism as a valuable and rare good that needs conserving. Far better to conserve it by designing a system in which people’s wants will be satisfied by individuals being selfish, and saving that altruism for our families, our friends, and the many social problems in this world that markets cannot solve."

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This post is not intended to be a full blown critique of the idea of a limed supply of altruism, I am not that smart. What troubles me is the theological implications of this idea. That is to say, how do the parables Jesus, such as the generous landlord, come in conflict with the idea of limited altruism?

Did this Frenchman predict the decline of the Church?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau once wrote the following in his work on the Social Contract:

"As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens, and they would rather serve with their money than with their persons, the State is not far from its fall."

As a social organization, the Church is very much in the same boat of the state of Rousseau's thought. As soon as we would rather give money than sweat to a situation or problem, then we are surely headed for decline. 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau once wrote the following in his work on the Social Contract:

"As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens, and they would rather serve with their money than with their persons, the State is not far from its fall."

As a social organization, the Church is very much in the same boat of the state of Rousseau's thought. As soon as we would rather give money than sweat to a situation or problem, then we are surely headed for decline. 

Could it be that in the efforts to professionalize ministry and have "specialized" ministry areas in our churches we have actually worked ourselves into decline. Put another way, does having a children's minister, youth minister, senior adults minister, small groups minister, etc. actually decrees congregational investment and participation in those areas. 

When I was in youth ministry I heard this sort of thing a lot. Most folk have a reason as to why they are not able to assist with youth ministry as a sponsor or just a presence in the youth ministry. 

• People with no children would say, I don't have children, but this is why we hired you.
• People with young children would say, when my kids are in youth I will volunteer, but until then this is why we hired you.
• People with youth aged kids would say, my child does not want me helping lead their group, which is why we hired you.
• People with grown children would say, my kids are grown and I have had my turn, which is why we hired you.
• Retirees would say the youth don't connect with people my age which is why we hired you.

There are always exceptions, and for those people I give thanks to God for your ministry and willingness to serve, however on the whole finding youth ministry volunteers is a full time job in of itself. 

Could it be that Rousseau's thought is playing itself out in the decline of the church numbers and influence? Could it be part of the solution (hire professional and specialized staff) is actually part of our problem?

What face are we looking at?

In the beginning of the Exodus story we read of Moses on the Mountain and is afraid. Moses hides his face from viewing God (Ex 3:6). 

As the story goes on and Moses confronts Pharaoh, Pharaoh gets so angry with Moses that in Exodus 10:28-29 you have this exchange:

Then Pharaoh said to him, ‘Get away from me! Take care that you do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.’Moses said, ‘Just as you say! I will never see your face again.’

And from that day onward Moses no longer looks at the face of Pharaoh. But more interesting is that as the Exodus continues Moses comes closer to seeing God's face until at the end of the entire story of Moses you get this:

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. - Deut. 34:10

Converting to anything is really just a series of 'turnings' through one's life. Over the course of Moses' life there are a series of turnings from the face of Pharaoh to the face of God. 

The invitation to Christianity is an invitation to turn toward a different face. 

Conversion is not a one time thing. It is a process. Few are able to make the total turn. Christians are invited to turn toward God through the ways of Jesus. This is why Christians identify Jesus as the "way". We can turn all sorts of ways in our lives, but we come to understand God when we turn toward the way of Jesus.  

I have no doubt that God can be known in many other ways - I mean Moses did not proclaim Jesus as his Lord and Savior and yet the scripture says that Moses was the only person to be known by God face to face. 

This is a reason I follow the ways of Jesus. I trust (have faith) that his way is a way that will lead me to be like Moses, and be known by God face to face - here and now.