What does the Bible say about billionaires and wealth accumulation? Quite a bit, actually! In this episode, we discuss economic inequality and the rising demand for wealth taxes, and explain why hoarding wealth is a sin and what Christians should do about it.
Dr. Carter is a fan of Gary Stevenson @garyseconomics and his documentary "How to Get Filthy Rich" helped inspire this episode. During our conversation, we examined his economic arguments for a wealth tax before addressing the strongest theological and social counterarguments, including conservative interpretations of the Parable of the Talents, private property as a divine gift, and the question of whether wealth taxes even work.
From James 5 to Jubilee to the California ballot box, loving our neighbors must include supporting policies that prevent wage theft and wealth hoarding.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro/ Cold Open
4:30 - Sick Kids are WMD's
7:09 - Hoarding Wealth Is A Sin
19:46 - The Prosperity Gospel
22:50 - Gary Stevenson Documentary
32:37 - Why Do Working Class People
Defend Billionaires?
41:36 - Jubilee Exists Beyond The Bible
45:08 - Proposed Wealth Taxes in the US & UK
48:41 - Zakat (Muslim Economic Principles)
53:46 - Responses To Common Theological Arguments Against Taxes
1:10:00 - What Can Local Churches Do
1:18:14 - Closing
Show Notes:
- Data center moratorium: https://www.reuters.com/world/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium-2026-07-14/
- Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler: https://garyseconomics.org/
- This link is to Gary's YouTube page and his four-part (~1h45min) "Understand The Economy" course: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXuOBKrmFYbKytq9mkcd62sJPb6w12vpU&si=cAzbGDHpOuSF5-Go
- Gabriele Zucman, French economist whose most recent book, We Need To Tax Billionaires," was released in May: https://gabriel-zucman.eu/
- Our previous episode on the book Poverty, by America: https://youtu.be/W5o8x1OzATM
- What is a jubilee?: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/living-economies/opinion/2002/10/01/it-shall-be-a-jubilee-unto-you
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