The Good of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth [Hardcover]

John R. Schneider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

wealth incompatible with true Christianity? In The Good of Affluence John R. Schneider reopens the debate over the proper Christian attitude toward money, arguing, ultimately, that Scripture does indeed provide support for the responsible possession of wealth. This is a provocative book of Christian theology, written to help people seeking God in a culture that has grown from modern capitalism. By comparing classic Christian teaching on wealth with the realities of our modern economic world, Schneider challenges the common presumption that material affluence is inherently bad. Careful interpretation of Scripture narratives - creation, exodus, exile, and more - also shows that abundance is the condition that God envisions for all human beings and that faithful persons of wealth are part of this plan. Schneider believes that the "wealth-as-blessing" themes of the Old Testament are not to be spiritualized and do not run contrary to New Testament teachings but provide exactly the frame of reference for the incarnate identity, life, and teaching of Jesus, who came to make real the messianic feast, both in this age and in the age to come. Through insightful engagement with the biblical text Schneider overturns some of the most cherished and unquestioned assumptions of influential Christian writers (particularly Ronald Sider) on modern capitalist affluence. Yet Schneider's message is also finely balanced with the need for responsible Christian living. He offers rich Christians biblical affirmation but also challenges them to a life shaped by an uncommon sense of stewardship and compassion. Incisive, thought provoking, and biblically grounded, The Good of Affluence is a superb resource for anyone - students, professors, businesspeople, general readers, discussion groups - wishing to grapple seriously with the subject of faith and wealth.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This substantially revised edition of Schneider's earlier book Godly Materialism: Rethinking Money and Possessions is more scholarly and theological than the earlier title, but it retains the same thesis: there is a biblical precedent for the responsible ownership of wealth. He cautions, however, that "human history has never before known circumstances in which entire societies were affluent" and not just individuals, so such biblical support needs to be tempered with careful reflection about how Christians can seek God in a full-blown capitalist society. Schneider is unabashed in his admiration for capitalism, which he regards as uniquely suited to ensure that all of God's people enjoy prosperity. However, even readers who disagree with him on this point can learn much from his overall position, which lies between the "prosperity theologians," who believe that God blesses the faithful with material wealth, and the "radical Christians" (e.g., Tony Campolo and Ron Sider), who view individual wealth as almost entirely negative.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802847994
• ISBN-13: 978-0802847997
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gracious call to generous delight, September 22, 2006

By 

A Teacher (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Good of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth (Hardcover)

When I was growing up, many well-meaning people talked to me about my obligation to care about global poverty, but their message was so extreme it was unlivable. The message was simple: as long as there is one child dying of hunger in the world, you have no right to enjoy the wealth and privilege you've been given as a citizen of this country. You should feel guilty for everything you have and live on as little as possible. As a college teacher, I see many of my students receive this same message, and many of them respond as I did: because the burden of guilt is too heavy to be borne, they give up on caring for the poor at all. John Schneider's book is a much-needed antidote to this guilt-ridden message. Schneider begins with a careful reading of Scripture and demonstrates how we should care for the poor while at the same time enjoying the goodness of God's abundant creation. This book is not a glorification of self-indulgence, but a call for a biblically-grounded attitude of generous delight in the gifts of God. I have used this book as a classroom text, and it was very well received.
Full disclosure: I'm acquainted with John Schneider, since we teach at the same college. However, I have many other colleagues whose books are for sale on Amazon, and this is the only such book I've ever bothered to review. I personally found the book to be a helpful word of grace.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are the wealthy barred from heaven?, February 16, 2003

By 

GRB "christian_hedonist" (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Good of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth (Hardcover)

Author John Schneider answers the question with a resounding, NO! This book provides Christians with a Godly vision to live with integrity and humility in our capitalist society. Schneider eloquently describes how well off Christians can live in faith while enjoying life to the fullest. Schneider posits that God created man to delight in God's glory, including material delight. Schneider helps us properly achieve and enjoy affluence as God intended, in a God-centered, not self-centered, way.

Our delight includes compassion for our neighbors, especially the poor and powerless. This is an essential part of God's vision for us. But God does not require Christians to sell all of their possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Schneider rejects as unbiblical critics of wealth who would impose the doctrines of asceticism or utilitarianism on Christians. However, God does call on us to use our affluence in a creative and redemptive manner to help the poor and powerless. Schneider persuasively argues that this directive is limited by the principle of moral proximity, which he describes at length.

Abundance is a condition that God intends for all of us. This book deftly helps Christians remain faithful to God while enjoying the fruit God provides in this capitalist culture. I highly recommend this book.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars To whom much is given..., February 15, 2009

By 

Ted A. Boers (White Lake, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Good of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth (Paperback)

When I first saw the title, The Good of Affluence, I was excited. I remember thinking how appropriate the title was, since most North Americans are affluent by world standards. I assumed that this Christian author's primary focus would be the scriptural mandate that those who are affluent must be "generous and willing to share" and a reminder that "to whom much is given, much will be expected".

I was surprised when I learned that a book, written by a Calvin College professor, suggests that the good of affluence is that the owner of this affluence can "delight" in his affluency.

In The Good of Affluence John R. Schneider sets out to build the case that God wants to lavish his riches on his children and wants his children to "delight" in all the good things they receive from him. So far so good but when he suggests that "it is the condition of affluence alone that makes full delight possible" (Pg. 61) I disagree.

As I read and reread The Good of Affluence, I kept looking for Schneider's insights on Biblical passages that indicate that the affluent need to help those who are not.

I never found it.

Instead Schneider specifically suggests that affluence does not necessarily put a moral burden of significant responsibility on the affluent.

Furthermore he introduces us to an argument that pretty much relieves us of sharing with anyone we do not know. He builds this argument on a concept he calls Moral Proximity. His argument is that even in today's global society we have no responsibility to anyone who is not morally proximate to us unless we feel some special kind of call.

Schneider argues that if we were responsible for or had an obligation to all poor people "the vision and blessing of material delight would be impossible to accept". (Pg. 89)

He further argues that moral proximity makes sense because without it we would have to help everybody worldwide and wouldn't have any wealth left in which to delight. Here he uses a gross negative exaggeration to support his conclusion. Scripture does not say that all Christians must give away all their wealth. It does say that all Christians must be generous and willing to share. It also says: If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

The concept of moral proximity is a powerful but incorrect argument that gives Christians in North America a convenient excuse for their abysmal giving record. The pathetic giving record of most Christians is evidence that they do not need additional rational for not giving.

Schneider attempts to bolster his position by claiming that Christians already give "1 or 2% of their income to people in remote parts of the world". (Pg. 98) This can hardly be true in light of the evangelical giving average of 2.9%, most of which the local church spends on itself.

Schneider's book does a great disservice to the cause of Christian charity. Based on his arguments there is no compelling need for us to support our global Christian family or the poor and disenfranchised in developing countries unless we happen to feel a particular call to do so.

God wants to bless us with every good thing but he then expects us to share with the poor, wherever they are, so that they too will have every good thing.