Wealth and Discipleship in Affluent America

152 Pages·2016·6.16 MB·English

by  Jeffrey T. Lincicome

Digital Commons @ George Fox University
Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations
9-1-2007
Wealth and Discipleship in Affluent America
Jeffrey T. Lincicome
George Fox University, [email protected]
This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University.Find out more
about the program.
Recommended Citation
Lincicome, Jeffrey T., "Wealth and Discipleship in Affluent America" (2007).Doctor of Ministry.Paper 179.
http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/179
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GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
WEAL TH AND DISCIPLESHIP IN AFFLUENT AMERICA
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
BY
JEFFREY T. LINCICOME
NEWBERG, OREGON
SEPTEMBER 2007
Copyright © 2007 by Jeffrey T. Lincicome
All rights reserved.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright© 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
111
DISSERTATION
ACCEPTANCE CERTIFICATE
JEFFREY TYLER LINCICOME
DATE: OCTOBER 1 6, 2007
TITLE:
WEALTH AND DISCIPLESHIP IN AFFLUENT AMERICA
WE THE UNDERSIGNED CERTIFY THAT W'E HA VE READ
THIS PROJECT AND APPROVE IT AS ADEQUATE IN
SCOPE AND QUALITY TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY IN
LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION DEGREE
GFoRGEFox
F V ..\ '\J C I- I I C A I , I· '\'1 I l'-i .\ R Y
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................v u
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................... x
Chapter
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... I
Identifying the Problem ................................................................... I
Tl1e Context ................................................................................. 4
Definitions ................................................................................. 11
Proposing a Solution ..................................................................... 13
2. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES HA VE TO SAY ABOUT WEAL TH
AND CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP ................................................... 18
The Old Testament Scriptures .......................................................... 18
The Creation and Fall.. ............................................................. 18
The Call of Abram .................................................................... 20
The Law ................................................................................. 21
The Canaan Settlement and the Prophets ......................................... 23
Old Testament Themes Concerning Wealth ......................................2 4
The New Testament Scriptures ........................................................... 26
The Gospels on Wealth ............................................................. 26
The Sermon on the Mount ..................................................... 28
Jesus' Parables ................................................................... 29
Jesus' Interactions with the Wealthy ..........................................3 3
A Summary of the Gospels on Wealth ........................................ 37
The Early Church in Acts ............................................................. 38
IV
The Apostle Paul on Wealth ......................................................... 39
Other New-Testament Passages Concerning Wealth ........................... .43
Conclusions ...............................................................................4 5
3. CHRISTIAN HISTORY AND THOUGHT ......................................... .47
Greek and Roman Thought on Wealth ............................................... .47
The Challenges and Witness of the Post-Apostolic Church ........................ 51
Church Leaders Before Constantine ................................................... 55
The Shepherd of Hennas ........................................................... 55
Clement of Alexandria ..............................................................5 8
Church Leaders After Constantine ..................................................... 60
John Cl1rysostom ..................................................................... 60
Augustine of Hippo .................................................................. 63
Monasticism ............................................................................... 65
The Protestant Reformation ............................................................ 69
Martin Luther ........................................................................ 69
John Calvin ........................................................................... 72
Conclusions ................................................................................ 76
4. THE SOCIOLOGY OF WEALT H .................................................... 78
Wealthy America ........................................................................ 78
Other Factors Pertaining to the Challenge of Wealth ............................... 84
The American Economic System .................................................. 84
Greed and Materialism .............................................................. 86
The Pressures of Work .............................................................. 87
v
The Individual Over Community .................................................. 89
Branding .............................................................................. 90
Technological Advancements ......................................................9 1
The Particular Challenge of the Suburbs ............................................. 92
Reinhold Niebuhr's Moral Nian and Immoral Society ......................... 93
The Dangerous Traits of Suburban Culture ......................................9 4
The Downfall of the Church ............................................................9 6
Conclusions ................................................................................9 9
5. CURRENTTRENDS ................................................................... 101
The Christian Commerce Position ................................................... 102
Modem-Day Catholic Teaching on the Christian Commerce Position ..... 108
Critique of the Christian Commerce Position .................................. 109
The Christian Prosperity Position ................................................... 112
Critique of the Christian Prosperity Position .................................. 117
The Ch r1.s t1. an E q11a 11· ty P os1.t 1. on ..................................................... . 120
Critique of the Christian Equality Position .................................... 125
6. CONCLUSION .......................................................................... 128
WORKS CITED ................................................................................ 134
VJ
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the past three years, the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual
Formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary has been a classroom for me, as well
as a training ground for my cun·ent ministry. I entered this program because of an
awareness that I needed to keep growing spiritually and professionally. I am leaving
the program with a deep appreciation for my family, the faculty and staff at George
Fox, the Quaker tradition, and my fellow classmates. Together, they have had an
impact on my life of faith and my calling as a pastor.
The person I owe the deepest thanksgiving to is my wife, Kristi. For six of our
twelve years of marriage, I have attended theological graduate school. Many spouses
would have put their foot down long ago to these academic pursuits. Kristi, however.
has been nothing but encouraging and supportive. While I was away in Portland at
school for two weeks at a time, having renaissance experiences with colleagues and
professors, she was at home changing diapers and managing our day-to-day world. In
the end, my name may be on the diploma, but she is the one who deserves it. For
understanding my need to learn and explore faith, thank you. I will never forget it.
This paper is dedicated to you.
To my three beautiful daughters, Lucy, Clara and Dayle, who always thought
it was silly that Daddy was still in school-guess what? I'm finished! You three have
been so supportive in this process as well, allowing me to tuck you in on the phone
rather than in person on my weeks away at class. Thanks to all three of you for your
love and care of me as your Dad. You are beautiful children of the covenant God has
blessed me with.
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To my extended family, who picked me up at the airport in Seattle, loaned me
your extra cars, asked how it was going, assisted with tuition, and encouraged my
family while I was away at school, thank you.
To my colleagues in ministry at George Fox, Cohort F-You made this
program what it was for me. My prayer is that the memories we shared have deep
impact on each of us as Christ calls us into the future. Thanks for inspiring me with
your lives of faith and ministry.
To the professors and staff at George Fox, thank you for your passion for
Christ, ministry, and teaching. You were an inspiration. A special word of thanks to
my wonderful advisor, Dr. Laura Simmons. Without Laura, I honestly don't think this
project would ever have been completed. You have been an insightful advisor, an
amazing editor, and a keen motivator. I hope our paths cross again.
To Crossroads Presbyterian Church, words can't express how grateful I am to
get to be one of your pastors. It was my sabbatical leave of 2007 that allowed me to
complete much of the writing of this project, and it was eight years of ministry among
you that gave me the impetus and motivation for this work. I pray that as we grow in
our Christian discipleship together, we might make our way through the challenges
and opportunities of our affluence, and that we might be found faithful. With Paul, I
pray, "And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with
knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of
Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1: 9-11 ).
VllJ
"Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish
abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:21 ).
Jeff Lincicome
September 5, 2007
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