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Ken Ewert’s article Moral Criticisms of the Free Market (1989) analyzes the leftist views
of the “Christian Socialist” in relation to the free market. The breakdown of morality in the free
market by way of selfishness, materialism, impersonalism and individualism, community
relationships, economic power, and economic ability to please were informative and, in my
opinion, passionate regarding his stance on defending the free market.
In regard to selfishness, Ewert stated “selfishness does exist in the free market, it also
exists under other economic systems” (Ewert, 1989). He is solidifying that no matter what side
you belong to, bribery in some way, shape, or form will always exist and I do agree with him in
that stance. I also agree with him in regard to his assertion on materialism. Advertising is used
for the selling of goods, marketing a new product or even advertising a new church that is
coming to town. These advertisements can be misleading, but “we cannot lay blame for
materialism on the free market or advertising”. (Ewert, 1989). We have to be the one that
determines if the advertisement in questions is false advertising or being used for the good of
man.
Ewert’s opinion on impersonalism and individualism hits close to home, and I
wholeheartedly agree with him. I do not feel that it is necessarily encouraged in the free market,
but in my lifetime I have met many contacts through different business endeavors who are now
lifelong friends, and those friends will continue to support future endeavors from that initial
relationship. This also holds true for community relationships, which I feel is encouraged in the
free market.
Ewert does a wonderful job breaking down economic power, specifically his example
referencing “power” that the employer wields is still only the ability to offer a superior
alternative to the employee”. (Ewert, 1989). In the past few years with the economic impact of
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Covid 19 and the toll it took on many businesses, the businesses who have managed to stay
afloat are those who went the extra mile to take care of their employees during the crisis, while
the ones who chose to look after themselves have struggled. It all boils down to one thing,
power, which Ewert touches on in regard to economic ability to please. I agree with everything
he says in this section, specifically “if we are concerned about the powerful
oppressing the weak, we should focus our attention on the abuse of political
power” (Ewert, 1989). Unfortunately, this is something we will always have
to deal with and in 33 years since this article, has only proceeded to go
downhill.
Overall, I feel Ewert did a great job quashing the “Christian Socialist”
claims regarding the free market. He helped bring to light that, although we
were given the ability to dig down and find what is actually causing our
behavior and emotion, it is difficult at times. In the big scheme of things,
God’s Word states “
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. (King
James Bible, 2008, 1 Timothy 6:10).
Works Cited
Ewert, K.E. (March 1, 1989) Moral Critisims of the Free Market Retrieved February 9, 2022
from
hhttps://fee.org/articles/moral-criticisms-of-the-market/
emphasis interactive notes
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Ferdon, G. (2019).
Constitutional government
and free enterprise: A
biblical Christian worldview
approach and
emphasis interactive notes
King James Bible. (2008) Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769)
