What is Sabbath Economics?

“We read the Gospel as if we had no money,” laments Jesuit theologian John Haughey, “and we spend our money as if we know nothing of the Gospel.” Indeed, the topic of economics is exceedingly difficult to talk about in most First World churches, more taboo than politics or even sex. Yet no aspect of our individual and corporate lives is more determinative of our welfare. And few subjects are more frequently addressed in our scriptures.

The standard of economic and social justice is woven into the warp and weft of the Bible. Pull this strand and the whole fabric unravels. At the heart of this witness is the call to observe “Sabbath Economics.” At its root, Sabbath observance is about gift and limits: the grace of receiving that which the creator gives, and the responsibility not to take too much, nor to mistake the gift for a possession. The economic implications of this tradition as it is articulated in the Bible can be summarized in three axioms:

Every day, each of us faces economic choices. Longer term choices include, of course, where to live, what our consumer lifestyle is, and what type of work to do. And every day we make small choices–what to buy, whether to walk or drive, what to eat, where to bank–that each reflects the values of either “Mammon” or “Manna.” *

*The term Mammon is understood “to negatively describe the pursuit of wealth” while Manna is “used to refer to God’s nourishment in the Bible.”

Sabbath Economics Covenanting

Because there are so many choices, we do many things on auto-pilot. But we can make more active choices to create the Sabbath Economy, re-visiting the consumption and financial choices we’ve made (or that have been made for us). But this can easily become overwhelming, which is why we don’t (and can’t) try to change everything at once. Instead we make one decision in each of seven strategic areas, taking one step at a time. And it’s why we don’t do it alone; the key is to support each other in our work and our choices: “de-privatizing our anxieties and communitizing our imaginations.”

Practices of Sabbath Economics are experimental and provisional as we assess their efficacy and sustainability. Some have worked to simplify their lifestyles in order to to share their surplus resources with others, and to live in greater congruence with their faith, friends and families. Some thoughtfully conserve environmental resources; some have grappled with debt and won, freeing resources and allowing them to choose work that contributes to the world. People are choosing homes in particular neighborhoods in order to live in solidarity with God’s people. Intentional practices of Sabbath rest are unfolding in many households. 

We invite you to learn more about Sabbath Economics and to meet others whose lives and work focus on bringing this vision to life. If you are involved in such work, let us know and join this informal network. We can do so much more, and have a lot more fun, when we do it together.