Plundering Egypt

Christian engagement with economics tends to baptize preexisting sociopolitical perspectives, thereby assuming a predetermined metaphysical narrative. What happens when the story of the development of economics, told from an anthropological and sociological perspective, is juxtaposed with a biblical theology that focuses primarily on relationships? Wagenfuhr tests a theological method grounded in three kinds of relationships--Creator-creature, estrangement, and Reconciler-reconciled--by comparing these with a fourth relationship: the economic. He argues that economic relationships, and the worlds they create throughout history, are the fruit of relationships estranged from God. Much theology has committed itself to a metaphysic rooted in the reality of economics and has told a metaphysical story that tends to legitimize current sociopolitical realities. Wagenfuhr argues that reconciliation with God is entirely subversive to economic relationships. No economic relationship or system is established or justified by God, but neither does he reject them. Instead, the love of God in Christ speaks the economic language of a people, with a critical edge, leading to loving subversion of any and all economic relationships. This book argues for a robust theology that offers the post-Christendom church a renewed sense of the total scale of God's mission of reconciliation. ""One part the intellectual-historical narration of MacIntyre, one part the ideological criticism of Zizek, and another part the theological exegesis of Bonhoeffer, Gregory Wagenfuhr's study offers a compelling account of the ways in which the logic of monetary economics has dominated and continues to shape human relationships. The tonic he proposes is a rediscovery of the radically subversive form of Christian existence prescribed in the New Testament--one in which reconciliation, rather than exchange, sets us free. For anyone despairing the domesticated gospel of Christendom, this book will be a cup of cold water in the desert. An exciting read!"" --Justin Stratis, Tutor in Christian Doctrine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Trinity College Bristol ""In a world where the economy pervades every cultural domain, money dominates our imagination, and consumption defines our identity, we need increasing clarity about all things economic. Gregory gifts us with a prophetic perspective that will helps us discern the spiritual dangers inherent in the system."" --Alan Hirsch, author and activist (www.alanhirsch.org) ""Creative and challenging, perceptive and provocative, Wagenfuhr's work addresses much more than Christianity and economics. It offers an important contribution to thinking biblically and theologically and living subversively and relationally in a post-monetary, post-Christendom world as Christians faithful to the gospel of reconciliation."" --Andrew Goddard, Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics; Assistant Minister, St. James the Less, Pimlico Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anglican Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary G. P. Wagenfuhr (PhD, University of Bristol, UK) is a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (ECO). He has spoken internationally on Jacques Ellul and an engagement between sociology and theology.