The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2017 by Justin Welby. Bloomsbury Continuum (London 2016). 192 pages. £9.99.
Justin Welby writes for those who see the Bible as the word of God. So I found the first 20 pages – all about the raising of Lazarus in the Fourth Gospel – rather off-putting, until I realised that he was using the story to illustrate how a change of viewpoint enabled Mary, Martha, and the Pharisees to see the unthinkable. Capitalism has made of Western societies the most powerful nations ever; we are taught – and believe – that we can do nothing without money, and that market forces, consumerism and continuous economic growth are the only way to prosperity. Welby wants his readers to challenge these assumptions, and his first question is ‘What reality do you pretend not to notice?’
He argues that the unthinkable is a fact: the system is no longer fit for purpose (if it ever was). Welby inspires confidence because he has seen the workings of monetarism from the inside. He argues simply (without being simplistic) that we have been trapped into valuing only activities which can be counted; voluntary work, however valuable to the community, doesn’t show on GDP; and since we can’t make accurate predictions, future costs, climate change, etc. are ignored too.
Welby uses the biblical term ‘Mammon’ for the power held over us by the flow of finance, and he often appears to personify it. ‘He (Mammon)’ gains power if we let ourselves be governed by ‘him’. Mammon lies and shouts, overriding our caring about other things of greater value, inspiring cruelty and power struggles in our social interactions and between nations. Mammon’s politics draw on fear, leading to extremism, popularism, and xenophobia.
One of the big lies which we are expected to believe is that wealth ‘trickles down’ from the wealthiest to the poorest. In fact, the rich are characterised mainly by holding on to their wealth. The vulnerable suffer, for the economics of Mammon are based on perceived scarcity – we are taught by the system that we need and deserve what we have, and since there isn’t enough for everyone to have what we now enjoy, we must protect what is ours. Welby contrasts this with ‘the economics of God’ – of abundance and generosity. Generosity and trust make for a more just world, safer and more prosperous for us all.
Our government’s international aid should be high on its budgetary commitments. Dethroning Mammon involves recognising taxation as a means whereby the state can ensure dignity, safety, health and education to all its citizens. Welby wants his readers to ask themselves: ‘Are we proud to pay tax, and would we pay it if no-one was watching us?’
Welby finds the complex relationship between power and money challenged by another Fourth Gospel story – Jesus washing the disciples’ feet on the night he was betrayed. Jesus’ authority is not diminished but deeply expressed by this humble symbolic action. Inequality and social instability are linked. Welby asks: ‘How might we best pray for those with political/economic power?’ Ours is a debt culture. Christian countries (ignoring a centuries-long trend) built their economic growth, and then the world markets, on interest. We forget – says Welby – how shocking that would have been to many Christians before the Reformation, and to many other faiths today (e.g. Islam).
Dethroning Mammon means a change of lifestyle, a new world view. Welby makes several references to the Community of St Anselm, which he set up at Lambeth Palace in 2015 to explore how a small group of people, chosen from across the world, might for 10 months exchange economic activity for prayer, meditation and self-examination.
There is an excellent index, which enabled me to find instantly things that had struck me on first reading; it would be a great asset in a group discussion. I hope many churches are going to use this book this Lent. Now is the time for the Church of England to do its job of challenging the political assumptions of our society. And – in spite of the domination of the New Testament stories, it would not be impossible to use the book for more inclusive groups. I may have a go at starting such a group in Loughborough.
David Paterson is a founder member of SOF Network and a serving SOF trustee.