Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Four Christian Traditions on Faith, Work, and Economics
Four Christian Traditions on Faith, Work, and Economics
Dec 29, 2025 2:06 AM

Through Christian’s Library Press, the Acton Institute has published four tradition-specific primers on faith, work, and economics, including Wesleyan, Pentecostal, Baptist, and Reformed perspectives.

In a new video filmed by the Oikonomia Network, three contributors to the series discuss their respective approaches, examining a variety monalities and distinctions along the way.

This unique blend of unity in Christ and diversity through tradition offers but a glimpse of the value and significance of these primers, particularly when absorbed and studied together.

As one who was born and raised and currently resides in the Pentecostal tradition, Dr. Self’s primer has taught me a great deal about how my own theological presuppositions translate into the realm of economic transformation. Likewise, the other titles have challenged me to reexamine that approach andintegrate a variety of contributions from other believers in differing theological streams.

As the Kern Pastors Network summarizes:

From the Pentecostal emphasis on widely distributed responsibility for discovery and creativity, to the Baptist heritage of independent, entrepreneurial church life; from the traditional Wesleyan focus on preparing people for the world of virtuous work and economic exchange, to the Reformed emphasis on careful theological integration; each tradition brings something important to the table….These primers help us truly appreciate the multifaceted nature of the work and economics conversation.

The titles and authors of the series are as follows:

Baptist primer: Flourishing Faith by Chad Brand, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; foreword by Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryPentecostal primer: Flourishing Churches & Communities by Charlie Self, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary; foreword by George Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God (USA)Wesleyan primer: How God Makes the World a Better Place by David Wright, president of Indiana Wesleyan University, et. Al; foreword by Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent of The Wesleyan ChurchReformed primer: Economic Shalom by John Bolt, Calvin Theological Seminary; foreword by David Kim, Redeemer Center for Faith and Work

[product sku=”1349″]

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Acton Line: Rev. Robert Sirico on the reality of socialism; Interview with a Venezuelan dissident
On this episode of Acton Line, Acton’s co-founder and president, Rev. Robert Sirico, sits down with Acton’s associate researcher and librarian, Dan Hugger, to discuss the realities of socialism seen specifically in Nicaragua and Venezuela. After that, a redux segment is re-released, featuring 2018 summer intern and student at Grove City College, Noah Gould, who speaks with Javier Avila about inflation, unrest and hope in Venezuela. Check out these additional resources on this week’s podcast topics: Read “The Sandinistas’ faithful...
7 Figures: National Academies report on child poverty
In a massive new599-page study, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Board on Children, Youth, and Families produced a report on the costs of child poverty in the United States and the effectiveness of current efforts aimed at reducing poverty. Here are seven figures from the report you should know: 1. In 2015, the latest year for which estimates were available, more than 9.6 million U.S. children (13.0 per cent) lived in families with annual es below a...
The moral threat of measuring the ‘pay gap’
The “ethnic pay gap” in the UK has been estimated at £3.2 billion ($4.2 billion U.S.), or nearly $200 a week. To rectify this, 15 major employers– including the Bank of England, Deloitte UK, and Citibank UK – have agreed (after nudging from the Conservative government) to publish their ethnic pay figures. But Philip Booth warns that these figures are misleading and will harm those they intend to help, in a new essay for Acton’s Religion & Liberty Transatlantic website....
Explainer: The Trump Administration’s new educational choice proposal
What just happened? Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), unveiled the Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS). The EFS is the Trump Administration’s primary plan to “expand and improve the education options available to students across the country.” The proposed legislation establishes a federal tax credit to support state-designed and controlled school scholarship programs. How can the EFS be used? The individual states will be able to...
Christian action in God’s world
This week’s Acton Commentary is adapted from a foreword to a new volume by Acton research fellow Anthony B. Bradley, Faith in Society: 13 Profiles of Christians Adding Value to the Modern World. The focus of this book is on Christians who are working out of their faith convictions in the world, not only in the context of secular institutions and environments, but especially in institutions that are animated by Christian values and identity. In this Abraham Kuyper stands as...
80% of the globe is ‘religious restricted’: UN hearing
Freedom of religion is denied in much of the world, according to the U.S. ambassador for religious freedom. And a United mittee of NGOs dedicated to religious liberty has called the UN to protect the most fundamental freedom. “Eighty percent of the world’s population lives in a religiously restricted atmosphere,” Sam Brownback told mittee. “Eighty percent of the world is religious. How can we tolerate this continuing situation?” He recounted harrowing tales of persecution that he had personally witnessed, especially...
Game of Theories: The Keynesians
Note: This is post #113 in a weekly video series on basic economics. “One point of contention among economists is the causes of business cycles and recessions,” says economist Tyler Cowen. “And if you disagree on the causes, chances are that you disagree on the solutions.” In this next section from the Marginal Revolution University video series, we’ll look at some of the major business cycle theories—Keynesian, Monetarist, Real Business Cycle, and Austrian—and what their proponents think we ought to...
Charity – the anomaly of giving
if it is true that by our very nature and economy we tend to be transactional and reciprocal, then charity really is a theological virtue. It requires God’s own gift of grace so that we may give gifts like He Who Gives. Read More… This week’s Ash Wednesday marked the first day of Lent – a period of intensive spiritual renewal in many Christian liturgical calendars. Lent is a season lasting exactly 40 days, as we imitate the time Jesus...
Tyler Cowen finds economic answers in ‘Genesis’
Tyler Cowen, professor of economics at George Mason University and all around internet impresario, has a new column up at Bloomberg on his recent rereading of the Book of Genesis, Living standards rise throughout the book, and by the end we see the marvels of Egyptiancivilization, as experienced and advised by Joseph. The Egyptians have advanced markets in grain, and the logistical and administrative capacities to store grain for up to seven years, helping them to e famine risk (for...
Unemployment as economic-spiritual indicator — February 2019 report
Series Note: Jobs are one of the most important aspects of a morally functioning economy. They help us serve the needs of our neighbors and lead to human flourishing both for the individual and munities. Conversely, not having a job can adversely affect spiritual and psychological well-being of individuals and families. Because unemployment is a spiritual problem, Christians in America need to understand and be aware of the monthly data on employment. Each month highlight thelatest numberswe need to know...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved