After the rise of the neo-liberalism, there were discussions about the invisible hand written by Adam Smith. The context in which Smith’s invisible hand came into play was from the merchants who had the backing of national powers. Merchants followed the logic of mercantilism - to protect their own business, they intervened and mobilized to be a part of this public [national] power. As a result of their actions they created an unfair competition for those who have influence and others who do not. To fight against this logic, Adam Smith insisted for a fair competition where businesses can thrive without the government getting its hand in. To assert a fair & free competition, Adam Smith wrote about the invisible hand.
However, ignoring all of these connotations the argument for Smith’s invisible hand has become used for those in with political & financial power - ironically preventing a fair & free competition. As Jesus’ teachings are used to by large Churches to manipulate others, Adam Smith’s vision, goals, and his words are being presented against his true will. Neoliberalism set Smith’s invisible hand in the forefront to create a new Capitalist society where mass-capital creates an unfair competition. Resulting in a practical collapse of the middle class. 
One thing we have to be clear though is that Smith was never a supporter of the middle class. Taking the nail factory case as an example, Smith believed organized labor could produce capital. Brand new technology is also produced through this sort of group labor. Fordism and the conveyor belt system, Toyota’s “just-in-time-manufacturing”, development of semiconductors, the internet revolution all resulted from trained workers by an organized system.
As such, no matter how well trained an individual worker is, by himself he cannot create a revolution or an increase in production. This all relies on how well organized a group of workers are in a labor force.
Regrettably, the average Joes’ lack the financial funds & the mental assets to withstand the early risks involved in creating an organized labor force to produce capital. As such, the system ended up relying on those with the capital to funds to train and produce organized workers to create goods. Those with the work skills, technology, and innovative ideas become a cog within these organisations machine that were backed & created by those who owned a massive capital. Adam Smith’s dream in revolution of production happened, yet his goal of a free & fair competition was shattered.
We commonly call a group of organized workers coming together to produce goods a corporation. Capitalists can fund these corporations for the duration until they can create positive returns, covering their losses with their massive funds. These capital owners take the immediate responsibility of all the insecure factors of the corporation, yet as soon as it becomes a swan that lays golden eggs - the returns are also their own. This results in where the average worker provides their talents & efforts for the corporation but receive only the minimum amount of gains. In contrast, those businesses that only require a small amount of capital to start up (small businesses) end up failing in most cases. Most of us choose to become a part of this massive machine due to these circumstances - a salary man like others call it.
Communists - and socialists in general - are enraged by the uneven distribution of wealth from such a corporation system. To go even further, they seed hatred & disdain against such capitalists that create the system. And as a result, socialists expect the workers in the bottom of the pyramid to become committed to their personal gains - just like the capitalists in which they are trying to fight - to come together and create organizations such as labor unions.
Yet these labor unions at best are only a sub-organization within another corporation that was created by the capitalist that the workers are ‘protecting’ themselves from. Only ever becoming a derivative of the entity they are working for, the unions only can do so much within their power.
But in a turn of other events, those who believe themselves to be socialists in perspective think to oneself being the righteous one to lead the people to salvation. With their heads held high, these people are too busy criticizing others while not providing the correct solution to the people that need it. Or sometimes conflicts are started through controversial accusations, letters, demonstrations that result into nothing but wasted time in life.
It was correct for these activists & revolutionists to be enraged by such injustice of the capitalist system, yet their activities easily led them to depressing ends with self inflicted damages. Yet I still find that these people who have the sense of justice to be much more humane than those immune to it in their everyday lives. And it is also true that thanks to the works of these activists with their sense of historic responsibility that mankind has gone on a less destructive path.
500 years ago when the Hutterites first surfaced they threatened the core power system of Europe. Unlike the serfs who had to rely on the landlords who owned the farmlands or the employee that relies in the capitalists’ capital in the modern age these people were entirely self-sufficient without any such reliance. Hutterites were able to organize their labors through a community. And with it they were able to avoid the fate of submission to landlords & capitalists. Free from the slavery and violence, it was completely independent from any world systems.
Furthermore, the Hutterites were able to produce a massive amount of wealth without the help of the world system. No knights or landlords or the funding of a big capitalist - these people just with their own laboring hands created wealth. The wealth created here is the exact model Adam Smith mentioned. Following the example of the early Church, the Hutterites & the Anabaptists were able to expand around Europe. Even so much that some historians argue there were more Anabaptists than any other Christians. Maybe if it were not for the harsh persecutions, the world would have been different now. (Their extreme pacifist ways were also evident in the method they spread their communal values. Without the reliance of the State’s army or the sword the sole source of their power to spread the message was from themselves. This was a different sort of communism in comparison to the violent revolutions seen afterwards in history.)
In turn though… The Hutterites became the common enemy of the landlord's, state, and the Presbyterian Church. The Hutterites may have failed to realize however they were in lead of living style that would break free the pyramid structure everyone lives in even now. A new form of economy, lifestyle, and faith. A Kingdom of God that would conflict with everything the ruling class were used.
During the rise of Anabaptism, both the Catholic & Presbyterian church believed that Europe would fall into complete chaos with the spread of this anarchist system. This was due to the clear vision that communities would become independent of any social structure - capital, religious, or the state.
Therefore the European powers ordered any and all those who identified themselves as Anabaptist or Hutterites to be destroyed. Completely. As a result, the 12 different Anabaptist groups that were there have mostly been systematically wiped out. (There are currently 3 clear different Anabaptist groups). These people in power even tried to erase the memory of such a movement. Yet now the season of history have changed and the number of group shave gone from 3, to 7, to more than 12.
At the time, those in Europe started a violent persecution in the name of God. However the reason for the persecution was religious in nature as well. The sentence given out to these men & women who were martyred was “rebellion against Jesus” - just like how the early Church was prosecuted. Yes it was religious in nature but heavily inspired for political reasons as well. But maybe - somehow - the religious reason may have been bigger.
The Kingdom of God is not a derivative of the world but opposed of it. The Kingdom of God is different and will always stand against the world.
The labor theory of value was right. However for the laborer to take the wealth created by their work will require them to not rely on massive capital for their job. Rather, these workers should be able to create and organize their own work through solidarity & cooperation with others. The capitalist will never freely give up their profits because they believe they have taken the original risk. The capitalists rationalize such uneven distribution of gains because of the initial risks they take - allowing themselves to indulge in bigger profits when possible.
The modern age has been driven by this sort of conflict. In 2012 the co operative movement was the seed of such a movement. Maybe it is time we finish the work started by the ones 500 years ago?
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg1015
The basis of the Medieval free cities and guilds were independent jurisdiction and mutual support between people. [755p214Tb]
An independent jurisdiction means independence from the law. In other words, it refers to a system in which people will self govern and the create their own laws. An alternative to a nation's police system - it is also an alternative or replacement of a whole country.
Mutual support or interdependent relations will enable joint ventures, as a result it will solve numerous economic issues. Mutual support is also an alternative (or replacement) of a country. Mutual support will also save and free people from economic bankruptcy and enslavement that comes after that. In other words, through mutual support people will be free from being corporate slaves.
Thus the medieval free cities and guilds had all the functionality that the national police and officials traditionally had. Not just a self management system, but a replacement for a nation. The free cities and guilds were no longer dependent on a nation's political structure, only then did freedom truly come.
But even before the medieval guilds and free cities, the early Churches and the Anabaptist had taught not to go to court or the nation for disputes. Instead they had taught to come to the church for disputes and confrontations. In other words, it was the representation of independent justice. The churches were the first to follow the core execution of the Kingdom of God, they were the pioneers and realized the independent justice system.
Before Constantine and the merging of the Roman state with the church, the Churches were the best at these principles. But after the unification the Roman state become the kingdom for the Roman Catholic churches. So in the present day there are only few people like the Anabaptists that practice this principle.
Independent governing and mutual support is the foundation of The Kingdom of God. But the difference between the early Church and the guilds were that in order to create their independent justice, they did not resort to violence and power. They had done it in a peaceful manner.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg655
Isolated meditation is similar to self harm. [Matthew 17:4] A true man of God cannot take the road alone even if it is enjoyable. These men of God will seek Jesus, follow the incarnation of the spirit, and soon select the communal life. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is true joy and in that joy there is love. Moreover love only exist in relationships.
Our love towards God cannot be sent in an isolated or separated action. God’s calling of relationship is to accompany. It is not a road for one, accompanying God is a calling for the ones who follow Jesus. Within our relationships we grow in love and bring joy to each other - it’s just human nature.
It is important to stop the act of committing to our own selfish desires. Instead, like Jesus who loved his disciples, love one another. [John 15:12] Learning to enjoy respecting & committing to those around you is the road in following Jesus. [John 15:11]
In other words, it’s really simple like this. Feeling delighted after watching one’s spouse get elated through caring words or sharing the joy on a brother’s success. Such is the proper reaction for any true Christian. Falling into ecstasy and enjoyment by one alone is an unhealthy delight. The happiness that Jesus is willing to give is the denial accompanied by love.
After all the road to take is to become the very existence of the love. It doesn't matter who is it is one becoming a person who repays love and grace is great deed. There must be no calculation for loving. Our Father repays love with grace, which is greatful. And when one realizes the gratitude, he will learn how to love his enemy. [Matthew 5:45]
God is love. [1 John 4:8] Our Father loves his children disregarding if they are the good or the wicked, he sends them rain and shine. [Matthew 5:45]
True joy comes from the love within. [1 John 1:4, John 15:11]
Alcohol can give an instant burst of pleasure, however it can become an intoxicating drug. Nothing is good when someone is addicted, it is a selfish joy and a pursuit of happiness for a single entity. However, if a man can fight delight & enjoyment from just those around him - then that is the good love we strive to achieve.
Practicing spiritual training for the purposes of only gaining salvation and happiness for oneself is an unhealthy act. [James 1:27] One can stop the love for themselves. Sincere devotion and joy comes when one takes care of the suffering, such as orphans and widows.
To be in Heaven joyfully, one must have loving service.
In the community of Heaven, the greatest joy is to do the labor for their loved ones.
Firstly earn the happiness and life from the relationship with God. Love one’s brothers and sisters, and with them enjoy the labor and services for that is the Kingdom of Heaven. [Romans 12:1]
Feeling delight through the success of others, inspired by a neighbor's joy is where true happiness comes from. This is the road that Jesus Christ has given us, and for those who follow this truth will be gathered in Heaven.
Heaven is a place where happiness exists for the sake of each other, and people become servants of one another. In the meantime, Hell can be happiness exists for the sake of oneself.
If the ones who internalize the heavenly life congregates together, a communal life will be formed within. The community’s lifestyle will be left in the land as a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The chronicle of those who no longer practice selfish enjoyments is a community. He who that does not live for himself but supports each other's lives. And that alliance is the Kingdom of Heaven, the flesh and churches of Christ.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg1013
In a free city state there will be none who will suffer like today. Whoever it may be, the rich or poor all of their need will be given equally by the city. Every foods and needs will be bought from the city.
For the city purchases the food, monopolized deals from companies won't happen so easily. All deals and trades will be related to the city.
The items they have bought will be supplied to people in the original price. They do not sell it like the market logic.
However the city leaves the stock in the hand of a considerate man. This keeps the law of humanism. Then the generation of capitalism will be less important than the individual right.
Yet now capitalists do not care about the people inside the city that are dying and suffering but focus solely on the creation of more wealth. This is now fully possible with a selfish desire to aim for more is larger than the love for the individual neighbor.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg657
The reason why people would feel pain during work is due to the lack of meekness in their heart. Because the rough and sharpness of their heart is cutting itself.
All people who have the sin of Adam within them would feel greed when they come to face the Tree of Knowledge. Then the heart would grow rough and dry up. As a result, their spiritual breaths will become disjointed and out of sync. They would even pressure and harm their own heart, to pluck the fruit from tree of knowledge.
Meekness is many things. It is a relaxed nature. A form of transcendence. The wisdom of the knowing freedom. Being loving and compassionate. It is the overflowing of grace. It is the feeling of satisfaction and contentment. Meekness is the feeling of gratefulness of the present now and here.
Meekness is the outward result, of full inner peace. A transcended heart with no fear of temptations and provocation. A full inner peace with no room for shaking. Gentleness is a heart full rest and relaxation.
Meekness always comes with humbleness.
Gentleness is the happiness of a mature soul.
Drive with a tender heart, research with a meek heart, and work with a gentle heart. For a meek heart is like a fertile soil. It is neither too hard nor to soft. It has the just amount of moisture in it for great growth. That is a meek heart. A heart with great room and nutrients for growth.
Before doing anything, first obtain a meek heart. Then without rest keep praying and growing your given talents without wasting them. This will solve the dilemmas and pains in work
Be happy. If you are not happy, then everything and everyone around you would fail to be happy. If you cannot be happy with just being here and now, then no one would be able to give you happiness. Meekness is one of the ways to find true happiness. Not with the external world, ownership or achievement, but with modesty.
Those who are meek are with blessed hearts. These people will receive the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven .
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg798
When meeting our Hutterite friends they told us “Unlike you, who live in the world where money rules, we acknowledge the truth with honesty.”
This refers that even if the truth is written in the Bible it is natural for us to reject the truth because of our ego and pride. Or at certain moments, twist it to fit our current needs.
The Hutterites also use the term “High Mind” as the Amish. The saying from both groups refer to the state of our hearts - a prideful state.
Pilate asked Jesus “What is the truth?”, however, Jesus did not answer the question. Many of us don’t really know what Pilate had done wrong. Just like Pilate we have a high mind and we try to judge the truth with our own ego.
This is an era of human’s ego that dominates the generation. It is also a generation of so-called Christians that do not have any sort of resistance of worshiping their own desires. [Philippians 3:19, Romans 16:18] How will we acknowledge the truth with honesty?
Not all of us will find freedom through truth and honesty. Rather a man who preaches about the truth can be making an even bigger sin, for they do not know the absolute truth. Only a few amongst us can only recognize the truth. Many amongst us believe it fits in this category.
Without a foul heart one must find the way to honestly accept the truth.
Both Pilate and the centurion share a similarity, they're like the Gentiles. Each figure shows a good and a bad model of Gentiles.
Pilate who followed the tradition of Greek philosophy was a rational man. With a human heart and mind, he tried to cut out the truth of God. Ego’s throne is righteousness. For them, the truth is only an arrogant ego that satisfies their embellishment.
The centurions showed obedience to the truth. Not the righteous truth but the truth of absolute authority.
Jesus said those who don't have foul hearts are the true Israelite. [John 1:47] Jesus did not keep a Pharisee or a Nicodemus as his disciple, they had a high mind and a complex heart. Rather he wanted people that could intuitively recognize him as the Messiah. Pure hearts that didn't lose their ability to be genuine were the ones Jesus embraced as his disciples.
The ability to see the truth and that truth is the human ego, however, it does not seem to be in logic. Understanding is a given gift from the Holy Spirit, and where intuitive inspiration comes from. [1 Corinthians 2:4] The disciples of Jesus must intuitively understand, have obedience and an innocent heart of a child.
With the purity of the low ranked soldier and the simple centurions, these men could recognize the Messiah with their transparent eyes. The correct attitude towards the truth is the best way to show faith to God - simply shutting up & obeying.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg507
Due to religious ambition, the ministries for the Kingdom of Heaven have been persecuted.
A religion normally starts with great conviction or through a prophetic vision. Yet the ones who gathered by the vision will be separated by the vision. Once the ministry has failed they will break apart due to its failure, however once the ministry succeeds a new vision will appear and a division amongst the group will happen. The group scatters, for their visions differ from one another, and that leads to an argument and argument leads to separation.
Crowds gathered through an ideological visions will have difficulties creating good relationships with each other. They would look at people if they are useful to themselves and if efficiency lack, the relationship will grow apart. If one’s image that he imagined does not match with his opponent, they will reject each other and the team will breakdown.
If the Kingdom of Heaven is seen in an ideological vision, it can easily turn into selfish ambition
The ideological vision that turned into selfish ambitions will be a deity, and the one who has fallen will think that everyone around him must sacrifice for his selfish ambition. The people who’re absorbed by religious political acts and consumed by ministerial and ideological visions don't see neighbors as people who they can love but is more likely to see them as objects to use to get them to their destination.
People who set their ideology as their priority than anything can be a dangerous person. These kind of people could make a disruptive presence. Don't try to to teach those people with arrogance, just find someone who you can build a relationship. With them understand each other, grow a healthy relationship and learn from one another.
Once an egoistic ambition of ministerial vision is built as a deity the person cannot grow a healthy relationship with others. For the deity there will be a priest and in that environment a group of victims will exist. This is what happens if the arrogant and ignorant religion has alternatively made the Kingdom of Heaven.
Some people may see the communal life in a ministerial or ideological way, but in the other way there are people who see it as the Kingdom of Heaven.
The group that understood communal life in an ideological way, are the ones that shield themselves. They think they have to compete with other communities and even want them to disappear for they want their group to take over. For them, everything is their ego’s game.
There are people who see communities as the Kingdom of Heaven and those who truly love the people. They will be called into the Kingdom of Heaven those who have entered will not be burden but will be a family. Other communities are the Kingdom of Heaven and the children of God, for we must serve them as brothers. This is a joyful fellowship.
Ego does not exist in hearts that live in the Kingdom of Heaven, but in their heart there is Jesus Christ.
When we became neighbors with the Hutterites after our move to Manitoba, they were definitely different from the mainstream Christians.
Someday when my family and I went out to the city for an outing, our lawn was oddly clean. But the culprit wasn't so hard to find, it was one day when my family and I were coming home from an outing we saw our close Hutterite friend mowing our lawn.
On another occasion many of our Hutterite friends were invited to our house, and we experienced unexpected things that day. My wife was extremely busy trying prepare things for the visitors, one of the family arrived early to our house and the mother of the family asked if she could help my wife. It was definitely an odd situation for us to experience.
The lady was helping out and started to clean, but it was different. From what I saw in American homes all they did was vacuum and the cleaning was done. However the Hutterite lady went down on her knees to clean the floor with a wet cloth. It was a new feeling to our Asian family for it was a Caucasian woman cleaning our kitchen and washroom.
At that moment I had question pop up in my head. How do they joyfully mow the lawn, and clean the house when it’s not their own? The answer was retrieved when we were helping out our Hutterite friends.
During the harvest season the Hutterites are extremely busy. They mass produce chicken, pigs, goose, cow, and many other vegetables within their garden. For Koreans like us, it was beyond what we could imagine.
Although we were a small in number, we thought our family could help them out. From potato harvesting to chicken butchering whenever they needed more hands my family and I went out to help them, and they would gladly welcome us.
Even though my body was exhausted, my spirit was joyful. I couldn't find anyone lazing or complain about the amount of work they have to do or how tiring it is. When the group of kids bring the cleaned chicken another group that we in would pack it, and when one of the ladies sing a German song others will put harmony and sing along.
A lady we were working with said a very surprising confession to me. “We work for you, and you work for us. We support each other and how pleasant and happy is this!?”
After the packing was done, to understand this I wanted to talk more deeply into this saying. Therefore the way of showing love was through labor. The Hutterites said it is a great way to express love through oneself’s help of labor.
For them love is not an enjoyment, or an abstract lesson, but an expression of love through labor.
That was when I knew the truth of Heaven. The Heaven I expected was not a place with me in a nice lake, on the grass and under the pasture lazing around. For the ones I love I would express my towards labor, we would support each other and that will be Heaven. A life of supporting and sacrificing is a place called Heaven.
The mystery of the lawn was solved, and the our Hutterite brother had been in the Kingdom of Heaven. He had kept the law of the Kingdom of Heaven and wanted to express his love to us. One day he visited our house when nobody was home and noticed that the lawn was undone. With a good heart he mowed it with love and went back to his home. A lawn mowed for us with love.
Through labor, people will express themselves with love and truth, and all of them are the pillars of a community. Within a community, resides the Kingdom of Heaven.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg118
Jesus’ demand is obvious to those who wish to follow Him. We should completely overhaul the current way of life we are living now.
The moderates and self proclaimed Christians have a conflict in between each other. Mainstream Christians who claim to follow the Christ are truly moderates. To follow the words of Christ they adjust the message’s of the bible into their own and intentionally delivered and ruled their awareness.
From what mainstream Christians plea, Jesus was an extremist. [Matthew 19:18-22] Many mainstream Christians thought Jesus would accept them through just a simple change of attitude. However Jesus have simply stomped on their foolish hope.
Jesus claims that we should break down the current life and start again from the basic. In other words, a man’s mind cannot be changed unless he/she is reborn as a new person in the heart and mind. If that cannot be done they are not suitable for the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the terms of mainstream Christianity, we can only accept moderate changes within the system, and accept changes only in religious ways. As a spokesman of the mainstream Christianity, John Calvin said that we as Christians are not perfect. And it is true, we are all sinners. But he proposed that we must compromise until we meet the appropriate level! “God is the embodiment of love, He will forgive us!” What a twist in logic is this?
As such, these Christians tune and control the mission that was given to us by Jesus, just enough so our consciousness can be free. As an example. “Be kind to the ones you are close to!” “As a donation send them about $1000 every month.” “For the poor and neglected participate and volunteer!” The mainstream Christians only roughly understood Jesus’s command and is not ashamed to define themselves as disciples of Jesus.
Although what Jesus truly meant by saying being kind to neighbors is actually to be done more than it is written. Become a slave of Jesus and love your enemies like the good Samaritan, Jesus said that if a man cannot love their enemy it is impossible for one to love their neighbors. [Luke 10:36] However, does just by showing kindness to those who are close make a man a disciple of Jesus? Being kind to those who are close to you also includes the sinners and the ones who are not of Christ.
Among mainstream Christians , it is a great deed spending $X,XXX in donations. But Jesus said that those who followed him should give out their all of their personal assets to the poor. [Matthew 19:21] Before Constantine, in the early Church if a person did not keep Jesus’ words they weren't even considered Christians. Some who weren't faithful were cursed or even killed. [Acts 5:1~5]
Wealthy mainstream Christians who live in luxurious homes believe that donating and volunteering for the poor was Jesus’ commandment. But Jesus did not say this to usor to his disciples.
Just like Jesus Christ who came down from heaven, not as an almighty king but as a low servant, He demands that we should join the Ghetto and become one. The early church’s saints were devoted towards this demand before Constantine.
Yet for modern mainstream Christians it is too much of an extreme demand for them. So instead, we favor more of other philosophers such as Confucius (among the East Asian nations), or Aristotle (among westerners). The teachings from Confucius or Aristotle however shows that they are not a disciple of Jesus. Mainstream Christians are effectively more of a Confucius’ or Aristotle's disciple rather than Jesus’.
Each Sunday Christians go to church gatherings and say hollow words about Jesus. While at the same time, generalizing the true message from the Scriptures and ignoring the commandments from Him. While doing all that they do all the religious acts, adorn themselves in languages and hide their sins of disobeying.
The core of His teachings is love. [John 15:12] His teachings were to support and be warm to one another. It is a good start, but Jesus’ request was even more than that. Like Jesus Christ who gave up his life for us, He would expect us to act the way it is written in the scripture. [John 15:12]
Jesus told us the true meaning of love. Not in a vague or in an abstract way, but a concrete method on how to love as if one was a disciple of His. And those who perform the words of Jesus earnestly are the Anabaptists.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg552
Slavery is a social system which is designed to destroy social capital. [1] If we apply such a system with the same function today, are slaves the employees? It goes to same to capitalists too, if the actions that beneficiaries of slavery did was done by capitalists.
Either in America or Rome, with propaganda they educated the freeman to not pity or feel sympathy for the slaves. For both country the majority of the shareholder’s primary interests were to destroy the unity inside slaves and peasants.
Then the question becomes this. The modern capitalists and employer destroys social unity, prevent solidarity, at times abuse or take advantage of those who are weak, and educate citizens to not feel sympathy towards others.
Therefore it becomes alarming to see the similarities between the slave system and the modern capitalist reign. But with such an unstable social trust structure, it becomes inevitable the system eats itself & collapse as a result.
From what I have experienced in America, it seems the path is leading into such ways.
Original Text: http://jungwonyang.com/post/Msg802