Vision Society and a New Economy

Vision Society and a New Economy
By Lauri Elliott www.lauri-elliott.com

Just as there is an evolving shift within our society from operating from the physical to mental to spiritual, we will see the same in the economic sphere. To start, Adam Smith in the “Wealth of Nations” said that the determinants of economic growth, or activity, were the factors of production - natural resources, labor and capital. In his description, there is no recognition of the impact of the mind and spirit on production leading to economic activity, or growth.

Knowledge has long been considered an integral part of the process for economic growth. However, it has not been until the past 50 or so years that economic theory has focused on knowledge as a major factor for production. Paul Romer, a leading economist in the “New Growth Theory,” stresses that ideas, new and better, transformed into a change in technology contribute to economic growth like natural resources, labor and capital.

The original factors of production are considered scarce, or limited, which means that economic growth is limited at some point. On other hand, ideas (innovative knowledge), is unlimited. Human beings can generate unlimited new ideas. In fact, we are designed in the image of God, so as He is the Creator, we are creators. The key is to transform these ideas into technological change. The world calls this the process of innovation. We, as Christians, call this bringing heaven to earth.

So, knowledge as new and better ideas transformed into technological change leads to economic growth. The result - a world filled with unlimited economic growth potential because our ability to create new and better ideas is unlimited. This changes our mental model from scarcity to abundance, want to wealth. The question becomes how do we develop an economic system based on this premise? This is the challenge of today.

Let’s tie this to the evolving societal shift in our primary mode of operation - physical to mental to spiritual. We can see as knowledge has become more significant in the mix of economic growth, that organizations see unique intelligence, innovation, etc. key to their competitive advance. It’s not that the importance of technological change due to innovation has not been recognized. We understand its contribution to the Industrial Revolution, e.g., the steam engine. However, the drive in making it prime in positioning a company continues to grow. The intellect, or mental sphere, is now a central mode of operation in our economic systems. We even have a phrase coining its importance, the “knowledge economy.”

Let’s take another look at knowledge. There is knowledge derived from interacting with our physical environment, pulled from our intellect and emerged from our spirits. Today, we focus on knowledge pulled from our intellect. In the Vision Society, it will be knowledge emerging from our spirits, by His Spirit. This is divine revelation.

Put in the Christian context, Brett compared the evolution from the old economy to the new economy as the Israelites moving from Egypt to the Wilderness to the Promised Land. As Christians, we understand that revelation knowledge comes from God depositing his knowledge in our human spirits through the Holy Spirit. Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the channel.

It will be revelation and relationship, which serves as anchors in the new economy. Revelation will lead the process of innovation. Revelation will also lead to divine collaboration through varied relationships that will expand market potential. We see many concepts evolving, including the areas of network science, social networking, mass media and innovation, etc.

While we are still grappling with the picture of the new economy and how it will operate, there are many who have pieces of the ultimate picture. Brett Johnson of The Institute is one of these visionaries. In a Kingdom Economic Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa last year, he shared a comparison of characteristics between the old economy and the new economy. The comparison is below.

Old Economy



New Economy
Self-reliance Dependence on God
Logic Obedience
Man, nature, self as source God as source
Gaining, hoarding Giving, flowing
Finite Infinite
Greed, self serving Serving greater good
Fear Trust, generosity
Selling birthright Persevering in long-term
Debt Cash, capital, hard assets
Ownership Stewardship
Protection Freedom
Worry Liberty
Running out Running over
Storing Flowing
Accumalting Giving
Boosting myself Blessing others
Temporal Eternal
Scorns source (God) Remembers source (God)
Elevation Consecration
Meeting my needs Serving God’s purpose
Mine to keep God’s to direct
Control Releasing
Postured to speak Positioned to listen
Avarice deified Avarice denied
Demanding Grateful
Restlessness Restful, calm
Striving Surrender
Hurry, hustle Rest
Wisdom of man Wisdom of God
Insatiable Contented
Calculation Revelation
Immediate gratification Delayed gratification
Personal legacy God’s glory
Do as I please Accountability
Natural Supernatural
Lack Abundance
Need Wholeness
Own effort Favor

Published in “Kingdom Economics,” (c) The Institute for Innovation, Integration & Impact, Inc. 2009, by Brett Johnson

Put in the Christian context, Brett compared the evolution from the old economy to the new economy as the Israelites moving from Egypt to the Wilderness to the Promised Land.