Abstract
This research proposal is based on whether money is evil or virtue for Christians. To adequately address this research problem, the researchers have decided to address the topic using four factors: meanness versus generosity and greed versus frugality. This will be a qualitative study because it aims to evaluate the experiences and opinions of people regarding whether money is evil or a virtue. From the research proposal, it is expected that the study will find that money is neither evil nor virtue; however, it depends on the person who owns it. On the one hand, if an evil person owns the money, it will be used for evil purposes. On the other hand, if a virtuous person owns the money, it will be used for virtue.
Introduction: Research Question
This study seeks to contribute to the research on whether money is a virtue or evil. To achieve this, the study will have to document how money has been used in good ways through spreading the gospel and how it has been used in evil ways for personal or selfish purposes. Broadly, this study will be based on the following research questions:
- Virtue: Can money be acquired in good ways and used for good purposes?
- Evil: Can money be used to do evil things to society?
Statement of Problem
Money and other early riches have always been a controversial issue for Christians. God intends that everyone flourish economically and enjoy the wealth of his generosity. In addition, God’s world has enough resources to provide for what all Christians need. However, in this divided world, many people do not get to experience what God has provided. Thus, many find that their needs are met at a physical, moral, emotional, spiritual, environmental, or relational cost (Alawode 3). Thus, Jesus was concerned about how Christians acquired and spent their wealth. Some scriptures are full of directives to believers on acquiring wealth because wealth can snare Christian’s walk with Christ and distract them from seeking the kingdom of God first. Christians should treat wealth and abundance with care because scriptures have warned, “if riches increase, set not your heart upon them” (Ps. 42:10). Thus, Christians should not be attached to worldly possessions because they will die and leave them behind one day.
Believers should have their eyes and hearts facing heaven without any distractions. Money is significant to their life, and they should use it to demonstrate their love and the reality of God. When used correctly, money can be a powerful tool in spreading and showing the love of God (Alawode 2). Thus, the work of believers is to spread the gospel of God, and they should use their money and wealth to spread the gospel. On the contrary, money can be a dangerous tool when it gets into the hands of the wicked because it can be used for destructive purposes.
Despite all the many varying opinions and books regarding God’s purpose for Christians’ financial lives, there are still major gaps in the current literature. It is within this framework that this study has decided to choose a research topic on whether money is evil or virtue so that it can contribute to the existing literature. In addition, the study aims to ensure that it provides a view to Christians on how they should seek and utilize their wealth.
Purpose of the Study
The study aims to compare money’s effectiveness as a virtue or evil. During ancient times in Europe, the gospel was spread positively and negatively. People who accepted the gospel were rewarded, while those who did not were forced to be baptized or killed (Zheng et al. 3). Most of these actions were commissioned by the wealthy to ensure that other people followed their lead. This shows that money can be used positively to spread the gospel through virtue or provide incentives for the people who accept the gospel. On the contrary, money can be used for evil purposes in spreading the gospel, such as intimidating and forcing people to convert or face the consequences.
Thus, this study assesses money’s use as a virtue or evil in the world. First, it will assess the effective use of money as a virtue and find the religious benefits of using wealth virtually. On the other hand, the study will analyze the use of money and wealth in evil ways and determine its effects on Christians. Finally, the results will be analyzed depending on four opposite virtues: meanness versus generosity and greed versus frugality.
Significance of the Study
A German political magazine called Der Spiegel wrote on March 14, 1997, that “greed for money is good.” On February 13, 2010, the same magazine on its front page read,” The Triumph of Sin: about lust, greed and other temptations” (Zheng et al. 7). On both occasions, various financial crises occurred in the country. The second article relates to a bible verse in 1 Timothy 6:10, which states, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” It continues, adding that “by craving it, some have wandered from the faith.” This shows how the lust for money has lapsed many believers from faith.
This study is significant to people who want to live Christian lives as believers, mostly leaders. This is because they have a significant amount of wealth, which, when well utilized, can benefit the church and themselves; otherwise, it can be dangerous. The study wants to outline to Christians how they can live the virtues of money in the current world. According to Aristotle, achieving virtue is a way of happiness in life; thus, any free person would want to acquire the virtues (Zheng et al. 5). For Christians, the highest goal is to be part of God’s kingdom, the justification of faith can achieve.
Hypothesis/ Statement of Position
- Money is a virtue when well utilized for generosity and frugality and evil for meaningness and greed.
Methodology
Methodological approach
This is a qualitative study because it seeks to understand whether money is virtue or evil. Thus, the researchers will use qualitative methods to collect and analyze the data. One of the research’s main characteristics that make it qualitative is that it seeks to understand human behavior on how the utilization of money can be a virtue or evil (Aityan 113). In addition, the qualitative methodology allows for the generalization of data; therefore, the results found in this study can be used for other populations.
The qualitative study allows non-numerical data to observe phenomena required in this study because the researchers have to observe how believers acquire and spend their wealth and the impact it has on the community. The researchers must determine whether the believers are mean, generous, greedy, or frugal. In addition, they will have to evaluate if the method used to acquire and spend money leads to virtue or evil. Qualitative methodology is less controlled and more interpretive, giving enough room for the researchers to view this problem from different perspectives.
Sampling Strategy
This study will use non-probability sampling because not every member of the population will be included in it. The study population will be chosen on purposive sampling, which is a method that allows the researcher to be judgemental in their sample (Aityan 114). In this case, the sample must include Christians because the study is based on Christian teachings. In addition, it will be more focused on wealthy Christian leaders to evaluate whether their wealth is used for virtue or evil. The study will have to use beneficiaries from wealthy Christians, which implies that it will have to pick its respondents based on different merits. Thus, non-probability sampling is the most effective method for this study.
Data Collection Methods
This study will use three data collection methods: interviews or focus groups, participant observation, and existing data. Interviews will be used to collect data from small groups of believers concerning acquiring and using money. The study will use structured interviews whereby all the respondents will have to answer the same questions to make it easier to compare the results (Saeed et al. 5). Also, structured interviews will help researchers reduce bias in interviewing by standardizing them. Since most wealthy respondents may not be available for face-to-face interviews, this study will use online interviews through zoom. The interviews will be recorded for future use in the study. Interviews will be the most effective data collection method because they allow the researchers to explore the research subject’s opinions, experiences, and behavior (Saeed et al. 7). Due to its open-ended nature, researchers will be able to get in-depth information about the topic of money being a virtue or evil.
The other effective method which will be used in the collection of data will be participant observation. This is a qualitative research data collection method in which the researcher gets to observe participants as they carry along their activities keenly. This method is commonly used to understand social interactions, values, and common practices (Aityan 115). Since this study is based on understanding values and common practices that believers demonstrate in acquiring and expenditure their wealth, it is an effective method to collect such data. Researchers will use active participant observations whereby they will accompany the respondents in their religious rituals, activities, and customs to establish how they use their wealth. Later, they can use covert observations on the people who interacted with the respondents to see the impact that the respondents and on their lives. For instance, if a religious leader donates money for fundraising for a church function, the researchers will come back as covert observers to determine the impact the money had on the people it was fundraised to.
The other data collection method used for this study is existing data. Existing data will be a good source of secondary data for this study. The study will evaluate other studies that have been conducted concerning the issue of whether money is a virtue or evil and use the information available. The importance of using existing data is that it will enable this study to build on existing research about the topic (Aityan 116). It will thus lead to better results and a unique study that will factor in the recent research gaps on the topic. In addition, the use of existing data will enable the study to access a large volume of data because there is no limit on the available sources that are available online.
Analysis Method
This study will use thematic analysis to analyze the data collected. The thematic analysis looks at patterns in a data set and groups them into similarities or themes that can produce a real meaning (Saeed et al. 14). Thematic analysis will be useful for this study because it is used to find people’s experiences, opinions, and views about a subject. In this case, people can provide opinions on whether money is a virtue or evil. One of the main benefits of using thematic analysis is that it allows the flexibility of interpreting large data sets and sorting them easily for broader themes (Saeed et al.14). In addition, it allows the researchers to analyze text using different theories, which is useful in this study. Thematic analysis will enable the researchers to draw new insights into the topic of discussion.
Limitations
No methodology is perfect; thus, it is important to speculate on the potential limitations of this methodology before conducting the research. One of the main limitations is selection bias, whereby the researchers may not fairly choose respondents. Since this study is based on judgmental opinions, it is essential to ensure that sample selection is done fairly to ensure that both sides are well represented and avoid bias.
Expected Results
Many people assume that accumulating money and wealth provides a path to glutton and greed in society. This is based on 1 Timothy 6:10, which states that money, the love of money, is the root of all evil. However, some people argue that money is neither evil nor good because it is a medium for exchange (Overall and Gedeon 6). How a person uses their money determines whether it is good or evil. It reflects who a person truly is and what they value most. Thus, a person who uses the money for generosity through helping orphanages and needy people may have virtue. On the contrary, when a person uses the money for greed and cruelty, it reflects who they are and what they value most. Thus, money reflects a person’s identity; hence, it should not be judged as a virtue or evil.
Concerning meanness and generosity, money can be defined as a virtue or evil depending on whether the person is generous or mean. Being mean is defined as an ugly sin because it is incurable. According to Aristotle, people who want not to be mean should practice generosity since childhood. A mean person is not only mean to others but to himself too (Warren and Warren 12). That is why they guard their treasures without putting them into use. A mean person “starts reading the menu from the right side, ordering the cheapest meal and then complains later.” This destroys the meals for people around him, which is why meanness is considered evil.
Generosity is considered a virtue because it involves providing for those who do not have it. Paul in the New Testament tells the Corinthians that they should support the church in Jerusalem by collecting money. In 2 Corinthians 8:14, he writes, our abundance at present should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” Another scripture from the New Testament in Philippians 4:18 states, “I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received the gifts you sent from Epaphroditus, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” Thus, generosity is a virtue that is considered essential in the Christian community. However, there is a challenge in finding between meanness and generosity, virtue and evil. Sometimes generosity may be triggered by selfish aspirations, which makes it the role of the researcher to substantiate between what is a virtue and what is evil (Warren and Warren 8). In other times, meanness may be used for good purposes, making it a good virtue. Thus, either way, money is a virtue when used for good and evil when used for bad purposes.
By evaluating greed and frugality, money can be determined as a virtue or evil. Greed is considered unacceptable and an evil character in the current world. According to the Old Testament text in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income.” This shows that greed is an evil character because it is insatiable and does not achieve satisfaction. Money can lead to greed, whereby a person is not contented with what they have in their bank accounts and thus be forced to do evil acts to gain more money (Gregoire, para 3). Greed breaks God’s first commandment: “thou shall not have other gods before me.” Thus when a person is addicted to greed, they may not come out of it easily. Greed has been associated with evil; therefore, since money is related to greed, it can be said to be evil.
Contentment is a virtue that is associated with goodness. Although the bible talks about the contentment of the flesh, the contentment of money is essential for Christians who want to keep their faith in Christ. According to 1 Timothy 6: 6-8, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But we will be content with these if we have food and clothing.” Thus people who have wealth and are contented with it such that they do not use it to exploit other people into getting more display a good virtue of money.
Limitations to Research
One of the main limitations of this research proposal is that it lacks a previous study on the exact same topic. Although there have been many studies on the broad issues of money in Christina’s life, only limited research has been conducted to determine whether money is evil or virtue based on meanness versus generosity and greed versus frugality. This shows that the student may not be able to get an in-depth literature review finding concerning the topic. The other limitation is that the sample size chosen for this study may be insufficient to generalize the results for all Christians. The sample size of a research problem relies on its nature, and thus since this is research involving a broad group of participants, it may be difficult to find the opinions of all the people.
Conclusion
The discussion on whether money is a virtue or evil has faced much contradiction in the theological field. Some studies reveal that money is just a medium of exchange, and thus it is the person who handles it that determines whether it is a virtue or evil. Therefore, this study used four different virtues, which include meanness versus generosity and greed versus frugality, to determine whether money is a virtue or evil. However, from the research proposal, money is neither virtue nor evil because it all depends on how a person uses it.
Works Cited
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