Chad Hovind - Godonomics: How to Save Our Country—and Protect Your Wallet—Through Biblical Principles of Finance

Praise for
Godonomics

Godonomics is a thoughtful critique of the theories that control the world of commerce and shape the lives of men and nations. Chad Hovind challenges us to reassess doing business as usual.

D R . P ETER A. L ILLBACK , president of Westminster
Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

Chad Hovind offers a creative and compelling case for the constitutional framework for government. He also provides practical financial principles that will help you make wise decisions with your money.

S HANE F. K RAUSER , author of Your Nation to Save and director of the American Academy for Constitutional Education

A truly brilliant breakdown of what the Bible says about the economy. Godonomics touches on everything from profit and charity to capitalism and taxes. Everyone should get a copy.

G OVERNOR M IKE H UCKABEE , host of televisions Huckabee

Godonomics is an incredible comparison of biblical economics and the culture. A real eye-opener.

J OSH D. M C D OWELL , popular speaker and coauthor of Undaunted and The Unshakable Truth

Chad Hovind brings a reasonable voice to the convinced and the unconvinced. Godonomics applies Gods wisdom on economics both to individuals and nations. You will learn about the Bibles prescription to secure our nations future economic health.

D AVID B ARTON , founder and president of WallBuilders

Simple enough to teach kids but researched enough for The Wall Street Journal. Godonomics is the truth project of economics.

B OB M C E WEN , former six-term member of Congress and popular lecturer on free-market economics

Using Gods Word regarding financial principles, you can now be bold in speaking out against false teachings. Your entire family will learn from this important book.

M ARK W HITACRE , PhD, president of operations and COO of Cypress Systems, Inc.

Godonomics is thought-provoking, courageous, and relevant. Pastor Hovind, in this brilliant work, causes us to remember that In God We Trust.

R EVEREND C. L. B RYANT , former NAACP chapter president, FreedomWorks fellow, and creator of the documentary film Runaway Slave

Chad Hovind reveals how the Bible supports free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Youll laugh and learn as he weaves together biblical history, philosophy, and a passion for business with references to Adam Smith, C. S. Lewis, Milton Friedman, and even Steve Martin.

G LENN B ECK , host of The Glenn Beck Program and author of Cowards: What Politicians, Radicals, and the Media Refuse to Say

Godonomics reveals an approach to money and our country that is common sense, not just another attempt to politicize the gospel. Unlike Christian leaders who use biblical knowledge to advance political agendas, Chad Hovind is politically aware but biblically motivated. The Kingdom-first approach is evident.

J ERRY R OBINSON , economist, author of Bankruptcy of Our Nation, and radio host of Follow the Money (FTM)

G ODONOMICS
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( GNT ) are from the Good News TranslationSecond Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Scripture quotations marked ( NLT ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Copyright 2013 by Creative Ministries, LLC
Illustrations 2013 by Creative Ministries, LLC

Cover design by Mark D. Ford

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

M ULTNOMAH and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hovind, Chad.
Godonomics : how to save our country-and protect your wallet-through biblical principles of finance / Chad Hovind. First Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
eISBN: 978-1-60142-478-5
1. Economics in the Bible. 2. CapitalismBiblical teaching. 3. Politics in the Bible. 4. EconomicsReligious aspectsChristianity. 5. CapitalismReligious aspectsChristianity. 6. EconomicsUnited States. 7. CapitalismUnited States. 8. Christianity and politicsUnited States. I. Title.
BS670.H68 2013
261.85dc23

2013009411

v3.1_r2

For nearly twenty years I have pastored churches in a variety of settingsfrom the small town of Groveland, Illinois, where I grew up to the pastoral staff of Moody Memorial Church in downtown Chicago. Ive been part of nondenominational church plants in Georgia and more recently in Cincinnati. Some of the churches where I ministered were homogenous, while others were multiracial. Some congregations were predominantly blue state, while others were predominantly red state. I have worked hard not to paint God, Jesus, and the Bible with a political overlay.

The congregation I pastor today is filled with people who hold a myriad of political positionsfrom strongly conservative to moderate to liberal minded. Like me, they have found that Gods grace in the message of the Cross unifies people across racial, social, political, and economic lines. They have discovered the value and importance of discussing beliefs and issues, Gods will for individuals and nations, and sharing views on the great challenges that face us as Christians and Americans. All of these concerns apply to us as we attempt to understand and apply the Bibles teachings to everyday life.

That doesnt mean there arent differing opinions and disagreements among church members. But if you were to meet my church members, whether they reflect the views of management or labor, Democrat or Republican, black or white, you will find we enjoy the freedom to disagree agreeably. We treat one another with respect and openness, regardless of where each of us might land on the big issues.

And while we enjoy the give and take of discussions about faith, what it means to follow Jesus, and a Christians responsibilities in a free society, we all agree that the Bible is authoritative in all matters. Though Scripture does not suggest a particular political program for implementing Jesuss command to do unto others, it does provide clear principles that intersect and transcend culture. The Bible speaks to all areas of life: marriage, government, finances, freedom, life, civil rights, prosperity, economics, science, and history.