By Eric Blauer
The Spartans are famed as having built one of the most revered and feared militaries of the ancient world, but their way of life was so harsh and demanding that the word “spartan” has become synonymous with a strict, severe and minimalist way of life.
One areas of life documented by Plutarch in his “Customs of the Spartans” and Xenophon, “Constitution of Sparta” was their view of money, work and leisure.
“One of the noble and blessed privileges which Lycurgus (Spartan lawmaker. He is traditionally held to have been the founder of the constitution and military regime of ancient Sparta) appears to have secured for his fellow citizens was abundance of leisure. In fact it was not permitted them to take up any menial trade at all; and there was no need whatever of making money, which involves a toilsome accumulation, nor of busy activity, because of his having made wealth wholly unenvied and unhonoured. The Helots (a Spartan intermediate social status between slave and citizen) tilled the soil for them, paying a return which was regularly settled in advance. There was a ban against letting for a higher price, so that the Helots might make some profit, and thus be glad to do the work for their masters, and so that the masters might not look for any larger return.”-Cf. Moralia, 214A, supra, and the note; Xenophon, Constitution of Sparta, 7.1‑6; Isocrates, Busiris, 20; Müller, Frag. Hist. Graec. III p458 (Nicolaus Damasc. Frag. 114); Josephus, Against Apion, II.229; Aelian, Varia Historia, VI.6; Athenaeus, 657D.
I couldn’t help but see an interesting similarity of thought in the New Testament, particularly at the birth of the church when Acts 2 describes one of the characteristics of what that early group of spirit-filled disciples lived like:
“All the believers were together and had everything in common.” (Acts 2:44)
This small band of Jesus followers seemed to be born into a radical freedom and purposeful economic brotherhood that resulted from prayerfully surrendering to and being animated by the the spirit of Jesus in a violent and fiery baptism from heaven. This community of seers, began to speak and live in new ways. This great “turning” of repentance bred a new way of being together that others who were not part of their group, miraculously understood and were supernaturally drawn to by God and the inner witness to the truth (Acts 2:1-4).
The Apostolic message on Pentecost had in its core proclamation a warning to “turn to God and turn from a corrupt generation” (Acts 2:38).
I can’t help but see that one strong thread of that corruption has to do with the way communities structure life in relation to work and wealth. So many of the bad fruits of our cultural devastations and dysfunctions have their roots in economic systems of thought and practice.
The Spartans austere relationships to luxury and wealth helped them rise as a force of unique cultural freedom, produced legendary warriors and historic feats of valor. But when wealth amassed and Sparta’s hearts were divided between the code of conduct handed down to them and distracting paths of pleasure that wealth provided the dusk of their glory came:
“…When money was amassed for the Spartans, those who amassed it were condemned to death; for to Alcamenes and Theopompus, their kings, an oracle had been given:
“Eager desire for money will bring the ruin of Sparta.”
“…as long as the Spartan State adhered to the laws of Lycurgus and remained true to its oaths, it held the first place in Greece for good government and good repute over a period of 500 years. But, little by little, as these laws and oaths were transgressed, and greed and love of wealth crept in, the elements of their strength began to dwindle also and their allies on this account were ill-disposed toward them.”
-Cf. Leutsch and Schneidewin, Paroemiographi Graeci, I p3, and I p201, and the references there given; also Diodorus, VIII.12.5, and Plutarch, Life of Agis, chap. ix (799B).
Just maybe the simple economic ethos reflected in the way of Jesus and highlighted in Acts wasn’t some endorsement of an economic theory of socialism or communism and not just a prophetic provocation at wealth idolizing capitalism, but a radical path of liberty and warfare against the wanton ways of this world.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” – Paul (1 Timothy 6:10)
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” -Jesus (Luke 9:25)
I think there is much to learn from the wisdom of the Spartans and the way of the disciples of Jesus in regards to raising an overcoming community. Imagine what could happen if we committed ourselves to pursuing a way of life that once drew thousands into the pursuit of a kingdom ethos that wildly turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Could it happen again?
