What Version of Monopoly Would God Play

Sunday night I found another cultural experience in a game of Monopoly. Three of us at the House of Prayer gathered for a game of Monopoly. There was the friend who brought the game over who comes from a cultural group in South Africa called Colored, which is made up of many people groups including indigenous South African people, white Europeans, black Africans, and other people groups brought here as slaves in the past. The second friend was a black African. Then, there was myself….I’ll describe myself as being in the White Westerner category. (Categories of races are an every day part of life in South Africa. Its overwhelming sometimes, but for the sake of this story it is necessary).
Okay, so we began Monopoly. My African friend made it around the board first and had the first opportunities to buy property. It didn’t take long before this guy owned most of the board. Now, my Colored friend got around pretty quickly and had a fair share of properties, also. The dice was less kind to me and I came round with fewer properties but more of them grouped together. So, this is how the board stood when we had a visitor and decided to call an end to the game so that we could spend time with the visitor.
So, today I asked when we were going to play a full game of Monopoly. My Colored friend loves Monopoly, it’s his game board. He fancies himself a shrewd business man and will play to win but make his choices throughout the game based on what will provide the most entertainment for all involved. Now, for my White Western self, I am serious about Monopoly. What other reason is there for playing other than winning. I try to be nice to friends along the way, so if someone is really at the last of their money and they land on my hotel developed property then I will be nice enough to let them pay their rent by giving me some of their low value property rather than ALL their money…..if they are a friend :) But, my African friend who owned almost all the property in our Sunday night game said he doesn’t want to play Monopoly the same way again. Maybe what we can do is equally distribute the property at the beginning of the game. Then, we can play the game after we make sure everyone has a fair amount of property. Monopoly African style :) I told him I’m not sure what game that would be, but it certainly would not be the capitalist game of Monopoly. The game already gives an equal share of money to all players, but there is no capitalist challenge involved in both the equal distribution of money and property.
So, here in lies my cultural lesson through a game of Monopoly. I never thought about how culturally based games could be. This guy did not find any fun in owning more property in a game than his friends owned. Which got me thinking…..what version of Monopoly would God enjoy playing?
I don’t think He would choose my friend’s idea of equal distribution of all things Monopoly. Jesus Himself told the parable of the talents where three different people received three different amounts of money to use wisely. The guy who hid his and did not make it grow, had his money taken away and given to the richest guy. So, I’m not sure that God is an equal distribution of wealth God. Just a thought…..I know I could get stoned in some circles for saying that….but I’m just thinking right now. At the same time, I’m not sure God is a capitalist Monopoly God. His constant concern is that we care for the poor, orphans, and widows. He destroyed Sodom saying the greatest sin there was that they did not strengthen the arm of the poor (That means empower the poor….not just give hand outs! But that’s a whole other soap box). But capitalist Monopoly really doesn’t give room for God’s priorities.
So, I was thinking…..if my African friend can make up new Monopoly rules to suit his culture. Then, what Monopoly rules would God set up?
So, if you have any thoughts, let me know.
And, based on this experience, I challenge everyone to go play Monopoly with someone from a different culture…..you might learn something about their culture through the experience :)