I have been reading a very inspiring book by Brian McLaren on social justice and the need for people and especially, those who call themselves the disciples of Christ, to start acting missional and doing the work that Jesus did and instructed his followers to do. We have gotten so far removed from this mission that the world is suffering; poverty, starvation, depletion of the earth's resources, global warming, wars and violence are everywhere. Yet the majority of Christians run around worrying about heaven, escaping hell, and whether or not gays and lesbians should be allowed to enter into the sacrament of marriage.
Good grief! Enough already!
A good friend of mine told me about how her pastor/church is challenging people to examine their lifestyles and to try to live a more simple existence for at least 50 days...the money that is saved by living simpler would then be donated to help build wells in Uganda. The link to the website can be found here: www.spillinghope.org This is the work that Christ instructed us to do.
Brian McLaren's book - Everything Must Change contains so much information, scripture, statistics, and inspiring insight into how we can change our world and help everyone and every living creature live a more equitable, sustainable existence. I encourage you to read it and to let it speak to your heart. He has several quotes from the author and theologian, John Scott. Here is one...“should gain the economic and political qualifications to join in the quest for justice in the world community. And meanwhile, the development of a less affluent lifestyle, in whatever terms we may define it, is surely an obligation that Scripture lays on us in compassionate solidarity with the poor. Of course we can resist these things and even use (misuse) the Bible to defend our resistance. The horror of the situation is that our affluent culture has drugged us; we no longer feel the pain of other people’s deprivations. Yet the first step toward the recovery of our Christian integrity is to be aware that our culture blinds, deafens and dopes us. Then we shall begin to cry to God to open our eyes, unstop our ears and stab our dull consciences awake, until we see, hear and feel what through his Word he has been saying to us all the time. Then we shall take action.”
McLaren's book states that: “The richest 1% of the world’s population owns almost 40%’ of total wealth, and the richest 5% owns 70% of the wealth. Take the assets of the world’s 3 richest individuals and you have the wealth that exceeds the combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the world’s 48 poorest countries.”
Jesus in Luke 16:19 does not prescribe hell to those who refuse to accept the message of justification by grace through faith, or those who do not express faith in a favored atonement theory by accepting Jesus as their “personal Savior”. Rather hell--literal or figurative--is for the rich and comfortable who proceed on their way without concern for their poor neighbor day after day.
To quote Gandhi once again: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Boy how sad and how true this statement is.
In another biblical passage, Jesus through the miracle of the bread and fishes, is showing us that we need a radically different economy…one that is about sharing what we already have instead of acquiring more and more. This Jesus led type of economy would be one of gratitude and sharing and not based on consuming faster and more.
Cornell West reported on the rising disparity between salaries of CEOs and the average worker. In 1960 the ratio was 12:1, 35:1 in 1974, 151:1 in 1995 and 301:1 in 2003. This system cannot encourage and build equity among the world. It will continue to divide the rich from the poor. Trickle down economics does not work.
Remembering his statement that the first would be last and the last first, I firmly believe that Jesus would want us to promote trickle up economics. Imagine living in a world where all had food, shelter and medical care…it would sure look like the kingdom of God that the Bible talks about.
So as disciples of Christ, believers of God in the way of Jesus, let’s get off of our asses and start working to help those who have so little, to minister to the poor, the discarded and the weak. To examine our extravagant lifestyles and see where we can cut back, to consume less and share more and to quote Gandhi one last time: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
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