The Problem of Richness #2

In the last post I talked about how Mark 10 discusses taking from oneself and giving to others as a sort of "pre-requisite" to following Jesus. It might be that the most definitive thing we can say about God is that he cares deeply for the oppressed. And, if we care about God, our response has to be to care for the oppressed. 

 "God is with the poor, and God is with us if we are with the poor." (Bono)

And while this quotation seems to capture the issue, it might also completely miss the point. The point being: God is with us if we become the poor, or if we find ways to reconcile the rich and the poor; to make them one in the same; to erase them. 

But, the duty is not our own. Today, being inspired by a discussion in class, will revolve around the Book of James...

First off, one of the most significant themes in James is the need to rely on God. There's a challenge we face as humans: we think we have power, and we think we know how to use it. We think we can nail things down, in fact its because of this that Himself was nailed down. 

But James has a different message. He urges us to be patient with God, as he will be the one who exercises the power. 

James 4:13-5:11

Those who pursue wealth should not be too confident in tomorrow. They assume that God will provide them safe travel, they assume that their life is long enough, they have goals that are inspired by their own will. They boast, then, in themselves.

Those who have no need to pursue wealth, the rich, allow their wealth to store up. Their food rots, their clothes are eaten with moth, and their gold rusts. Their richness is unused and wasted, and yet they oppress those who work their land. They have the means to be fair, and yet they keep what they do not need and those around them need so much. 

Those who have no hope of wealth, the poor, the peasant class, must be patient. God is like the seeds that they plant, that while nothing visible is happening, life is imminent. The Lord of the Army of Angels, the real commander-in-chief, is coming to slaughter the fat and the rich. 

Here's where it gets sad for us.

We're the fat and the rich that are doomed to be slaughtered. 

We were born into richness, we do not have to pursue it. We are the 1% of the world that has the chance of a college degree, we are the 1% of the world that own a computer. Our nation has 13% of the world's population and 60% of its resources. If we must differentiate the rich from the poor, we are without a doubt the rich. Doomed for slaughter.

We do not need hope, for we are perfectly happy with what we have and not really willing to do anything about it. We might not be able to escape our richness if we wanted to. 

We are not Israel, we are Babylon. We are not God's chosen people, we are God's unrelenting foe. We aim the Beast's flames instead of cutting off its head. 

It's only when we know this truth that we can begin to shape what it looks like to be a Christian... 

I am lamb, but destined to be a lamb-chop. You are what you eat.

The Problem of Richness #1

There's an SNL weekend update sketch that is done every couple weeks, in which an actor plays a "political comedian" who takes news paper headings and just sort of rambles on about them without ever really saying anything, "You know, the thing is... It's just not every day you see a.... I really don't believe that there's any relation between this and.... I just wish the world could learn to accept or deal with this... You know, it's not so much a problem as a conflict of interests...etc."

The speechlessness of the comedian is funny because he really doesn't say anything of value, but he does seem sort of overwhelmed by the headlines in his not saying anything... He's not quite sure how to approach it.

In Mark 10 a man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do for eternal life. Jesus first asks the man what it means to be good, and the man sort of equates himself with God by saying that he himself is good because he has kept the commandments. Jesus says that despite his adherence to the first law of Moses, he is lacking one thing...

The "one thing" is this: 

"go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

The "one thing" is this:

"Sell and give and follow me"

The "one thing" is this:

"Sell and give" AND "follow me"

The "one thing" is that he needs to follow Jesus, but Jesus shows him, and us, that the following of Jesus is dependent or is evident by the "sell and give." Not belief, but faith as evidenced by philanthropic, humble, selfless, uncomfortable works.

The man, being rich, walked away from Jesus.

The man, being rich, could not follow Jesus.

And when we, being rich, read this passage we focus on the dependent clause of following and we explain it by belief. 

We give ourselves a dishonest answer.

Instead of ending our richness and promoting the well-being of others, we justify our richness:

"You know thing thing is... I just.... I need my car to get to church... I need the third guitar in case the second one breaks so I can keep worshipping God.... I can follow Jesus and be rich... I'm not that rich... I don't LOVE money..." (this has been my own thinking in the past).

What we are really saying is, "You know the thing is... I just... No..."

It is not possible to serve two masters.

It is unrealistic for a rich person to expect to enter the Kingdom of God.

I admit I am rich, and I don't know how to solve that problem, but am working to simplify my life so that I may give more willingly. For those who have nothing can also give everything, but those who have everything, are unable to give.

More to come.