Romantic Scribbles

His thoughts were random, but as I read them I had a strong reaction to them.  Not anger or anything, just a feeling that somehow Christians are making a case utilizing certain passages, and widespread common sense about what Christianity teaches about money.  However, I’m not sure they are the complete picture of how Jesus wants to look at money.  As his thoughts were random, so was the comment I left on the blog.  It was typed in haste, and intended to just put out some alternative ideas about what’s going on at the moment.  The comments are below, if you want to read them, but please know that I’m not condemning anyone or condoning any political stance.  I just want us to think more completely about the subject and move on to make decision from there.

I think there is some false logic in the idea that people who work hard deserve to be paid well.  In that it implies that the wealthy work hard and therefore have earned their money, while the poor are lazy and therefore that is why they are paid poorly.  When in fact many of the underclass are working harder (in the sense that there work is literally harder physically, and often longer) than their wealthier counterparts who to some degree make money off the hard work of the poor.

Perhaps another apt verse would be the Rich man and Lazarus.  As the rich man hordes away, enjoying an easy life, while Lazarus sat outside and begged.  I guess he didn’t work for his wages so he didn’t deserve anything, but it seemed that Jesus preferred him.  I think again of when Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come and follow him.  It wasn’t that the poor deserved it, or that the rich young man hadn’t worked for it, but in Jesus’ kingdom it seems that Jesus has different ideas of economic justice.

I’m not saying that I want to let the government “solve” all of our problems.

I’m not even disagreeing with you sentiments.

Here are my thoughts:

Churches clamoring against economic justice wouldn’t have to rely on the government if they did the job themselves, but many (many not all) of those arguing against such plans do little with their “freedom” for the underprivileged.

I feel at times that American Christianity has bought a line about comfort, consumerism, and prosperity that somehow has them blindly getting in bed with the Republican party on everything.  I think the Church needs more independent thinkers who don’t simply spout the latest “truth” they hear from Fox News.

There is a system in this country that does seem to make it very difficult for certain classes to every climb out of their underprivileged system.  Its not all merit based and the gap between rich and poor is growing.  Why are we constantly working to protect the super-wealthy while fighting against measures to protect the exploited?

I just wonder sometimes what Jesus would do, and I don’t think he would side with the lazy or the super-wealthy (which include most of us Americans when we think globally).  And I don’t think he would be impressed with our gifts given out of our unprecedented excess that seldom cost us much of anything.

A Final Note:

This is not intended to be accusatory.

This is not angry; it’s just some thoughts from my perspective.  In many ways I don’t think it disagrees with your thoughts at all.

These words are as much an indictment of my lifestyle and my local Church community as anyone else.

My tone probably doesn’t come across well here, but I intend to offer my thoughts in humility, not sarcasm or cynicism.

Jesus loves the poor, most of us don’t.  I need to continually be made more into the image of God, and perhaps my behavior towards wealth needs to be remade as well.