I have to
confess that I have been hesitant to share this experience, because I am not
normally one who posts about these things.
But on further reflection I thought I would go ahead and put it out
there. I had a rather interesting
conversation with a young man (who I’ll call YM) that I met in Walmart a few
days ago...
YM: There needs to be a complete
shaking down of the system. It’s all got
to go. The 1% has such a hold on the
resources of this world while crushing poverty forces leaves otherwise decent
people no choice but to commit crime and violence.
Me: I can see where you’re coming from, but I
figure that change doesn’t start with government… it starts with
individuals. It starts with people of
faith living it out. People of
conviction reaching out to need where they see it. If it was just the Church that began to live
that way, the government wouldn’t have to deal with those problems anymore.
YM: Religion is a drug for people who don’t want
to think.
Me: Really?
Because it’s my faith that teaches me that Jesus said “Blessed are the
poor.”
YM: That just proves my point! Even your Jesus is more interested in the poor! The effects of poverty are evil! And the fat, rich, bloated people that cause
people to be poor are evil! Poor people
are the only hope for humanity.
Me: So if poor people are the only ones worth
saving, why would you want to stop them from being poor? It seems to me that by your own position,
giving the poor resources would make them evil.
If being poor makes people the hope of humanity, why should poverty be
eliminated? Wouldn't that take away hope?
Laying aside the fact that he was at the least not Christian, at most a total anti-theist; I went on to share with YM that I’m by no means advocating the subjugation or oppression of people by denying them the means to care for themselves or for their families. In fact I am firmly convinced that we all share a responsibility to make sure that people are able to do exactly those things. And we should hopefully come to realize that the blessings which we find ourselves enjoying (especially for people of Christian faith), are actually meant to be enjoyed through the act of SHARING them, because they are given to us for that purpose.
But I am bothered by the default assertion that “rich” people are inherently evil and deserve our contempt on principle. (Yes, evil rich people exist. But no, they aren’t all the devil.) Just as I am bothered by a default assertion that all poor people are lazy and don't deserve our compassion. Rich people, just like poor people, can choose to use the resources available to them for either good or ill purpose. It’s selfish people that have a heart problem… a sickness. People can be infected by that virus no matter what is or isn’t in their bank account. Some translations of the passages in Matthew’s 5th Chapter quote Jesus as saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Which really makes Jesus' proclamation less about a financial status, and more about a spiritual one.
The entirety of Scripture, OT & NT, often repeats the need to care for widows, orphans and those who are afflicted or oppressed. The Bible is replete with calls to charity and radical hospitality. Jesus did indeed care for, heal, sit down to talk to, and dine with the poor. He was moved by compassion for the least of these. However, He also dined with, healed, and talked with the affluent and the powerful as well. (Zacchaeus - Luke 19; the Roman Centurion - Matt. 8 or Luke 7; Nicodemus - John 3; etc.) By engaging in relationship with them, He offers them hope and brings them to real and lasting changes.
Jesus calls for an end to division, not diversity. That is to say, He seeks to destroy divisions between people and God (and in turn between one another), NOT the diversity that God created us with. Harmony and unity aren’t achieved by erasing differences; but in finding balance that allows us to appreciate their value. We learn to utilize differences in strengths to build one another, in spite of the weakness each of us also possesses. To do this though, we have to find a way to heal hearts. Christians should turn to the Great Physician to seek healing from the heart dis-ease of selfishness. (After all, Jesus’ specialty is in heart transplants. He trades His for ours!)
I guess what I’m trying to say is that in order to eradicate poverty, we have to begin by rejecting self serving action. Governments can’t legislate that. People at ballot boxes can’t vote it out of existence. Only transformation by the acceptance of Divine Love has the power to make that change and help it to last. When we topple the human tendency toward self-centered acts in the individual hearts of men and women, we might understand why, with Jesus, 1% of the flock was important enough to leave 99% alone just long enough to find it and bring it back into the fold (Luke 15). He didn’t ignore one for the benefit of the 99 others. He cared for 100% of His flock. And we’re called to be intentional in seeking to do the same.
And even if a person chooses not to believe in God, Jesus, or any deity at all; it still just makes good sense to try and foster relationships that seek others’ benefit over our own. Why? Because, to paraphrase the popular adage, “A rising tide lifts ALL boats… so long as they’re not firing torpedoes at each other.”
We're capable of lifting one another up, and of caring for each other regardless of our differences. I believe that with my whole heart. But then, I'm an optimist. And I must confess, I’m a “301 Percenter” at heart... 100% of people receive an invitation to experience 100% of God’s mercy and love, which means that I give 100% of my love and effort to letting them know that. That’s even if only 1% accept the invitation. (301%!) I know that mathematically (and grammatically) there are numerous errors with that last statement; but what can you expect? I’ve re-learned how to count from Jesus’ prayers for believers (check out John 17 when you get the chance):
1 God + 1 Jesus + 1 Spirit + all who love God = 1
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