Continuing with our moral reasoning about the question: Aren't the well off people just as important as the needy? And all that that question would imply. It is a great question that gets at some underlying attitudes that are fairly pervasive in conservative evangelical circles.
Why does God appear to have a preference for the poor? Why would God direct us toward the poor and oppressed? (In addition to the fact that he is compassionate by nature)
Thought #3 relates to the fact that even though God may not be partial, we are. Anybody with their eyes open should be able to see that the poor and the weak suffer disproportionally. It is not the well-off who are dying at age 35 from silicosis from the silver mines in Brazil or lack access to clean water or suffer the mocking from peers on the playground for their old and tattered clothes. The list is long. The poor and weak bear a disproportionate burden of the injustices in our society and the world. In general, they are treated differently. They are marginalized. Their lack of worth gets communicated to them in many subtle and overt ways day in and day out. As a result, many of them are demoralized and conclude that they are less worthy. You can see it in the eyes of Will in the picture in the post below. It is not much of a leap for them to conclude that God must view them as less worthy. But Christian should know that this is not true. God has an intense love and compassion for them. They have equal access to God and his favor.
The well-off are at opposite risk. Many feel deserving of the favor society grants them. Many become complacent, comfortable, or oblivious to the plight of the oppressed. It does not take much of a leap to think that God must view the well-off as worthy and is granting them special favor. This attitude may be behind many of the warnings Jesus gave us about riches and wealth.
The world is partial. The poor and the weak are marginalized by the world. The poor suffer disproportionally in the world. This is an injustice. God is not partial. He has an intense love for each. He favors justice. Do you see the disconnect?
Which of these two groups have access to God and life in his kingdom? Both, equally. Which of these two groups has been beat down enough to perceive that they might not?
What is the remedy?
4 comments:
The remedy is to let the ones who feel worthy know that they can't do it on their own. And to let the broken know that God accepts them. But thats excactly where the problem is. Two different yet costly places to be at.
Maybe we think that needy should be sought after more because not many people focus on them. But what if everyone focused on the needy. Would we then say their should be more emphasis on the ones who think they're fine on their own?
I think there are two issues. One is the relative lack of love that is show the poor and needy related to the physical and emotional needs they have now. The other relates to sharing the good news with the poor and needy.
We are doing a poor job on both fronts. Most churches are talking about either of these.
You don't have to worry about too many people focusing on the needy. It isn't happening for the most part. That is why we are having discussions like this. I just wish our churches would lead the charge here.
Most churches *aren't* talking about either of these
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