Hi Everyone-
I pray that this week of Thanksgiving finds you well. I've been thinking a bit about the Occupy the Wall movement lately. What are your thoughts on it? Do you think it's good, bad, neutral? Where do you think God falls on this issue?
I think the Bible shows God is very much behind what I believe lies at the root of this issue. I think that when you combine a huge gap between the rich and the poor/everyone else, with the rich not caring for/helping the less fortunate, you get a very unhealthy society. A culture that's not as God intends. Look at some of the first words written about the early Christian church for instance:
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 NLT)
I believe what happened some 2,000 years ago was the first Christians came to believe a new/old way of viewing possessions. They didn't think it was bad to be rich, but they held their possessions loosely because they knew they weren't "theirs". Everything is a gift from God, a blessing. Recognizing this, they felt compelled to share the goods, money, etc. God had given them with others. They understood the fundamental truth of Psalms 24:1, "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him."
I'll bring this back to Paul's "grace and peace" I wrote the last the last three blogs on ... It's God's grace that gives us anything we "own" or "earn". Every breath I take is a free gift from the Lord of the universe. For me, this truth is incredibly freeing. It frees us to hold our possessions and money loosely, which in turn allows us to recognize those in need around us and give to them willingly and out of joy. The richer we are, the more God has blessed us and the freer we are to give.
I know the Occupy the Wall movement people don't speak in these terms per se, but I believe this is where their desire stems from. They are calling the rich to remember we're all God's children and it's all God's stuff, so lets play well together and share.
What do you think?
Grace and peace,
Lang
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It is very important to remember that everything is from God. We have wealth so that we may use it for God's purposes. As you say, as long as we do not hold onto our possessions too tightly, we are not in danger of avarice.
ReplyDeleteBut we must be careful of taking wealth away from those who would use it for God's purposes. There is no guarantee that redistributing wealth and evening the playing field, so to speak, would bring about the kingdom of God here on earth. Money in the hands of good Christians who will support their local food banks and shelters is a better return on investment than the government taking money away from the wealthy and promising to give it to those in need.
Money and benefit will be lost in the system. It would be more effective to preach the gospel and encourage more philanthropy without the governments intervention.
The problem of course is much bigger than the occupy movement. We have a society which has turned away from God on a large scale. Many people reject God's will for them in their lives. They are not willing to accept God's plans for them in this world. Some are meant to be wealthy, while others are poor, some are short, tall, ugly, attractive, etc.
We are all unique and different, because we all have a unique role to play. Most people cannot accept that simple truth. We are not all equal. We are not all meant to be equal. If more people listened for that still, small voice, we would all be better off. More people would be called, nay compelled ,to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty... Until we accept God in our culture, or at least open up a small place for Him, we will not see real change.
I definitely agree that it shouldn't be the government who levels the playing field so to speak. I think if we live into the reality that everything comes from God and is a gift, then we become far more generous and likely to give to those around us (particularly those in need). I think this is what was going on in Acts and the early church, when it talks about everyone sharing and no-one going without.
ReplyDeleteYes, if we remember that everything comes from God, we are more likely to have our priorities correctly ordered. We need less material things ourselves if we have enough spiritual life in us. Then we are "free" to give what we have to others.
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