Part 7 of Brian McLaren's Everything Must Change
The question for today and week: Assuming global and local inequity, what is the Christian response to inequities? Seems easy to answer -- is it easy to answer?
The equity system attempts to regulate the prosperity system. And this equity system has four major dysfunctions:
1. It is programmed by the dominant framing story.
2. It is rigged to work for the insiders.
3. It was created for the nation-state in the industrial age.
4. It should not be expected that the equity system will change the system by which the rich insiders prosper.
There is a rising resentment -- hate and fear -- by the poor against the world's rich.
Here are some figures Brian trots out:
1. The richest 1% own almost 50% of the total wealth; the richest 5% owns 70%.
2. In 2000 the G8 countries contributed 3% of the GDP; during that time the poor countries contributed back 6.3% of their GDP to the G8 countries to pay for debts. (The poor countries fell further behind.)
3. 6 million children die per year of starvation; that's a holocaust every year.
4. The average Anglo is worth 5.5 times the average African American in the USA.
5. CEOs income to the average worker: In 1960 it was 12 to 1; today it is 301 to 1.
In the hearts of many poor the operative disposition is revolution.
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--I was just stating a Fact of injustice--
I think you are stating a fact. Whether it is an injustice or not is I think not yet proven.
For example, can you say that you are one who should fairly determine when a person has too much--too much land, too many cars, too much money? Can you fairly take into account all in that persons lie--the risks they have taken and the work they have put in--and rightly determine they have too much?
Can you even look at a particular homeless person and determine what is far for him or her?
That is what troubles me about such rhetoric. I have nothing against telling people about biblical teachings concerning generosity and helping the helpless, but to say that Mr. X has too much is I think making a judgment we should not make. We may look at how he spends and invests and gives, and maybe draw some conclusions from that, but to say that it is unfair that he possesses seems in turn to be unfair.
ha.. So Mr.X needs 10 cars right? cause we all know he can drive all 10 of them right?
and Mr. X needs a Mansion with 100 acres right?
he does not need all of that land, but he chooses it cause he wants to live large right?
there is nothing wrong with driving in a nice car but having to buy the 07 and 08 cars ha? that is pushing it
a person only needs one car and if a person has a bunch of kids then yes they probably do need a mansion for each one of them but for a person to have 20 un-occupied rooms that is not right
and for me to say it not right is my understanding of Modesty and the bible the bible says to not store up wealth and if you have two of something to give it away if you have two computers give the other away if you have two homes sell one and use it to help people etc. but all of this is not the will of man its the will of God and if we listen then we would hear his voice whispering to us to help other people
im guessing that you have alot of material wealth? because you seem a bit Sensitive about this issue?
or is that assuming to much?
--ha.. So Mr.X needs 10 cars right? cause we all know he can drive all 10 of them right?--
Upon such a basis, how would your life or my life balance? Do you 'need' most of the things you have? Do I?
So Mr. X has ten cars. You seem to think that is something to be scorned. But without any knowledge of why he may have ten cars, I cannot follow you on that.
Perhaps he has several children, some of whom are of driving age, and so have a few extras is handy. Perhaps he buys and restores classic cars, and several are ones he worked on.
The land thing is even more suspect. You have said nothing about of what use he makes of it.
You said that we are not to store up treasures on earth. Very well. But are you using that as some kind of positino against wealth as a whole?
--im guessing that you have alot of material wealth? because you seem a bit Sensitive about this issue?
or is that assuming to much?--
You're assuming and presuming way too much. I'm not even close to even a modicum of wealth.
At the same time, I do not presume to judge those who have simply because they have.
jazzact13, Over at Ben Witherington's blog he had this quote from John Wesley that may help put things in perspective.:
"I fear, wherever riches have increased, the essence of religion has decreased in the same proportion. Therefore, I do not see how it is possible, in the nature of things, for any revival of religion to continue long. For religion must necessarily produce both industry and frugality, and these cannot but produce riches. But as riches increase, so will pride, anger, and love of the world in all its branches."
I've appreciated what I could follow of these threads. These posts have certainly sparked alot of discussion. It helps me see what little I know- all the more- on issues like this.
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