Day 6: Guiding Texts

Biblical Texts: Matthew 25:31-46 and James 5:1-6 (and 2:6)

Honestly you just need to take 2 minutes out of your day and read the text from Matthew. Jesus is faily explicit here: if you want to experience salvation in the afterlife, you'd better care for the marginalized, specifically those dealing with poverty and its relating issues, or you're gonna be outta luck. Following this is James' declaration to the rich; "You thought you were piling up wealth. What you've piled up is judgment" (from the Message). These two texts together is a painful reminder that our use of money is a very serious thing, and that we need to go to extremes far more often than we do if we want to be counted among the faithful. This has rarely happenned in the history of Christianity, which is why when somebody actually does do it, it is a remarkable occurrence!

Let's look at James 2:6 for a minute to get a better idea of what I'm talking about. The question posed is "Is it not the rich who oppress you?" This question is posed in the context of not showing favoritism in the church towards wealthy individuals. What would a rich member of this congregation think of James' letter as it was read aloud before the group? Can you imagine? This could be a very awkward moment. And risky. I wonder if the rich in the congregation became quick exegetical theologians and explained these passages away. Or maybe the pastor did it for them because he didn't want to lose some big tithers (probably elders as well, since we typically choose the rich for these positions). My hope is that everybody saw the errors of their ways and they remembered that God's kingdom works differently than the kingdoms of this world, and that it is the poor who are honored and the rich who are not.

Secondary Text #1: Mahatma Gandhi

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Secondary Text #2: Oscar Romero

"Aspire not to have more, but to be more."


Peace,
Matt