Gaurding Our Wealth

Part 3 in the Critiquing of American Christianity

As the Robertson fiasco has already alluded too, it often seems that many Christians in the US have a very deep interest in protecting their wealth. This may be America's biggest downfall. We give millions every year to charity, sharing our wealth, and that is good. But when a report on the News mentions that President Bush gave ten percent of his earnings to charity I get concerned. A man as wealthy as Mr. Bush can still live a balanced an comfortable life giving 30% of his income (if not more) to charities. He gave what he had to, but really.

Our notion of wealth really needs to be checked. Because capitalism is such an Individualistic endeavor it seduces us into believing wealth is not a public matter. We do not talk about wealth at church, how much we make, or what we do with our money because that is private, it is ours. But a more biblical perspective argues that wealth is a community issue. If my brother beside me is poor than how can I be wealthy without my conscience tearing me up inside?

The OT prophets constantly yelled at Israel for disregarding the poor among them. Isaiah 11 talks about Jesus who will be the one to bring justice to the poor and the needy. Isaiah 58:3 is specific about the religious who fast and still exploit their workers are not of God. The fight in Chicago to not allow Walmart into city limits is because of the exploitation factor and many Christians would believe it to be a Christian company. Is it? Can anyone justify making billions of dollars and yet refusing benefits or full time status to employees who barely make enough to survive?

Most notably we find the education system in America is a deck of cards stacked in favor of the wealthy. Inner-city Chicago does not get the same support as say, Naperville because education funding is based on property taxes. In the very system of educating children for meaningful employment, we fail to support all schools equally thereby keeping the poor in their place.

But I have heard little form Christians who say they are striving to do God's will. Politicians who claim to be Christian give less and less to education every year and the people who suffer from this the most are the very people Jesus has told those politicians (through his word) to treat fairly and justly. But hey, they protect their jobs by protecting their constituency and in return protect their wealth so their kids can attend the good schools.

It is time we re-evaluated our wealth. Is it a blessing? Or will it be our curse?