BLOG 6/27/17. “WOE TO YOU WHO ARE RICH … “

BLOG 6/27/17. “WOE TO YOU WHO ARE RICH …”

Given the political, cultural, and social climate of these United States, one would wonder why we so assiduously avoid the teachings of Jesus about the perils of wealth. In Luke’s rendition of Jesus’ sermon (designated as his sermon on the plain) Jesus said: “blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. … But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6: 20 ff).

The interpretive question has often been raised about why Matthew, in his Sermon on the Mount, has Jesus saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of God” (Matthew 5:3). The most satisfying explanation I have come across has to do with target audiences. Luke, this interpreter says, is writing for those who are actually poor or actually rich. Matthew, on the other hand, writing in the context of his leadership of a church (probably in Syria) that is not poor, and so to them he says something like: “Blessed are those who identify with the poor for such demonstrate kingdom integrity.” I am not enough of an erudite New Testament scholar to know whether this passes the test for good New Testament exegesis, but it has served me well, because I have barely experienced hopeless poverty in my lifetime.

The question comes, then: What constitutes true poverty, helpless poverty? And (for most of us) what constitutes being ‘rich’? This is not an idle question. Most of my readers, like myself, are among the richest people in the world. We’ve never experienced homelessness, or life without electricity or clean water or access to medical care. We are accustomed to the daily newspaper filled with special sections on entertainment, delightful places to eat, expensive sporting events, and endless inserts of advertisement from all kinds of merchants and services.

It’s not too much to say that the major religion of our country is probably consumerism, mixed with hedonism, and maybe a dash of narcissism. I am not trying to heap guilt on us, not at all. There is nothing wrong with having an adequate home, and enjoying good entertainment, and good food. But where does out Christian conscience kick-in and remind us of our responsibility for the stewardship of our modest wealth, or the stewardship of our modest influence on the political scene, or as agents of peace and order and justice? What did we do to deserve our privileged status in the world?

It’s interesting that those who seem to be the most compassionate toward the helpless poor are those who are slightly less poor, and who know what it is like to have nothing. Growing up, as I did, in the teeth of the Great Depression, I remember that everybody had taken a huge financial hit, and in their experience of being deprived of so much, became generous sharers with each other.

When we have met our basic needs of a modest home, and paid our necessary bills, then what is our responsibility to support those agencies that are seeking to meet the basic needs of those who suffer the deprivations daily that we take for granted. I have some of the best medical care in the world, but I also have medical coverage so that I am not deprived or bankrupted by the care I receive. But to sit in an emergency room as one so privileged, and see those who wait interminable hours for some basic care which they cannot pay for … gives one pause. Am I an advocate for universal health care even if it raises my taxes? Or what is my responsibility for the humanitarian agencies locally and to those globally who seek to meet those needs in the bleakest segments of the human community?

“Woe to you who are rich.” As the classical prayer of confession states it: “Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.” Or: “Break our hearts for the things that break the heart of God.” Stay tuned (and feed me your response).

About rthenderson

Sixty years a pastor-teacher within the Presbyterian Church. Author of several books, the latest of which are a trilogy on missional ecclesiology: ENCHANTED COMMUNITY: JOURNEY INTO THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH, then, REFOUNDING THE CHURCH FROM THE UNDERSIDE, then THE CHURCH AND THE RELENTLESS DARKNESS. Previous to this trilogy was A DOOR OF HOPE: SPIRITUAL CONFLICT IN PASTORAL MINISTRY, and SUBVERSIVE JESUS, RADICAL FAITH. I am a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, a graduate of Davidson College, then of Columbia and Westminster Theological Seminaries.
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