It is interesting to read the prophets of Israel when it comes to injustice.
Take the issue of the remarkable housing disparities discovered by archaeologists who unearthed the 8th century B.C.E. strata (see yesterday's blog).
Something the prophets all point toward is the systemic nature of the injustice afoot in the nation of Israel. For this reason preachers like Amos and Isaiah come down hard on the political officials of their day.
So, for these prophets, the major problem (no matter how unconscionable in the face of extreme poverty and suffering), is not the choice of individuals to use their wealth to build opulent housing. The more important issue is the political and economic systems that help create the wide disparities in opportunity and fortune creation leading to the huge gap between the rich and the poor in Israel during this period.
In other words, the prophets of God go after the root cause of the problem rather than the symptoms that signal its presence.
We don't like to look at this biblical reality, but we ignore it to our peril as a people.
The prophets appeared and they spoke an uncomfortable and challenging message whenever they observed socio-political and economic systems stacked against the poor in favor of the rich.
You'd think there would be a voice or two audible today.
I guess the airways are too clogged with messages of salvation, peace, security and how to manage wealth and success. . .and that in our churches.
Larry, the OT prophets didn't come out of the Levitical priesthood, did they? I expect any prophetic voice we hear will likewise not come from within the churches!
ReplyDeleteToo many in Christianity now are false prophets, condemning the poor for not having the 'faith' to be rich.
ReplyDeleteOK, Larry, besides you, here's one:
ReplyDelete"Conscientious U2 frontman BONO has vowed to continue helping the impoverished people around the world until the day he dies.
The PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) singer is determined the current generation is remembered for something other than internet and technological advances, and he's pledged to carry on his fight for the third world.
Bono has famously developed close relationships with some of the world's most important politicians as a result of his high-profile campaigns on issues including poverty and AIDS."
quote from www.femalefirst.co.uk
I find it very interesting that the modern church tends to discout Old Testament teachings about poverty. I think that's because, like you said, it points out the systemic nature of the injustice and we, as a society, don't like to see that.
ReplyDeleteI was recently reading Divided by Faith by Michael Emerson and Christian Smith, where they point out the degree to which the ideology of individualism is controlling in the modern conservative church. (I also think it's a common American ideology.)
When we view things as individual failings or lack of faith on the part of individuals, we ignore the strucutral underpinnings of it all. The did a survey of self described evangelical Christians on the question of why we see racial inequality in the US. The conservatives were more likely to give individualistic answers (such as they are lazy, or they don't want it bad enough, etc) rather than structural (segregation, discrimination, lack of opportunity).
I thought that was really interesting.
You are on target, Jennifer. The combination of hyper-individualistic social understandings and the protective cover provided by religion, prop up systems of injustice while blinding us to their existence and to our own involvement in supporting oppression.
ReplyDeleteLarry--again, in agreement with greg, you are one. Keep it up, brother.
ReplyDelete