In this post (HT: Andrew Wilson) Wilson poses a thought experiment where you can double the incomes and welfare of the least but in doing do increase the wealth of the richest tenfold at the push of a button. He ends with this,
“This is your ethical “dilemma,” and part of your test is whether or not you even think of it as a dilemma. Would you refuse to push that button out of hard principle? Would you push it, but with a guilty conscience? Or would you, like me, push it while whistling a cheerful air, with your hat on the side of your head?
If you would not push it, or if you would push it reluctantly, then that urgent yearning for social justice that you feel all the time in your gut is not compassion at all, but cancerous envy. It is evil. It is a deadly sin that must be mortified. You don’t love the poor at all — you hate the rich, and you want to use the poor as a club. And why would this malevolent genie want to take your precious club away?”
On all counts I think Wilson is wrong. His over simplistic statements make too many assumptions and presumptions. First that poverty is an absolute and never relative, Wilson thinks he’s dealt with absolute poverty so everyone should be happy. But by massively widening and increasing relative poverty he creates plenty more problems.
Here are ten reasons to care about inequality, and five causes of inequality, one economist (HT: Freakonomics) who says, “There is perhaps some sort of failure in how our system is working.” For more on the ills of social inequality read The Spirit Level.
From my review of the above book, here is the result of greater social equality, “In more equal societies there is less crime so the money spent on prisons could be spent on education. In more equal societies there is less obesity and all its health related issues and the money could be spent on better transport and so on and on. Equality reduces crime, teenage pregnancy etc..and allows a society to continue to invest in the quality of life of the nation.”
What Wilson does is actually make a bad situation worse but pretend it’s better by simply looking at the bottom line. It’s the same reason that many millionaires don’t feel wealthy and why this commenter can say that someone earning $150k a year is struggling.
And lastly of course Wilson’s magic button has replaced the apostle Paul’s magic remedy: generosity. That it is the wealth of the rich (generously and freely given) that relieves the burden of the poor.
“For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.” (2Cor 8:13-14)
Which brings us to a more equal situation wouldn’t you say?
“Immediately accusations are brought against the applicant. For why does he not work, you say? And why is he to be maintained in idleness? But, tell me, is it by working that you have what you have? Did you not receive it as an inheritance from your fathers? And even if you work, is this a reason why you should reproach another? Do you not hear what Paul says? For after saying, ‘If anyone will not work, let him not eat,’ he says, ‘Do not be weary in well doing.”
How often have you heard the complaint about the beggar being idle or not making an effort to work? And many will answer Chrysostom by saying, ‘we did work’ for what we have. But did you get everything that way? Your childhood home, parental care, education, food, clothing, opportunity? How much of that was yours through no effort of your own but instead your good luck to be born where and when you were?
But John isn’t finished, we have more objections to pull down.
“But what do they say? He is an impostor. What do you say, O man? Do you call him an impostor for the sake of a single loaf or of a garment? But, you say, he will sell it immediately. And do you manage all your affairs well?”
I’ve heard countless the times the argument that we shouldn’t give money to the beggar because he will misuse the gift, spend it on drink or worse. And have you never spent money on something you shouldn’t? Hypocrite, John calls us, and he’s right.
“But what? Are all poor through idleness? Is no one so from shipwreck? None from lawsuits? None from being robbed? None from dangers? None from illness? None from any other difficulties? If, however, we hear any one bewailing such evils and crying out aloud and looking up naked toward heaven, with long hair and clad in rags, at once we call him, ‘The impostor! The deceiver! The swindler!’ Are you not ashamed? Whom do you call impostor? Do not accuse the man or give him a hard time. But, you say, he has means and pretends.”
The other claim I’ve heard as an excuse not to give is that really this beggar doesn’t need it, he has a Rolls Royce somewhere, he’s probably better off than I am. Well, John has an answer to that too.
“This is a charge against yourself, not against him. He knows that he has to deal with the cruel, with wild beasts rather than with rational persons. He knows that even if he tells his pitiable story, no one pays any attention. And on this account he is forced to assume a more miserable guise, that he may melt your soul. If we see a person coming to beg in a respectable dress, ‘This is an impostor’, you say, ‘and he comes in this way that he may be supposed to be of good birth.’ If we see one in the contrary guise we reproach him too. What then are they to do? Oh, the cruelty, Oh the inhumanity.”
So what then are we to do?
“‘Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.’ Stretch out your hand; let it not be closed up. We have not been constituted examiners into others’ lives, for then we should have compassion on no one. When you call upon God, why do you say, ‘Remember not my sins’? So, even if that person is a great sinner, make this allowance in his case also, and do not remember his sins. It is the season of kindness, not of strict inquiry; of mercy, not of account. He wishes to be maintained; if you are willing, give; but if not willing, send him away without raising doubts. Why are you wretched and miserable? Why do you not pity him yourself, but even turn away those who would as well? For when such a one hears from you, ‘This person is a cheat; that a hypocrite; and the other lends out money,’ he neither gives to the one nor to the other, for he suspects all to be such. For you know that we easily suspect evil, but good, not so easily.”
So, think again next time you rush by the beggar in the street.
All quotes from Chrysostom’s On the epistle to the Hebrews
Jeremy wonders whether we can carry on consuming while Colin Beavan argues that Treating anxiety and depression could save the planet while Matt Hosier points out some of consumerism’s more silly statements when buying a shirt. Gareth reminds us that TV is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Here are 10 theses on social action and the kingdom of God while Kevin DeYoung begins a new series on social justice and the poor. While on the other side of the coin Warren Buffett wonders about the US financial recovery.
EVANGELICAL
Thursday 5 March 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM
“Would anyone in your community notice if your church ceased to exist?” the Evangelical Alliance is asking at the launch of its new initiative Square Mile.
I don’t believe you get to heaven by doing good works, but I also don’t believe we can know how to live on earth without them. God saves us by His grace and then calls us to work for His kingdom.
Soul Purpose is a brilliant, God given opportunity to put our faith into action. This afternoon I was out assessing some of the core projects and so this year we get to:
That’s not simply a great weekend, that’s hope bringing, that’s action that is filled with the potential of being eternally significant. That’s a God glorifying mix of worship, prayer, mission and action that for a short while demonstrates the beauty and power and hope that is only found in the church. Can’t wait, can you?
The whole conference was excellent. The day was opened by host Simon Allen who introduced a friend of his who had come to Christ after decades in crime and drugs, wonderful. Stuart Townend and Phatfish band led us in worship. Then Mick Taylor opened with a really vivid talk on the kingdom of God and how we are values driven not results driven. Seminars followed and I heard Dave Fellingham on lessons learned from the early days of the Salvation Army. Lunch and afternoon seminars with a Dr Phil Clarke who didn’t really hit his theme but told wonderfully inspiring stories on why we do what we do, why we live and love the broken. Great day.
It’s always a personal challenge to speak at these things, especially on the above topic. After all, when are you ever an expert on that? There are times when I think what I’m doing is compassionate and it turns out not to be, other times it’s the other way around. Sometimes I don’t feel love but I do the loving thing, sometimes I don’t want to do the loving thing because it’s hard. So thinking about mercy has been encouraging and as soon as I get an audio or link I’ll post it up here along with my brief powerpoints.
But I’m not there yet, so how would you answer the question, ‘how do you lead a mercy filled life?’ I’d love to hear your thoughts
To see the range of projects Newfrontiers is involved in, watch this short presentation
I believe Jesus when he said 'life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions'. I believe he offers something better. This blog is mostly about that search.
I'm also a husband, a father, church planter, keen runner, reader, and motorcyclist. These and a few other things make guest appearances from time to time.
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