when the Bible says "feed the poor" it means "buy a big screen"
God never teaches me anything half-heartedly. Recently the idea that when the Bible says to "feed the poor" it means it literally (a novel concept) has been drilled into my head from every source imaginable. I'm aware that this idea of social justice is the trendy thing among people my age these days but its not just coming from Relevant. At youthworkers conventions and in classes on Wisdom Literature and Ezra/Nehemiah taught by conservative professors I hear about how much we've been failing in our responsibility to take care of those less fortunate than us. Over and over again God is teaching me just how wealthy I am compared to the rest of the world. Generally I've put off charity because "eh i'm in college...my $20 bucks isn't gonna make a difference" but as I read I'm starting to realize that this means me, now. Before I can talk to my youth or the people I go to church with it has to become a reality in my life. I would have called myself poor a few months ago. By America's standards I am but I am incredibly wealthy compared to the majority of the world (which lives on less than $2 a day... I'm lucky if I don't waste $5 a day on coke/fast food when there's food at home/something else). To think I spend more money on gas to drive around in a day than half the world does to eat/drink/clothe/house/everything else themselves is sobering Makes that cup of starbucks or extra double cheeseburger seem like a waste. $4 dollars on a cup of coffee and thats two people's living expenses for the day...on one cup of caffeine. 3% of my income spent on a kid from world vision isn't enough...its just the beginning. If I can make the money I make here and spend like they spend overseas even my itty bitty little salary can make a huge difference. Raman noodles here I come.
Yet...I'm still a consumer. I've already found me some cool new t-shirts I want to buy... and books...and music...and...
when will my love for other people make my wants completely obsolete?? I want my passion for others to override my passion for myself and my possessions. I dont want that t-shirt/gadget/guitar to cross my mind. I want to be completely focused in my passion and my finances with no thought of purchasing things for myself. I'm not quite there. I'm working on it. It seems impossible for me to follow Christ and live the way I've been living, spend the way I've been spending, and hoard the way i've been hoarding. Spending money on myself and following Jesus don't mesh.
I read a good article on the rising gap between the rich and the poor over at meetjustice.org. Its got some facts about poverty. We've got to do something about this folks...even if that means no more big screens, fancy cars, vacations, massive homes, expensive dinners, or other form of waste. Such extravagance while people die of starvation is an abomination...an abomination I refuse to take part in any longer.
