Spread the Wealth

Given the shared interest, I thought I’d use Luba Lukova’s social justice posters as jumping-off points for some posts. By way of giving credit where credit is due, following is some more about the posters:

Social Justice 2008 is a powerful portfolio that features 12 thought-provoking posters by world-renowned artist and designer Luba Lukova [with] themes that include peace, war, ecology, immigration, privacy, health coverage, media, corruption, censorship, and Sudanese poverty. …Lukova’s portfolio captures many of the complex issues our society faces…and yet each poster speaks to the viewer in an accessible and honest way.

Starting with the income gap, I’ll revisit my particular dumbfounderment at one of the 2008 Presidential election’s later attacks. While a background in political science tells me that seizing upon the idea of “spreading the wealth” in the United States is sure to play well, my Christian identity was stunned by some of the response to this attack.

I’ve always been a bit confused how some seem able to find a basis in Christianity for capitalism when the book of Acts is perhaps as close to a socialist manifesto as many Christians will ever read. The problem with any man-made economic system, of course, is that it necessarily involves men (in the generic use of the term, of course). While communism may look great on paper, it falls apart when sinful human beings enter the equation.

Never mind Acts – if you really want to talk about “spreading the wealth,” how about that Jubilee Year, where everyone is freed from their debts and bondage? I dare say that looks pretty good to a lot of Americans right about now.

Am I Any Earthly Good?

How many times have we heard the cliché about being “so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good”? While the point may be a valid one, in reality, it has been those who were most fixed on things above that did the most good here on earth.

It was Martin Luther King’s “dream” of having all flesh see the glory of the Lord together that fueled the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

It was Mother Teresa’s conviction that her hands should be the instruments of delivering daily bread – along with the love of God – that brought peace and joy to many of the world’s poorest people in Calcutta.

It was Desmond Tutu whose understanding that God is seeking the restoration of what He first created that inspired among the people of South Africa and the world the ability to achieve what many saw as “idealistic.”

Indeed, it was Jesus’ connection with His Father and love for His creation that transformed the lives of those with whom He came in contact and made salvation available to the world.

Is “this mind…in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”? (Philippians 2:5) What is your first thought in the morning? The last before going to sleep at night?  Most importantly, what are these thoughts accomplishing in the world around you in the time in between?

Proverbs tells us that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” (29:18) Are you being true to the vision the Lord has given to you or do you continue to ask what it is that the Lord requires, when the answer is given clearly in Scripture: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)