Occupy Wall Street: WWJD?

I am off this week and have spent much time holding the baby and watching the news. I have tried to switch between Fox and CNN to provide different perspectives. I even watched some MSNBC!

I have found it interesting to see the different views on the Occupy Wall Street crowd. According to surveys there is a general support among Americans for the sentiments expressed by the crowds. The general complaint is that rich people do not pay their fair share. Now I am distressed to see signs like "kill the rich" or "taxidermy the rich" because I think publicly advocating murder is wrong (reference the Ten Commandments!). I am also distressed because the main stream media seems to be comfortable ignoring such things. Imagine the uproar if signs read "kill the old" or "slaughter the fat." But I have been around long enough to know (and understand why) that prejudice and assumption blinds us. So, it is not a surprise that the coverage by a sympathetic media overlooks the horror of publicly advocating the murder of people because they are financially successful.

What would Jesus do? Liberal Christians would claim that He would be among the people, stirring up anger and resentment among the poor, condeming the rich. I am certian Luke's Gospel would come in handy here. Conservative Christians would counter with a couple of nice quotes from Paul (those who don't work, don't eat, for example). In the end, it would be a sincere and heartfelt verbal battle between two groups which do not agree on much of anything. They would hear God's Word, especially the parts with which they agree. (That is the way it works for me, too, so I am not just pointing fingers here)

I think it is hard to know what Jesus would do, mainly because He was in a different context than ours. We live in a democracy where we have the right to vote. Jesus did not. He lived in occupied territory. In His day the Roman army put a 'serious hurting' on crowds of people who gathered to complain. Clearly Jesus warned against wealth. The holy people of the Church have historically dispersed their material wealth to pursue spiritual wealth. I think it is fair to say Jesus would say, "use your wealth to help others in need." (in fact, that is exactly what He did say!) On the other hand, Jesus was not a big fan of envy or coveting (sort of follows the Ten Commandments here). I imagine Jesus would not be impressed with someone complaining about the success of others. I also think that the church has never advocated stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Sorry Robin Hood, but there is a reason for that. Stealing is generally bad for the individual and for society. It harms those who steal as much as it harms those stolen from.

I think we need to have a serious discussion about taxing and spending. I wish conservative Christians spent as much time preaching Jesus' warning about wealth as they seem to spend advocating for low taxes. However, that is a choice the person makes with their own money. It is not some mob deciding that they will take it for themselves. It is not a politician taking what someone earns to distribute to others (who conveniently then vote the politician into office). As I said before, pro-tax folks don't have to take deductions and they can pay their taxes on time!

When people are surveyed and they say "the rich should pay their fair share" I wish someone woul actually do some deeper research. I am not trying to sound elitist here, but really, does the 'average Joe' have any clue what the words mean?

• What is the definition of rich? Are we talking multi-millionaires? Folks making $100,000? Does where you live (cost of living matters) get factored in?
• Do the people marching and complaining know how much taxes the 'rich' pay? What is a fair rate? Are we saying 10%?, 25%? I hear people talking about not long ago it was 90% Are we seriously saying that at a certain point someone is no longer allowed to earn and keep any more money?
• Do the people marching know how large a group of Americans pays no income tax? I have seen where up to one in three people do not pay one cent. Should people not paying any taxes really be allowed to complain about people who do without at least a little push back? [and in fairness, when a conservative says that the top 10% pays the lion's share of the taxes, it is fair to point out that it is because they make such astronomically huge amounts of money]
• Is there a point where legitimate complaints about inequity and injustice collapses into adolescent whining and a childs tantrum that demands "gimme!" without any sense of personal responsibility? What is that point and should we not spend much time trying to make sure we do not cross it?

Being a Christian in a rich land (by the world's standards and by historical standards most of our "poor" are well off) is difficult. Our value systems are influenced by a culture of greed and consumption. (it is a fallen world after all) I am sure that some of the decay of faith in our society is a direct result of Christians who focus much more energy on living the good life than they do living the godly life. Too often we are focused on our 'rights' as citizens of America and not focused enough on our duties as citizens of the Kingdom of God. However, there is something sinister and dangerous about what the mobs are advocating and the way they are doing it.

What would Jesus do? He would point them (and us) to the Father. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness," I imagine He would say, "and then all these other material things will be taken care of . After all, your Father loves and cares for you." Without a focus on the Father's will there will be no reform. Only uprisings which produce a reign of terrror. Check out history.