Common People

We're hearing a lot in the presidential campaign about promises to look after the common folk, or the middle class, but exactly who is "the middle class"?

Some of us may not think that we are the common folk because we think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Others of us don't see ourselves as middle class because we think too lowly of ourselves based on the world's economic standards.

The good news is, in God's economy, we are all  "common folk" and it's nothing to be ashamed of.  In fact, Acts 4:32 reminds us that in the early church,

"... the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common."

Regardless of who promises what on the campaign trail, we must remember that in God's eyes, the ground is level at the cross.  Practically, that means those in the higher income brackets should not hoard their gains and shield them from taxes that would help the common folk.  Remember, promotion and increase come from the Lord, and His blessings are not limited to the initial recipients.  God's blessings are life-giving and forward moving.  He blesses us to BE a blessing.  Luke 12:28 clearly explains,

"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

We really need to sit with that scripture for a while and allow God's Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into the truth about God's purpose for our financial "successes" in life.  Here's a hint, it's not all about us!

Now, the Bible does say if a man does not work, he should not eat.  But if we look at that passage in its fuller context, we'll get a better understanding.  Look at 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13:

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.  But [as for] you, brethren, do not grow weary [in] doing good. 

The last line is what keeps us on the hook when it comes to having all things in common.  Yes, those who have been loafing ought to get out and work like everyone else, their charge is clear.  But, the charge to those already being productive citizens, "as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" is also clear.  We must continue to do the right thing regardless of what others are doing, because we will each answer to God for our charge, not what has been charged to someone else.  That includes doing the right thing by "rendering unto Caesar"(i.e. the Government) what is due even if we don't like or agree with how the money is used. God doesn't need our taxes to supply the needs of others, but we need to be obedient.

Also, we really need to stop carrying on about people not carrying their weight in this country because we all know statistically that those who refuse to work are a small percentage compared to those who are legitimately unemployed and underemployed.  Some of the very folks we have the nerve to complain about in terms of receiving assistance are the elderly, disabled and veterans--categories in which we may all find ourselves at some point in life.

We must also keep in mind that in God's economy, having all things in common means that we all meet in the middle. Instead, we are hearing of campaign promises that will essentially take from the middle to sustain an upper class.

Earlier in the week,Washington Post reporter Ezra Klein blogged about how one campaign promise had been labeled "not mathematically possible" by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center run by one of George W. Bush's top economists. He cited another Harvard study by economist Martin Feldstein  that explained how that same campaign promise would actually raise taxes on the middle class to pay for a big tax cut for people making more than $250,000, not lower them as the candidate would want us to believe.

God is watching how we all respond to our individual and collective economic conditions.  And, not only is God watching us, God expects us to be watching Him during this time.  Our faith must be in God, not in political candidates and certainly not in our bank accounts--whether they be full or empty.

Jesus came to show us the way to eternal life, and to show us how we are to live in this life.  He became a "commoner" and walked with us to illustrate that God wants us to walk with one another, not above and not below.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen