|
Jesus Was A Class Warrior
by Jim Moss “Class warfare.” It’s one of those pejorative terms that conservatives love to throw at their opponents. Anytime it is suggested that we roll back the Bush tax cut on the wealthy, it’s “class warfare.” Anytime it’s demanded that the gaping loopholes on business taxes be closed, it’s “class warfare.” Anytime that the government is asked to do something to alleviate the gap between rich and poor, it’s “class warfare.” Heck, anytime anything other than complete laissez faire free markets is advocated (other than bailing out failed corporations, of course), the Republican battle cry goes up: “Class warfare!” Drenched in Marxist overtones, the term is invoked for a specific purpose: to draw a link in the public’s mind between liberal/progressive economic policies and Marxism, a fallacy which plays on the aging Republican base’s lingering fears of Communist infiltration. Here’s my advice for countering the “class warfae” misnomer: Carry a Bible. And whenever a conservative (especially an evangelical conservative) throws out the term, show them these passages from the Gospel of Luke: Luke 1:52-53 (Mary, the mother of Jesus, sings about Jesus’ mission) - “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” Luke 4:18-19 (Jesus preaching in Nazareth) - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Note: The “year of the Lord’s favor” refers to Jubilee, a practice where all debts are cancelled and wealth is redistributed.) Luke 6:20-21 (from the Sermon on the Plain) - “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.” Luke 9:10-17 (The Feeding of the 5000, a story where Jesus takes food from someone who has more than he needs and gives it to those who have no food.) Luke 12:13-21 (A parable where Jesus denounces a man who builds bigger barns and storehouses instead of sharing his wealth with those in need.) Luke 18:18-30 (A story where a rich ruler asks Jesus what he must do the be righteous, and Jesus tells him to give away all of his money and possessions to the poor.) Luke 19:1-10 (A story where a tax collector named Zacchaeus meets Jesus and pledges to give away half of everything he owns to the poor.) Latin American theologians, speaking for some of the most destitute and most oppressed peoples in the world, call Jesus’ economic message ”preferential option for the poor.” The North American church has predictably resisted such language, and has pushed instead a theology that underscores the privilege of the powerful and the wealthy - which, as it turns out, is the constituency that the Republicans represent. Every time they accuse one of their opponents of advocating “class warfare,” they are really advocating the status quo of a system that keeps millions in the United States and billions around the world living in poverty. I’m thinking of going out and making bumper stickers that read, “Jesus is my class warrior.” Who wants one? Jim Moss is a Presbyterian minister from York, South Carolina. He publishes a blog and a quarterly newsletter called "Discipline for Justice," which focuses on ways North Americans can live lives that promote peace and economic justice.
|
This_Category |
|
Category:: Society + Culture |
Recommend this article...
 Quote this article on your site | Views: 763
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4
Tags: Jim Moss Gospel of Luke Jesus Class warfare
|
Commentary 
Technorati Profile
