The Rev. Graham Taylor has a truly radical idea for the St. Paul’s occupiers, based on the Bible verse that seems to have escaped the attention of other ecclesiastical potentates from the Church of England: 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
Graham Taylor is a successful author of children’s books (well, some adults including me like them, too), including his best known book, Shadowmancer; funnily enough, he’s always had to work for a living.
From here:
It is damnable that such a good man as Graham Knowles should be forced out by a crisis on the church steps which has the sole purpose of hijacking the media spotlight. Is there no one in the Church brave enough to say what most of the right-minded people in this country really feel about those surrounding our nations foremost church?
The Church should have realised that any offer of help to the anti-capitalists would have been used against them. If the protesters were people of honour, they would have thanked the Dean for his hospitality and moved on. St Paul’s Chapter should have been firm from the start, robust in its message and united in its determination for law and order.
I believe that the message of Jesus to the protesters would be to tell them to pick up their tents and walk – get a job – for the worker is worth his keep and not to be kept on state benefits. Much of what Jesus taught was tough love. It was about sacrifice, community and commitment.
His call to the protesters would be to put the time they spend sitting in their tents working for those who are really in need. If they are truly concerned about the economic crisis, then they should be contributing with hard work instead of hard talk. Their idle words should be translated into care for those around them.
In these difficult financial times, it is very easy to blame the bankers and financiers for all our financial woes. They have become the demonic enemy to be cast out of the City.
Yet, this dispute isn’t about the poor; it is an attack by a motivated liberalati on the way in which we live in this country. It is an attack not on our financial institutions but on our way of life. I have to ask those protesting about poverty why don’t they go and sweep the streets of the housing estates or clean up the mess still left over from the riots? After all, that is what Jesus would do.
I take people who are so very certain of what Jesus would do in a given circumstance with a pretty big grain of salt.
As seems to be your difficulty, you forget to refrain from judging others and approaching them with the disarming love of our Lord. I suppose you don’t realize that capitalism requires, yes requires, able bodied people to be unemployed. Even in the best economy. May we together confess our sins and reach out to others with love of Christ Jesus. Jesus, who ate with workers and tax collectors, sinners both. The Gospel will transform us into servants of God not mammon.
2
I’d be very interested in having a link to the theory of capitalism that “requires” unemployment. I must have missed it.
Jim, I learned that in Grade 11 economics. At least 2% unemployment is needed to allow some flexibility in the labour “market”. I can accept that, I suppose, but only with a comprehensive Unemployment Insurance plan. Many people are only semi employed right now as well. You don’t have to have taken a course to know that there is high unemployment right now. Surely you don’t think it is caused by people’s laziness? If people are gathering to protest our society’s over emphasis on material wealth of the value and dignity of human beings, I feel that is worthwhile. Not that I don’t have criticisms of the protesters as well. We are all human, and the important thing is that we have a conversation.
Ian,
The accepted institutional percentage of drug dependency (in the US) is 2%. Look what happened in states that instituted drug screening for welfare.
Dig out your grade 11 text book and quote me the “necessity” of unemployment for capitalism.
Yes laziness is a factor. Even God took that into account with manna.
Of course laziness is a factor, why do you think that compound interest was created? So that lazy people could make money without doing anything! Certainly our economic system has generated some incredible results! We have incredible communications, medical technology that has alleviated suffering greatly. These are all good things. Look at the Third World, and the terrible poverty there. It is not all caused by drug addiction. Many of those people are devout and conservative Christians. I realize that it is unrealistic to imagine that everyone can make the same amount of money. Jesus didn’t command Zacchaeus to give all his money away. Some people are simply not clever enough to handle large sums of money! But that doesn’t mean they deserve our scorn and judgement! That lays a heavier burden on those of us who are healthy and not afflicted with mental illness ( often a cause of drug abuse) to take care of and give life to our suffering brothers and sisters. What happened in the states that you mentioned? I’m afraid I don’t have that textbook anymore, I wish I did.
Ian,
So laziness is a factor after all.
Now you are accusing me of holding the poor in “scorn and judgement”.
Where in the world did you find a correlation between the mentally ill and drug abuse?
When you keep making stuff up and throwing stones, it is very hard to take you as the gentle devout Christian you portray yourself as.
I’m not accusing you of holding the poor in scorn and judgement. I just said that we shouldn’t. I have met and worked with people who are poor and drug/alcohol addicts, and I have sometimes had a very difficult time not holding them in scorn and judgement. Drug addicts are incredibly difficult and sometimes dangerous people. I can fully understand why sometimes people want to lock them up and throw away the key! I do not have drug problems thankfully, but through knowing people who do, I have realized that there is an addictive side to myself, and I would venture to say, in everyone. I’m sure that if you were to ask people working in the field of addictions, they would explain that mental illness and a history of abuse is a factor in most people’s addictive behaviour. If I have portrayed myself as devout, I apologize. But I am broken and certainly not gentle. I have a lot of anger and violence in me. I, like you I’m sure, are always seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. I’m afraid I always come up short. That is why it is important to have this conversation. I don’t mean you any ill will. I disagree with you, that’s all. If I have come across as judging you I regret that and am sorry. We don’t have to agree on everything all the time to still be members of the Body of Christ!
You do not disagree with me on much brother. You have assumed you do.
The writers to this blog are very deep. Walk with them a while and you will see.
Peace,
Jim