Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mathew 5:3)
This gentle yet radical dialogue explores Biblical teachings related to the poor and the oppressed in our society. How do Christian scriptures address those who are silenced, such as homeless or impoverished women, children, and people of color? What responsibilities do Christians have toward those who are impoverished or discriminated against? How and why have Scripture been used to justify anti-Semitism, racism, slavery, the subordination of women, and the current anti-homosexual hysteria of the past several years? The presenters address Biblical interpretations that can liberate, but have sometimes silenced, the oppressed and sustained their oppression.
"When Jesus [was] asked what is the summary of the law, he does not give doctrinal answers. He does not say we want to believe certain things. He does not offer half of the rationale that the most orthodox Christians and the most rabid fundamentalists offer. Jesus answers that question very simply: 'You shall love the Lord, thy God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.'"
"In my opinion, the Bible does not create prejudice, but it does confirm prejudices that already do exist – if you wish…"
"In our own country, the whole principle of racial segregation was based not on some indifference to Scripture, but on some very clear notion that Scripture sanctioned racial prejudice. Scripture sanctioned racial segregation.
The most religious, most cherished, mot piously populated parts of the country happened to be those places where religion and racism, slavery, and segregation long have flourished. The most pious people found the Bible their easiest ally in maintaining the advantageous status quo and saw no conflict in their consciousness between their religious profession, on one hand, and their heinous social practices on the other
"We have seen in recent months where in South Africa the Dutch Reform Church has apologized publicly and profusely for what is called the abuse of Christian scripture in the maintenance of racial and social apartheid."
Gomes explains how Scripture can be used in such ways:
"The fact that the Bible is not a systematic handbook of philosophy or even of religion, but an enormous library, means that if you are a clever browser, you will certainly be able to find almost anything to support your particular enterprise."
Gomes believe Christians must move to understanding and abiding by the overriding principles within Scripture:
"When Jesus [was] asked what is the summary of the law, he does not give doctrinal answers. He does not say we want to believe certain things. He does not offer half of the rationale that the most orthodox Christians and the most rabid fundamentalists offer. Jesus answers that question very simply: "You shall love the Lord, thy God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself."
Richard Corbin, an Elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, tackled the famous and variously interpreted Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Corbin says he struggled with this Scripture as a child, "How can you be poor in the spirit and blessed?" He told of two experiences that gave him understanding of the spiritual blessing available to those suffering dire circumstances, one of what he calls the three promises related to poverty in the Bible. He spoke of hearing a talk by Hoosier author, Kurt Vonnegut, who'd studied (and struggled with) suicide. Vonnegut had found a very high rate of suicide among early American slave owners, and, yet, surprisingly, a very low rate among the enslaved. "Here these slaves had nothing….only to rely on their spirituality. Hence they were in their poverty blessed, " said Corbin, who also related this to the second of the three sets of promises in Scripture that relate to poverty: that oppressors are punished harshly.
Corbin talked about Yugoslavia, "When the Communists took over, their initial intent was to liberate the poor….one of the ways they did it was to take away the Church. They boarded up and closed all the Churches." The Communists preached socialism but in reality, the leaders of the country became richer and richer and the ordinary people became poorer and more oppressed. While the Churches were closed, families continued to worship in private in their homes. Corbin visited Yugoslavia right after the war and the fall of Communism and said, "I was very impressed by their spiritual values and family values…I thought 'Wow, what a blessing. In their poverty they are blessed.'"
The third promise in Scripture regarding poverty, according to Corbin, is that those who help the poor are blessed. The panel agreed that the obligation to help the poor does not stop with handouts; it extends to seeking social and economic justice.
Dr. Ed Towne, Emeritus Professor of Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, used a list of scriptures in his pull-no-punches talk, "What is our responsibility to the poor if we profess Christian values?" Dr. Towne tackled what he calls a morally bankrupt public dialogue that has suffered from "theological taintedness" that presumes little or no responsibility – or role for the government – in assisting to the poor:
"The public discussion rules out that we might want to be taxed for the poor and needy in our community….The poor are considered unworthy…."
"We as the public are disenfranchised morally to allow our voices to be heard in this way ... The ideological drift of the public discussion has as its influence the way we understand our responsibility toward the poor. So we need to look at what the Bible says because the Bible, I think, cuts through this ideological drift and in effect is saying to the Christian community, and to the community that respects the authority of the Bible, 'Put up or shut up. You either love God in the way in which God wants to be loved or you don't.' "
"I'd love to take on George Will," Dr. Towne added later.
The small group in attendance allowed for a real dialogue to take place among the panelists and the audience that inspired suggestions for linkages with other groups – not necessary religious -- that have shared moral values in the arena of social and economic justice.
Moderator:
Rev. Fred Milligan Former Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church
Guest Speakers:
Richard Corbin Elder Westminster Presbyterian Church
