Musings: On Wealth and Power

Lately we’ve seen what can happen when people in positions of power aren’t held accountable. People are hurt. Relationships broken. Trust betrayed.

When the Mark Driscolls of this world are faced with criticism (especially from people they’ve hurt), they come up with Proverbs or historical quotes to make them look like the victim or to restore their self-image. They are “God’s man on the planet for such a time as this” and “Who are you to question God’s annointed?” In reality many of them are just narcissistic bullies without the humility to consider a critique.

When criticized, these pseudo-spiritual “Wizards of Oz” (they look big and scary and important, but are actually quite small) are quick to point to “the enemy.” They are under spiritual attack! And that attack is, of course, the result of them doing God’s work in the world. Their zeal has caught the attention of the dark forces out to destroy God’s work.

The worst part to me is the way scripture is twisted to suit agendas. Verses from the bible are hauled out of their context (both textually and historically) and used in the slimiest of ways.

So, I recently heard one such leader discuss the story from Matthew 19 about the rich young ruler.

Jesus has shown up in a town east of the Jordan and he’s healing the sick. The Pharisees roll up and start questioning him about divorce.

Jesus paints this beautiful picture of two people being knit together. He says that it’s a thing that God does and no one should separate something like that.

“Yeah, well…so…uh…why did MOSES say that a man could divorce his wife? Tell us THAT, JEE-ZUSS!!!” cries a Pharisee because that’s what he sounds like in my mind.

I can just picture Jesus turning away from healing some poor blind kid and looking that questioner dead in the eye. And with a mysterious mix of love and frustration say:

“Because you’re heartless. You’ve got no heart. God doesn’t want it that way. You do.”

A few verses later we see a lovely portrayal of power surrounding itself with weakness. Jesus telling his friends to stop pushing the children away. He welcomes them. I see that blind kid he just healed hauled up onto his lap. I imagine Jesus holding this little boy who moments ago could not see now staring into the face of his loving Lord. The most powerful being there that day and he chooses to surround himself with the weakest.

I’m consistently amazed how Jesus turns things upside down.

I love the idea of Jesus sitting there, surrounded by kids, probably being interrupted with silly questions. You know some kid is giving Jesus a detailed account about the lizard he saw earlier that day and somehow God-With-Us is connecting with his creation and vice versa.

From the edge of the crowd, this good looking, wealthy young guy speaks up.

“Teacher! What good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus’ reply leaves the man devastated and he turns and walks away.

I picture him watching that young man walk away, head hung low and sadly saying, “Man, it’d be easier to shove a rope (check it out—that’s a possible translation) through the eye of a sewing needle than for guys like that to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

And I think of how this guy with all of his earthly treasures and responsibilities and business. And how that life doesn’t invite us into an upside-down Kingdom where the weak are closer to God than the powerful and the poor are considered greater than the rich.

Jesus consistently talked about The Kingdom of God/Heaven as a present reality. He invited people into it. The Kingdom of Heaven was (and still is) the Gospel message.

Throughout these encounters Jesus takes the power structures created by mankind and exposes them for the empty, cheap options they are. Divorce: the privilege of the men of that time to do away with a woman they no longer wanted called out for the awful, destructive thing it is. Wealth: the riches of this world means nothing in light of the greater kingdom. Power: everyone knowing who you are and what you have and what you control will get you nowhere.

I am hearing things I once believed true being torn apart and laid bare by the words of Jesus.

When I see those in power justifying themselves before man using carefully selected scriptures, those with wealth treating the poor with scorn, those with privilege turning a deaf ear and blind eye to the persecuted, I see a rich young ruler. Unwilling to give up his kingdom for a better one. Striving to appear good by upholding all the laws, but failing to see God offering him everything for free.

Evangelical radio show host/personal finance guy Dave Ramsey says to those in debt: “Sell everything! Have a yard sale! Sell so much stuff the kids think they’re next!!! Get a second job!!! Get GAZELLE INTENSE!!!”

Perhaps that intensity is better applied in this way:

Sell everything. Give it all up and follow God. Don’t do it just to obey the law and get out of debt. Get intense about surrounding yourself with the “weak” among you because they will teach you some good stuff! Do it because that shit you’re hanging onto is in the way of something better. It’s in the way of the Kingdom of God.

And despite what I see in others, I must immediately turn to the mirror and consider what I’ve held on to. The rewards for all my hard work—all shit, but it’s mine. I clutch it to my chest, justifying myself by my good deeds or my wit or my intelligence or my experience. God is offering me everything but I walk away.

I walk away from God and leave, my head slumped between my shoulders.

I’m still trying to figure out what my stuff is. I know that where I am is pretty damn good, but it’s not THE Kingdom of God. I’ve got plenty of stuff to get rid of before I’m there.