*This was originally posted in September 2014. In light of recent events that have caused some to respond with violence, hate, and fear, I thought it appropriate to re-post.
Remember the Holocaust in Germany and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda? I have noticed a few similarities:
1. Their political and government leaders built up resentment between people groups.
2. The Church, as a whole, was silent at best – complicit at worst.
3. Millions of people died.
4. The world looks back and wonders, “How could this have happened?”
1. Their political and government leaders built up resentment between people groups.
2. The Church, as a whole, was silent at best – complicit at worst.
3. Millions of people died.
4. The world looks back and wonders, “How could this have happened?”
We are seeing the stage being set for the same thing to take place in America.
Racism* is blamed for every ill and has led to the division of our citizens into hyphenated Americans. Socio-economic differences make you either an “oppressor” or a “victim”. The things that used to bring us together, like Faith and patriotism, are continually being spat upon and pushed out of the public sphere. With so many divisions, is it really any wonder that we are in such a state of chaos? Pride and resentment have always been and will continue to be stumbling blocks. However, if we claim the title “Christian”, we ought to be slow to allow such labels to be placed on ourselves and others. Before putting on labels, it is crucial that we look at life circumstances through the microscope of Scripture.
The expectation we have of what is or is not fair is huge. Bigger still, how do we view our role in addressing fairness. Is the word “fair” used, as we use it, even in God’s vocabulary?
The Parable of the Loaned money in Matthew 25: 14-30 has much to say to us about how we are to look at the circumstances and material possessions of others, as well as our own.
14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an
abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. " (BibleHub, NASB)
abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. " (BibleHub, NASB)
God gives some people more, some less. Only He knows the real reason why, and that is as it should be. Ours is not to compare ourselves to those with more or less.
Ours is to be trustworthy with what we have been given.
It is noteworthy that the slave whom the Master gave one talent to, he also calls “wicked and lazy”. The implication is that He wants us to be industrious, productive. Doing so may keep us from wickedness. The Master then passes by Slave #2, who was only given 2 talents, and gives the lazy slave's talent to Slave #1.
The Master did not even out the gifts between the two faithful slaves.
Given the counsel coming from some religious leaders now-a-days, it is interesting to note what He does not say to the slave with one talent. He does not say, “How could you possibly do anything worthy. I only gave you one talent. Poor thing, you should take talents from the other two servants since they have more. You are a victim of your circumstances. How could I possibly expect you to over come your lack of talent and invest well?”
I find it interesting that Slave #2 is not recorded as being pouty when he is passed by as the Master gives the lazy slave’s talent to the one who now has ten! Perhaps that is because he is already too busy working at his newest job - growing those four talents!
As a Christian, are you prepared to say God was unkind, unjust, and unfair in his handing out of the talents?
Me, neither.
Let me say this in as neutral a way as I know how. There was an event that took place about a month ago that ended with a young black man dead, a hospitalized white police officer who will forever be labeled a racist, a city flooded with violence, and a nation in upheaval. As I am writing this, a video has come out of a different city showing a hundred or so black youth attacking white people in a shopping mall parking lot and grocery store. I am not going to attempt to be judge and jury here. I hope you are wise enough not to as well. There is not one ethnicity which holds the patent on being racist or violent. I paraphrase Jim Liske, President of Prison Fellowship, who has rightly said, the problem is when we see others “not as a co-creation of God, bearers of God’s image… as our brothers, [we] see them as obstacles”. The point is, violence is becoming more random and prevalent.
Here is what really concerns me looking back on to the events in Ferguson; Our President and Department of Justice immediately stepped in to make divisive claims of racism before there was even a trial. There were a number of prominent religious leaders (of all colors) that did the same.
That is not justice.
It is, however, the M.O. of governments where divisions have led to the senseless murder of millions.
Here is what I hope you will do.
Consider that as the Church, we have an opportunity to make better choices than the German or Rwandan Churches** did. Instead of stoking the fires of pride, resentment, and division, we can point people to where God points us.
Invest well what YOU have been given.
Consider that our equality comes in our being created in the image of God and value as human beings, while our circumstances may be very different. Consider that God calls us to compassion, not competition. Consider how we may be able to join with those who have started with less, to come along side them to help them grow what they have in a God-honoring way. Consider that there is great dignity and empowerment in personal responsibility, including how we respond to evil, be it real or perceived.
The victim mentality in our culture has no place being in a Christian’s DNA.
According to Scripture, we are more than conquerors! Each will be held accountable for our actions. Regardless of the events in our lives, color of our skin, zip code, or I.Q., we will not get a “Free to Squander Talent” card. To live life as if we will is frightfully dangerous. We have seen this in recent history.
I believe the fulcrum of change rests on Christ’s Church.
We do not have to end up with millions dead before we wake up. Let us be wise to learn from Germany and Rwanda. Do not buy into the “us vs. them” mentality. Do not buy into resentment and pride. Our relief and healing comes when we exchange our mourning for gladness, not resentment, fear, or retaliation. We ARE the light. We are responsible for shining in this darkness.
We do not have to end up with millions dead before we wake up. Let us be wise to learn from Germany and Rwanda. Do not buy into the “us vs. them” mentality. Do not buy into resentment and pride. Our relief and healing comes when we exchange our mourning for gladness, not resentment, fear, or retaliation. We ARE the light. We are responsible for shining in this darkness.
Embrace what we share in common.
Focusing on what makes us the same will lead to healing. We are from the same Father, each of us created in His likeness. We want to retain our freedom to worship and share ideas in the public square without threat or fear of violence or retribution. We want to have whole families being raised up in loving homes. Start here.
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
The Master will return. May He be able to say of each of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
________
Please take a moment to visit the links below. Their stories of having been given little, but making the most of what they did have, inspire me.
Read about Gideon, David, and Ruth.
More recent examples are:
A brave and beautiful example of what can be done to bring peace between enemies: Pierre Dulaine and Miri Shahaf-Levi
*Racism, like domestic violence, rape, jealousy, theft, murder, human sex trafficking, abortion, and child abuse are symptoms that we slap band-aids on instead of dealing with the real issue; We see each other as obstacles to what we want instead of co-creations of God. Racism will always be with us. I wish that were not true, but it is. However, I believe Americans have a much better understanding of how we should view and treat others, based on our shared Judeo-Christian worldview, whether we are confessing Christians, or not. At this writing, we are witnessing whole people groups being slaughtered because of their race or religion in the Iraq, Egypt, and Africa. I pray we don't follow in their footsteps.
**I highly recommend viewing "As We Forgive".
.png)