Heart of the Matter ESPRESSO!
Show 10 539
No More Hacking Part VIII
February 28th, 2017
Radical Faith in God
Before we begin our program tonight, I have long been an advocate of radical faith in God. I was not born this way but instead have been trained and taught by Him, with plenty of failures on my part, that the MORE we rely on Him the more He comes through for us. This state of mind comes for some through trial and error but I want to reiterate my advocacy. Trust in the Lord, with all thine heart, and lean NOT unto your own understanding, and in all thy ways submit to Him and He (He HE) will direct your path.
My daughter Delaney (who directs the show with Kathy Maggie) decided after getting her undergraduate to try and get a masters in Architecture and if possible Engineering. This was not her only ambition. She also wanted to obtain this education from one of the top ten schools in the nation. NOT an easy task. Last week she had a dark night of the soul and told us that upon reflection it would be a miracle if she got accepted to any of the seven schools. This morning she not only got accepted to one of the top seven schools in the Nation for architecture she was accepted by the ONLY school to offer a dual Engineering degree AND a half scholarship for tuition. And she is still waiting on the other schools.
I want to make this clear – Delaney is a smart gal. And very creative. But her getting into this graduate program is an act of our God – whom we praise and thank tonight. Whatever it is that you have been created to do and be, trust in Him and be that thing – He WILL direct your path.
Homelessness and Poverty
I have told my wife in the past that the homeless situation plagues me – in part because I do not see a viable answer to it – one that would please everyone involved. To me, if all the states came together and funded a “city of refuge” out in the desert or somewhere where there was an abundance of land where any and all homeless would go to receive all the necessities of life, that would work. But we run into civil rights, and the fact that most of the homeless want to be homeless in the places they choose – so that would be a problem.
Know that I am not new to the subject but have since 2006 engaged with homeless people on an almost daily basis. Our brother here at CAMPUS (Dave) has been trying to work through some concept that would meet the need effectively rather than just putting a bandage over it.
Differentiating Between the Homeless and the Poor
As Christians, who read the Bible and see evidences that it is important to help the poor, comes to our definition of terms. In other words I personally think that we need to begin to differentiate between the “homeless” and “the poor.” It’s not that the homeless can’t be called poor or that some of the poor aren’t homeless, but to equate the two places Christians in a situation of being abused. This might lend to the first distinction between the homeless and the poor – the poor do not abuse, they are merely poor – without sufficient means to make ends meet.
I understand it’s sometimes hard to actually know, but there are indications and evidences that might at least help in our daily assessments. When abuses are present I tend to move people in my mind from poor to homeless. Let me give you an example. My daughter Delaney was at a stop light a month ago and watched as a young “homeless” kid was laughing and goofing off with his friends. She then actually saw him say to his friends, “Watch this! Watch this!” and he changed his countenance, cupped his hands, and approached her car begging for funds. That’s abuse.
At the same time, we might hear of a woman who has lost a husband, who is working at the bank, that is struggling to make ends meet. That’s poor. Another factor is to understand if the person we are helping enjoys their homelessness. Many do. Many want to be exactly where they are and actually think it is…
The Role of Society in Addressing Poverty
Incumbent on society to care for their wants and needs. I’ve met them, I talk with them, this is more often than not the case – regardless of the cause. They are standing against Paul’s biblical directive that plainly says: 2nd Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. Finally, we have to remember, Jesus left this world with poor, hungry people on it. He even admitted that “we will always have the poor with us.” We are not going to cure poverty. We are not going to cure homelessness. That is imputing our ideals and fears upon many people who want to be without a home.
What Jesus Gave the Poor
What exactly did Jesus give the poor? As Christians, this is significant. In Matthew 11, John the Baptist has been put in prison and was about to be put to death. We read at verse 2: "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Note that Jesus did not say, “And I came and the poor were given food to eat and homes to live in.” His gift and support to the poor was He shared the Gospel with them – the Good News, which once in the human heart, lifts the poor to a new state of mind, one that will enable them to cope with life through faith and trust in God.
A New Perspective on Giving
It is not by mistake that in Acts 3 we read at verse 2: "And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." In my estimation, this story is emblematic of our helping the spiritually lame to stand up on their own two feet by the power of Jesus Christ through sharing the Good news with them. How to get them to want to receive His offer is up to the Spirit. Our job is far more about sharing than experiencing immediate success. That’s between God and the individual involved.
The Heart and the Mouth
In Luke 6:44-45 Jesus says, "For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." That last line troubles me because my mouth has an ability to really say some vile things – which is all indicative of my heart, according to Jesus. Religion says MOUTH HEART. Relationship says HEART MOUTH. Religion tells us that we need to govern our tongues – and maybe that is good advice. But a relationship with Jesus tells us to change the heart –
Changing the Heart
And the mouth will follow. But how? How to change the heart? Are you ready? By the washing of the Word. Read the word, hear the word, by the Spirit. Consider that it says, no matter how convicting, and take its insights to God, asking Him to work in and through you and your heart. He will. And the mouth will follow.
Manipulations by the Wealthy
So MIT Professor of Linguistics, Dr. Noam Chomsky, has been explaining how the very wealthy (the top 1/10 of 1% of the world) ardently, even aggressively, seek to govern and control “the vile masses” through a number of manipulations and means. We have covered the first three of these manipulations and then I have applied them to what I believe is the same situation existing in the brick and mortar church – manipulations “of the few to govern the many.” The first three manipulations, which I believe flow down from dark powers and authorities, are to reduce Democracy (and we applied this aim to the masters of religion in the faith – to reduce democracy NOT work to maintain or increase it), shape Ideology (again, we applied this to organized religion and will actually speak more to this later in the year.)
And then to redesign the Economy (which we covered last week showing that the redesign included moving from manufacturing to a focus on finance (which was made possible through deregulation). In the church we said that deregulation has long been at the heart of the powers that Be as most churches long to be a one-stop shop for all the congregants they can get to buy into the vision). So tonight let’s cover the fourth Principle, which Chomsky says is to “Shift the Burden” (now that the Economy has been Redesigned through deregulation.) Of course, we will talk about this from a secular perspective (which Chomsky proposes – and again, I am not saying I entirely agree with his views on everything secular I just tend to think that his principles apply very well to Brick and Mortar institutional religion).
The American Dream and Economic History
“The American Dream,” Dr. Noam says, “like many ideals – was partly symbolic but partly very real.” As an example, he says: “In the 1950’s and 60’s there was significant growth in economic history. It was ‘the golden age of economic history.’ And it was pretty “egalitarian” (which we learned is a word that means “equality” among all peoples). To prove this he says – “the lower fifth of the population was increasing as much as the upper fifth of the population” during these glory days and adds that “during this time, when the US was primarily a manufacturing center, it was concerned with its own consumers.” That makes sense right? If the country is focused on manufacturing products the country wants to make sure that its citizens can afford to buy the products it produces. Not only because it increases profits but manufacturers (like automakers) want their employees to be able to buy the cars they produce so they can drive to work and buy homes, and live stable existences. Chomsky points out that Henry Ford famously “raised the salary of his workers so that they would be able to buy cars.”
International Plutonomy
But today he suggests that we are moving into what he calls “an international plutonomy.” What is an “international plutonomy?” It’s when “a small percentage of the world’s population is gathering increasing wealth.” In other words, an international plutonomy is the 1/10th of 1% of the world's wealthiest. Chomsky notes that what happens in the presence of an “international plutonomy” is American consumers become much less a concern to employers – especially in a market where the majority of money is made by their “financial manipulations” rather than in the manufacturing of goods). This basic indifference occurs because the top 1 percent know that most of the masses aren’t going to be consuming their financially based products – at least not in any meaningful way. The net result is there is less and less concern for Joe citizen and more and more concern for “profits in the next quarter – even if those profits are the results of financial manipulations,” high salaries, (for the top) and high bonuses (even if it means producing overseas). I would add to this list, “and insane benefit packages,” not available to “the vile masses.” Since these “goals” only affect the top players and manipulators – the Plutocrats – but what happens to the rest? There’s a term for the rest as
The Precariat and Plutocracy
Well – they are called “the Precariat” – a compound word derived from the terms “Precarious and Proletariat.” These are the millions of working people of the world (the proletariat) who live increasingly precarious lives due to the conditions heaped upon them by the Plutocrats and their manipulations to feed themselves. And we see its effect ALL around us – and growing. I am in a sense a precariat because of my choice of lifestyle but my oldest daughter and her family fulfill the word even more. Its constant work to just barely make ends meet.
Tax Burden Shift
So how have the Plutocrats manipulated things so they can benefit so greatly while literally allowing the masses to decline into precariatism so effectively? Chomsky says they shift the burden and it begins with tax breaks. During the period of great growth of the economy – the 50’s and 60’s (even earlier) – the taxes on the wealthy were far higher, corporate taxes were far far higher, taxes on dividends were much higher (and remember, dividends are a benefit for the wealthy, not the common man). Simply put, taxes on wealth were much higher. But the tax system, under Plutocrat power and sway, was redesigned so that the taxes that were once paid (by the very wealthy and the corporations) were greatly reduced, which caused the tax burden on the rest of the population to increase. This is a prime example of the “shifting of the burden.”
But there is a pretext to this. A pretext is a justification for an action that is not the real reason for the actions. And the pretext supplied by the Plutocrats is (in this case is), “this (strategy) increases investments and increases jobs!” But Chomsky replies: “There’s no evidence for that. If you want to increase investment into the economy pass the money on to the poor and the working people – they have to keep alive so they spend their incomes – that stimulates investment and leads to job growth and so on.” He continues: “But if you are an ideologist for the Masters you have a different objective – (Listen, he says,) in fact right now it is almost absurd – the corporations have money falling out of their pockets.” To support this comment he remarks: “General Electric (for example) is paying zero taxes – and they have enormous profits.” Therefore, he says, “The major American Corporations have shifted the burden of sustaining the society (through the taxes they should pay) upon the rest of the population.”
Parallels in Faith
So, to our concern – the modern Church established by Jesus and His twelve apostles. Are there parallels? Let’s walk through them and I’ll begin with two true stories: Not too long ago here in Utah a Pastor was collecting funds from the Church under the auspices for a special outreach to the poor. A friend of mine and his wife wanted to support this effort and sacrificed so as to give the drive $2000.00 – a lot of money for most people, but especially for them. At the end of the day the report came back that the drive fell short of the goal by about $1800.00. But in the meanwhile the Pastor and his family had $2000.00 allocated to them for a much needed vacation to Disneyland from the sum total of the amount collected. My friend in essence saw this as he and his wife funding the Pastor’s trip to the Magic Kingdom when their intention was to help the poor. This story perfectly evidences the elements of Plutocracy over Precariat – right here in the faith, right here in Utah, right here in my limited exposure to the problem. I mean this is ONE story that one man has heard. Imagine how many there are out there – especially over the centuries? All in the NAME of Jesus and the Good News?
Another story. It’s not so apparent but subtly smacks of plutocracy and the precariat. I write and study every morning in pretty much the same location. There is a pastor from a large local denomination who comes in five days a week for a bagel and coffee. He knows me from the show and will say, “Morning, Shawn,” from time to time. His congregation is taught to tithe. To bear the burden of this “religious tax” foisted upon all – including the poor. Last Sunday I was in this place preparing to teach. I was in jeans, boots and a flannel.
Taxation and Tithes in the Church
The pastor walked in. He was decked out in a suit, tie and had a nice new tan on his face. I heard him tell the cashier he had just returned from a tropical island with his family. I sidled up to him, put my arm around his shoulder and said to the cashier – “look at the two of us here. Hard to believe we are both in the same business, isn’t it?” He grimaced and pulled away from my embrace. He knew what I was saying.
See, in Chomsky’s analysis of the secular world, taxes play no less of a role than tithes do in the church – the burden is shifted to the masses. And it burdens the poor the most – instead of the rich. There are two T’s to consider when it comes to the Churches shifting the burden and heaping it on the back of the poor rather than serving them – taxes and tithing.
The Role of Taxes
First, let’s talk about taxes. Who pays taxes? People who make enough money to be taxed. The tax law says that people who donate to the church can write their donations off from their taxes. And so people of means, people who make money, donate to the church, and get the benefit of deducting it from their taxes. Do the poor get to write donations off from their taxes? They typically can’t because they don’t make enough money! So this tax loophole in the churches benefits the affluent or those who have, not those who don’t.
But this isn’t the biggest shift of the burden. The biggest shift comes in the second T, tithes. See, tithes in the churches are heaped on EVERYONE – poor and rich alike! But the rich or wealthy get to write their donations off so paying tithes has a needed benefit to them. But the poor, who typically have no purpose for a write-off, are expected to pay tithes without ANY benefit passed on to them whatsoever. And in this case, the burden has been expertly shifted to the poorest of the poor – again, in the name of God.
Ministerial Perks
The final shift of the burden by the top 1% to the masses comes by way of ministerial perks. Family vacations, life insurance packages, benefits, and the like for pastors (that are provided for as a direct result of demanded tithes) illustrate nothing but a “plutocrat/precariat” relationship in the faith – when it ought to be the reverse. Didn’t Jesus, when asked by John and James' mother if her sons could sit on his right and left, teach his disciples: 25 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Now, in the spirit of transparency, I have to admit my own guilt and personal culpability in the arena of pastoral benefits. I am personally grateful for the tax-exempt status we enjoy at CAMPUS. Because without it those with means would never give us a cent but would instead give it to a place where a write-off is allowed. I am able to justify this perk by standing maniacally against tithes, collections, or gathering donations of any kind at CAMPUS. But I have to admit I feel a bit of cowardice in not walking from the tax-exempt status altogether. The only justification I have (that allows me to sleep at night) is we do not talk about political things anyway so the tax-exempt status is just laying there for people to take advantage of – if they need it – and it NEVER works hand in hand with the tithes.
Additionally, I also personally benefit from a tax loophole in that I receive part of my monthly income in the form of a housing allowance which is reported but not taxable by the IRS. This is a Tax perk not available to others. So last year I earned $27,000.00 of taxable income and another $20,000.00 or so in housing. Very blessed to receive what we do but believe the way I receive income is in harmony with what I do.
Ministry and Wealth
This cannot be said when a church or ministry (and the pastors running them at the top 1%) are dealing in the millions. Getting back to Chomsky’s fourth principle applied to the church, the burden has shifted in the faith even though Jesus said that the greatest in the kingdom ought to be servants and ministers.
I had one brother explain to me that it is the believers who are demanding nice buildings and comfy seats and big budgets, which cause the pastors to build them and demand payment, but my response is “the pastors ought to refuse to give them what they want and teach them that instead of living for their own comforts to make the church a church of sacrifice.” Now don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with people who personally choose to live in comfort, who take vacations, or live in luxury. That is every individual's right.
Burden Shift in the Church
But are talking about the church, AND we are talking about the shift of a burden from the church who are part of it trying to scrape by while the pastors and churches benefit from their personal burdens. In the secular fallen world, the few do NOT give their lives for the many. They take. When this becomes the condition of the Church, the Church is nothing more than an extension of the World.
Conclusion
And with that, we will open up the phone lines –
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Take a look at this Spot, and be back in a minute:
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