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| Over the past three decades our wealth has been distributed upwards, to a small fraction of our population. I just purchased a used copy of this book ($5.50 !) to learn more about what we should do about it. |
1. Joyfully cut our energy, food, recreational, travel and dining out spending by half.
2. Compassionately choose to live on an income approximating that of average households worldwide.
3. Cheerfully live on a poverty level typical of welfare-recipients in our community.
If sufficient numbers of followers of Jesus, the Hebrew prophets, and others were to do so, and invest their resulting savings to world relief and development efforts, we could help save the planet and remove many of the world's disparities. And we wouldn't wait for governments to do this for us, though the world's military budgets do remain a huge part of the problem.
As the former president of World Vision points out in his best selling book, The Hole in Our Gospel, the so-called "Christian" nations of North Americans and Europeans represent only 17% of the world's population but control 60% of its wealth. They are also the greatest supporters of the massive and murderous military-industrial complex.
On a personal level, in the first century the apostle Paul urged believers in Corinth to generously share their modest wealth with famine stricken sister congregations in Judea, nearly 900 miles away. He proposed this not as an act of charity but for the sake of creating a greater sense of justice and equality. In light of their forms of travel and communication, the sheer geographical distance involved would be much like the other side of the world would be to us today:
"It is only fair for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share." II Corinthians 8:13b-14, CEV
2 comments:
If only the developed nation leaders could see and ponder and implement more of what the banner is communicating. What changes could there would be if , in their giving, they brought goodwill from all those receiving and win the appreciation and potential peace that would result.
I agree. The US missed a great opportunity when, following the 9/11 outpouring of sympathy well wishing, we could have invested our resources in an all out pursuit of world peace rather than seeking revenge and retribution.
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