Are The Poor Too Poor

In recent weeks, the Occupy Wall Street protests have drawn attention to the issue of economic disparities in America. Those facts seem particularly significant here in the poorest big city in America. Do too few have too much money and power? What values are at issue here and how should we process these protests?

by Andre E. Johnson

In reflecting on your question this week, I believe the question is not “are the rich too rich,” but “are the poor too poor?” I ask this in the context of being in the “richest country in the world.” I ask this because when we talk about the wealth gap, when we discuss poverty issues in America, we already have build in defenses that can easily move us away from the issues at hand. For instance, instead of talking about real concrete reasons why we have these massive gaps between rich and poor people such as examining policy initiatives that favor the rich and corporations that can continue to act “as people” and spend whatever they deem necessary to continue such egregious policies, we tend to get caught up in blaming individuals and calling for poor people to act more responsible while not asking the rich to be more socially responsible. Or the unconscionable defense, “well poor people got it better over here than anywhere else in the world.”

This was recently brought to home to me in an article titled, “Preachers Confront Last Taboo: Condemning Greed Amid Great Recession.” The article highlights Bishop Harry Jackson and articulates how hard it is for him and other preachers to act prophetically when it comes to addressing greed. The article quotes him as saying, “I’ve got to watch it. I could get into some big teaching on greed, but the reality is that a lot of that teaching may wind up creating anti-economic-growth and anti-capitalism concepts (in people’s minds). … I always talk about personal responsibility so we don’t get into the blame game.” Bishop Jackson’s admitting that he has to “watch it,” speaks volumes. Notice that it is not that his inability to get into some “big teaching” on greed but it “may wind up creating anti-economic-growth and anti-capitalism concepts.” Forget that it may be an authentic and faithful response to the insatiable and rapacious greed we are witnessing. Forget that God charges him with speaking “truth to power.” Forget even that it may be what God is calling him to proclaim in this particular season. Jackson is beholden to “the reality” that “a lot of that teaching” will rub many people the wrong way.

Sadly, Jackson is not alone in his struggle. There are many of us pastors and preachers who do not and indeed feel as if we cannot speak against what Christians believe is one of the seven deadly sins. Therefore, we genuflect to greed and capitulate to corporations all the while creating theologies that support our own vanity and inability to speak out against the rampant injustice that continues to go on right in our faces. May God heal and forgive us because we do not know what we do.

Are the Poor too Poor