You can lead a person to a Bible, but you can't make him read it, much less act on what it says. Last year, the American Bible Society shipped out three more tons of Bibles than they shipped out last year, yet as ABS president R. Lamar Vest bemoaned to Gordon Robertson on the 700 Club, "Bible literacy continues to go down."
To prove that statement, ABS commissioned a poll by Harris Interactive asking some simple questions, including finding out if people knew who said this: "You must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless."
Fifty four percent of those asked got it wrong. Hint: It's not President Obama, which is what 16 percent thought. It's not the Dalai Lama who got 9 percent, or event Martin Luther King Jr. at 8 percent, or Oprah at 4 percent, or even U2 singer Bono who got a 3 percent response.
Instead, it's a verse from the Bible, Proverbs 31:8-9 to be exact.
The poll is in service to the American Bible Society's latest vanity Bible — the Poverty and Justice Bible that features a cover depicting breaking chains. On the inside you'll find more than 2,000 verses that deal with issues of poverty and justice bolded by a bright orange highlight.
"The Poverty and Justice Bible seeks to challenge the notion that the Bible is outdated and proves that God — not politicians, celebrities or even our greatest activists — was the first to speak out on today's most pressing issues of poverty and injustice," said Richard Stearns, president and CEO of World Vision, an international relief organization and collaborator on the Bible project.
I'm not sure that it's because the Bible is "outdated" that so many people can't pick out scripture verses dealing with issues of poverty and justice. The poll really proves that the religious right has so thoroughly hijacked the real message of the Bible that when people quote passages about helping the poor, the Bible is the last thing we think would support such a thing.
With right-wing politicians and religious outfits using Jesus as everything from a wealth building partner, to a business CEO to a partner in denying equality in all areas of life to other human beings, is it really any surprise that most people don't know that the in the Bible God has a definite preference for the poor and outcast? Jesus' message of helping the least of these has been so co-opted by the religious right and conservative politicians that the American Jesus is all about increasing our personal wealth and sweeping the poor and outcast under the carpet, denying them healthcare, financial assistance and more.
There are some redeeming qualities about the Poverty and Justice Bible. In some ways, it can be a good teaching tool. In an illuminating interview with Vest on the 700 Club, even Pat Robertson's son Gordon was moved to declare that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was all about denying help to the poor — not one mention of homosexuality. That is some measure of progress, and perhaps the first time 700 Club viewers had heard of such a thing.
Certainly, if this Bible moves people to get involved in programs, charities, and policy initiatives that are working to alleviate the suffering of poverty and injustice, then I am all for it. What I fear, however, is that this is another way for people to assuage their guilt over the poor with yet another purchase. They can proudly display their Poverty and Justice Bible on the coffee table, give lip service to the issue, but never really be moved to get engaged.
It's true that the bad economy is affecting us all in some way or another. Giving to charitable organizations has continued todecline for the third year. Those charities hit the hardest? Those trying to help the hungry and homeless, according to Giving USA. As the giving decreases, the pain increases as nearly 47.4 million people live in poverty and some 3.5 million Americans are homeless in a given year.
My other concerns come from Vest himself, who, in the course of his 700 Club interview made it clear that part of his goal is not just to "give a handout" to the needy, but to proselytize them as well:
"That's why we feel like any kind of charitable organization that is Christian has to be so attached to the Bible. The American Bible Society is all about scripture, but we are there alongside the relief agents to say if people read and understand God's word there will be transformation in their lives," he told Robertson.
It's no shock, I suppose, that Christians want to recruit others to be Christians, but other religions also demand that their adherents take care of the poor and needy. One need not be a Christian to heed the Bible's call, the call of another religion, or the ethics of humanism to help lift people from poverty and injustice.
It's also a bit hypocritical for Robertson to be pontificating on the virtues of helping the poor when his father's own Operation Blessing has a spotty history of actually aiding the poor and oppressed.
Far from the media's gaze, Robertson has used the tax-exempt, nonprofit Operation Blessing as a front for his shadowy financial schemes, while exerting his influence within the GOP to cover his tracks. In 1994 he made an emotional plea on The 700 Club for cash donations to Operation Blessing to support airlifts of refugees from the Rwandan civil war to Zaire (now Congo). Reporter Bill Sizemore of The Virginian Pilot later discovered that Operation Blessing's planes were transporting diamond-mining equipment for the African Development Corporation, a Robertson-owned venture initiated with the cooperation of Zaire's then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
I can't help but believe that Robertson's empire will stop at nothing to defend its wealth at the expense of the least of these. But, perhaps others in the viewing audience might be moved by this new Bible to get the job done.
I do believe, however, that Vest and his organization are sincere and that they want a people to again read the Bible instead of having it collect dust on the shelf. I suppose I would be a bit more impressed, however, if proceeds of the sales of the Poverty and Justice Bible, or even a portion of the proceeds, were going to help the poor and oppressed. ABS does, indeed, have a grant program they say helps places like Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation army, but nothing seems to be directly going to help the needy from this new Bible. I hope this Bible will spur some to action to help the needy, but for now, it seems that the one who stands to profit the most is the publisher.
Tags: bible, evangelical, fundamentalist, justice, poverty
The Poverty and Justice Bible may turn out to be an important tool if the poor are helped with systemic justice (new laws that protect the poor, new ways of governing, access to political channels,changes in money systems, enforcement of human rights laws, crack-down on overt capitalism etc., the stopping of world slavery markets, health insurance) as well as "triage" help that actually does provide immediate care, (daily bread this day, this hour, this second), medical supplies and treatment, mosquito nets and clean water.
As in the first century Empire has a vested interest in keeping the poor - poor! What can we do to change that? Reading the poverty texts may be a good place to start. Maybe Pat Robertson can read the poverty texts on "Money Mondays" which is the segment of his show where he gives advice on stocks and bonds, buying gold - basically investment tips for the well-to-do! It is a travesty...and very far from the one who first came on the world stage to bring good news - to the poor.
“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God…” (Luke 6:20)
Another verse says something very similar:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3)
Both verses mention 'the kingdom of God' and/or 'the kingdom of heaven', therefore the poor and poor in spirit are speaking about the same thing.
It's a matter concerning the spirit and not a financial thing:
"...But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:2)
Poor, contrite and 'one who trembles at my word' are expressions concerning a person's spiritual state. God is concerned for our spirit (God's image) because that influences, and changes, our human soul so that it can be saved.
"...If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Matt. 19:21-22, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:33)
Jesus didn't tell the rich young ruler to 'sell his possesions and give to the poor', Jesus just said, sell what you have.
Jesus always spoke in parables (mysteries, puzzles, conundrum)and was telling the rich young ruler to 'sell his old knowledge about what he thought the kingdom of God was like' and 'buy the truth':
"Buy the truth, and do not sell it,also wisdom and instruction and understanding." (Prov. 23:23)
The rich young ruler wrongly thought that God's kingdom could be 'bought' with 'monetary (worldly)' sacrifices but God's sacrifices are always spiritual in nature:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
spirit and heart are the same words
We are to buy the truth so we can be rich in the knowledge of God's kingdom:
"the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33)
If you read the parables in the gospels about 'treasure hid in a field' and the 'pearl of great price', you will see both men in those stories sold all they had in order to buy. Buying and selling is a spirit matter.
"...the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:5)
God is concerned that all people hear 'the gospel'. We can't see into the spirits of people so we must not judge outwardly as men do. If we preach God's impartial message to everyone without judgement, the 'poor in spirit' will hear the message and repent (after understanding)and in this way do we minister to the poor.
I should explain why I posted this comment. I wanted to show both religious and non that Jesus was speaking in a metaphysical sense.
The tragedy is that religious people are taking the words literally. The very people who are supposed to be able to explain the words, can't, hense the confusion.
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"...If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Matt. 19:21-22, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:33)
Jesus didn't tell the rich young ruler to 'sell his possesions and give to the poor', Jesus just said, sell what you have.
Jesus always spoke in parables (mysteries, puzzles, conundrum)and was telling the rich young ruler to 'sell his old knowledge about what he thought the kingdom of God was like' and 'buy the truth':
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A little disingenous on your part, because prior to telling the young man to sell what he has, Jesus tested the young man on his religious knowledge. The young man passed all the tests on religious knowledge put before him by Jesus. The passage about "sell what you have and give to the poor" is a change in gears at the very least, indicating something other than mere "knowledge" is involved.
Secondly, the phrases "sell what you have" and "give to the poor" are connected in a rather direct way by the word "and." "Give to the poor" rather directly follows "sell what you have" in a rather pointed way, even for a parable.
Also, the word "sell" has definite meaning. It means find a buyer and exchange something for what you are selling. "Giving up old knowledge" does not require that you sell the old knowledge to anyone, just throw it out with yesterday's memories.
This appears to be a rejection of the actual message of Jesus. No doubt the folks you got this tripe from also insist that there was an actual gate of Jerusalem called "Eye of the Needle."
Taking messages out of context is the act of one whose personal beliefs do not mesh with the work as a whole. Take, for example, the context of Matthew 19 and Luke 12, specifically Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13-14 (note why the Pharisees are deriding Jesus for the reason why most translators translate the word "Mammon" as "Money"):
Luke 16:13-14 "'No domestic is able to serve two lords, for either the one he will hate, and the other he will love; or one he will hold to, and of the other he will be heedless; ye are not able to serve God and mammon.' And also the Pharisees, being lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and were deriding him,"
Also note that in Luke 16:19-31, the rich man goes to Hell precisely because he is so wealthy. No other reason is given for which he should have repented (and for which his relatives should now repent).
The message of the Gospels is quite clear: lots of money and expensive stuff in your personal possession, especially when people all over are going hungry and unable to pay for medical care, is a Sin, or at least Sinful Behavior.
I have a copy of this Bible, and, as Candace mentions, there are over 2000 verses highlighted inside. The verses marked are not merely every mentioning of the word 'poor', but all issues of justice - including women, children, the stranger & foreigner among you, etc. It is certainly a concern of mine that the publishers used a CEV translation, but overall I appreciate the idea of bringing stark attention to the overwhelming message of caring for one another as God would have us do.
Oh, and @duck, I don't think the article assumed that only the poor are worthy of the gospel. or that only bodily needs are to be met - in fact, I know that wasn't the intent of the author. Few people really 'know' the gospel message as well as they think they do, and I, for one, am always learning from it. This Bible is a good way, though, for anyone to cross-reference a question on what biblical scriptures say on justice issues.
What would be the "vested interest in keeping the poor poor?" I thought the idea was that everybody should be up and buying something, starting businesses and creating jobs, etc.
One of the reasons for the crash was that loans were being made to people without the income to pay on them.
How could it be in the interests of any society to have a large mass of financially inert people.
For one reason, poor people are easier to exploit.
Take, for example, all the sub-prime loans made to people without the income to pay for them. Did the people who made the loans suffer? No, for their commissions were paid at time of sale, and their CEO bonuses were locked in place at the time they signed their contracts. And the extra loans would not have been made without the exploitation of the poor to extract money from the banks to line the pockets of the securities CEOs and the realtors.
There is also the point that if people at the bottom start getting reasonable wages, they might interfere with the control over the country the people at the top are currently exercising.
The people at the top benefit from a lot of people at the bottom without the means to resist exploitation and without the means to interfere in the activities of the people at the top. This is the "vested interest in keeping poor people poor."
One of the reasons WalMart pays most of its employees so little is because once you go above a certain economic demographic, you stop shopping at WalMart. Flips the Henry Ford Wages Theory on its head: instead of paying your employees a lot so they can afford the products your business sells (like Henry Ford did, as well as creating a Weekend so they'd have time to drive), you pay them so little (and make them work weekends and nights) that they are forced to buy your products.
Nah. Everybody shops at walmart. The rich might not buy clothes there...
Yes. It's complete nonsense. Just political, not scientific. Most of the people who signed it weren't even scientists, much less atmospheric experts.
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