The other day someone close to me commented that a friend of hers attended a Christian wedding where she noticed that many of the women in attendance wore diamonds. She asked me if it were true that most believers have an affinity for these gems. While I’m sure that there are plenty of Christians who like diamonds I don’t happen to be one of them. While I don’t believe that there’s anything wrong with wearing the hardest naturally occurring stones found on earth, my wife assures me that when it comes to diamonds, and jewelry in general, I am mentally handicapped, that is to say that my disability is an inability to perceive any value in jewelry. Although there was no intent to do so, the question about diamonds along with much of what I’m seeing on television and on the internet makes me think that many hold the perception that Christians are rich. That strikes me as funny because right now, most of the Christians I’m close to happen to be unemployed.
These thoughts along with what I’m seeing and hearing about the Occupy Wall Street movement remind me of a story Jesus tells:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”
Luke 16:19-25
Or to quote Gayle Erwin, author of the book The Jesus Style.
The Pharisees loved money and were rich. They despised the poor and thought they were cursed by God.
The poor people heard Jesus Gladly.
The Pharisees killed Jesus.
The bottom line:
God isn’t a conservative republican.
Nor is He a liberal democrat.
God is a revolutionary and He sent His Son to lead His revolution.
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