I'm continuing with Brian McLaren's book as he explores the problems and excesses of our prosperity system, equity system, and security system. Some of the most difficult parts for me to read are the statistics regarding the gap between the rich and the poor in this world: 6 million children under age 5 starve each year? the assets of the world's richest 3 individuals exceed the combined gross domestic product of the world's 48 poorest countries??
This is grim information that leaves me feeling ashamed. But, McLaren acknowledges that this feeling creates an obstacle to talking about these problems. He recognizes that many of us feel we are being blamed for the poverty of others, when all we have done is taken advantage of the opportunities presented to us, worked hard, and reaped good consequences. He says that we miss the point if we merely blame the rich for the poverty of the poor; our true focus should be on eliminating the "systematic injustice" that contributes to the gap between rich and poor.
McLaren points to the parable of the workers in the vineyard found in Matthew 20:1-16 and the dishonest manager in Luke 16:1-13. While these stories don't seem "fair" under our usual societal rules, McLaren calls them examples of God's fairness, "a fairness that includes grace that can heal society and undermine systematic justice, not just maintain its status quo."
What might be a modern day equivalent of these stories? Have you seen any recent examples of God's fairness?
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I think we see God's fairness every day - but there is no way we understand it.
God sends rain on the just and the unjust - he blesses even those who don't deserve it.
Sometimes God's fairness can seem so wrong, and sometimes it can be downright depressing.
But I think it also says that WE need to make things fairer in our world - God isn't going to do it all for us.
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