Closing the wealth gap, a Christian calling

Recently I attended a workshop on future provision of services for people in their senior years. Baby boomers are entering their senior years. In our own area the projection of growth in the number of senior persons is enormous. People are living longer, their health care needs are expanding, and a significant number of seniors are not financially prepared for their retirement years. The projections were challenging enough, but lurking in the shadows (it was never mentioned at the workshop) is the enormous growing gap between the rich and the poor. Many seniors will have limited income and the rich (with few exceptions) are unwilling to part with their millions.

Once again I was reminded that this is a top priority concern in the Bible and an overriding concern in the ministry of Jesus from Nazareth. Allow me to repeat the Bible standards in reference to wealth. When we first pick up the story of the Israelites, they were nomadic herders with no land to call their own. This all changed when Joshua claimed Palestine for a home for Israelites. The transition from herders to farmers was a difficult process. Under the military might of King David, the land was finally secured and divided among the people. The goal was equity. However, Israelite law did not allow true ownership. The land belonged to God. The Israelite farmers were understood to be tenants. Recognizing that some tenant farmers did better than others, there were rules about sharing. Every seven years all debts were to be canceled and all slaves were to be set free. Then every 50 years, all land was to be returned to the temple priests and was to be redistributed with equity for all. Land was never to be inherited. Specific provisions were made for widows and orphans.

The standard was very clear. Among Israelites, there was to be no person living in continuing poverty. In Israelite thinking, there was never a shortage. There was plenty for all. When the gap between the wealthy and the poor and needy appeared, it was time for drastic action. Wealth (especially land) was to be redistributed.

Jesus lived and taught among very poor Jews. Central to his teachings was a call for radical redistribution of wealth. Was Jesus a socialist? No! Jesus was a Jew who knew the requirements of Israelite law and was demanding compliance. Was Jesus calling for a literal keeping of the law? I believe not. Rather I believe he was calling for radical change to address the needs of the poor with justice and equity.

The attendance at the workshop about the future needs of seniors was carefully crafted. Members of the Alaska State Legislature and candidates for election to the state legislature were very prominently seated. Much of the crowd was made up of executives of agencies that provide services for seniors. Most of the speakers were obviously selected with thoughtful care.

The punch line of the workshop was clear. It was addressed to legislators and want-to-be legislators. “We want and will need a lot more government money to meet the needs!” And here is where the clash begins. The legislators, after heartfelt assurance to all that they cared immensely, made no commitments. The legislators have warned that budget cutting and shortages lie ahead.

In a fact-filled article in Sojourners magazine, Julie Polter summarized the financial realities in America. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This is not a new phenomenon. It happened in Israel; it happened in Jesus’ day; it has happened multiple times in America. Today the 400 richest Americans have as much wealth as all 41 million African Americans. One percent of Americans own 35 percent of our wealth. 10 percent own 77 percent of all our wealth. The bottom 40 percent carry negative wealth. In other words, they have more debts than assets.

The legislators are quite correct. Government is running out of wealth available for distribution. There is no shortage of American wealth. However, it is not held by government but by enormously wealth elites, who show little willingness to share.

Christians, Jews and Muslims all honor the Old Testament that carries the Israelite financial scheme. According to the Bible, the good folk that gathered at our recent workshop should be addressing the American rich. They have the money.

By Bible standards, drastic actions need to be taken. The first possible option is for the rich to become absurdly generous. Jesus urged one wealthy man to sell everything that he had and to give the money to the poor. The rich man went away sorrowful. In our own day, billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett are exceptional in their generosity and are encouraging others to do likewise. However, they are the exceptions. Greed still rules. Do not hold your breath waiting for the wealthy to embrace the poor as their neighbor.

The next drastic option is aggressive taxation. Before the 1980s U.S. top tax rates were 70 percent or higher. Now they are about half that. Higher taxation puts more money in the public pocket. This may not be the ideal, but ordinary people have more access to the public conscience than they do to the hearts of the obscenely rich.

The third option comes straight from Bible standards. Israelite law forbids inherited wealth. Americans should at least drastically increase taxes on inherited wealth.

If the needs of our senior population are to be addressed, drastic action is needed. Jesus is still calling for justice for a hurting world.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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