Polarization
We live in an increasingly polarized, divided, and even schismatic
society. The so-called middle class is
all but gone, a dinosaur, a lost relic from a bygone era. We are especially divided over money with 40%
of the nation’s wealth in the hands of 1% of the population; while 90% struggle
in a shared poverty consisting of some of the remaining wealth. In between, lie the 90 to 99% which could be
thought of as the middle class: 90 to 95%, lower middle class; 95 to 99%, upper
middle class.
Mind you, our lower 90% appear to be quite wealthy when
contrasted with the rest of the world: at least in terms of things like houses
and cars. However, are houses and cars
real indicators of genuine wealth? Or is
this a bogus evaluation? Or is the whole
idea that 40% of all wealth resides with the 1%, is that idea also bogus?
This looks like class warfare to me, and it is class warfare. Yet, is it the kind of class warfare a
rational person might expect? Moreover,
we must ask, is it all bad? Is it all
bad? Or, rather, is it indeed good?
I would suggest that these two Titans have been clashing for
a long time: at least since 1850 in the United States; perhaps earlier than
1550 in Europe. Does it in fact dawn
from Creation and the Fall of Man? Is it,
in fact, the logical outcome of God’s clash with Satan and the wicked angels,
as well as man’s choice to side with wickedness, rather than with God?
I would submit to you that our present polarization is
exactly that, an increasing division between the decision to follow evil, and
the decision to follow God. This is a
division in which the lines of battle become more clearly painted every
day. Still, some confusion remains as
some still struggle to bridge the widening gap between two really distinct
worlds.
In the one world, only one factor is worth measuring:
profitability. All decisions are based
upon their impact on profitability.
Nothing else matters. Within such
a world loyalty is an adversary, while avarice, corruption, oppression, and war
are all virtues. War, the kind fought
with physical weapons, not this war, the war for minds and souls; war is a
virtue. This is a world in which a
successful person is defined as one who conquers and dominates others; a world
in which all human virtue has no remaining value; a world in which human virtue
is considered the concern of fools.[1] Usury and debt reign supremely. Growth is the oft paraded mantra of
goodness. This is the world that must
serve mammon rather than God.
Nevertheless, this world has failed to deal rationally with the fact
that all its wealth is fiat wealth, having no intrinsic value. This world lives in a foggy state of denial,
refusing to admit that it is running out of energy. This world is doomed and doesn’t know it: so
self-conflicted and self-confident that it cannot know it. This world believes that profitability is
actually good: the ultimate good. Thus profitability
is worshiped as God.
In the other world, other things are valued: having a wife
and children, being able to come home to them, putting a roof over head, and
meals on the table; going to church on Sunday and thanking God for His
marvelous good and overflowing bounty. Virtues
like kindness, love, mercy, patience, and peace are held as prized possessions. Rejoicing in the welfare of others is a crown
jewel. A gentle rain is the gift of our
kind God. This world increasingly
realizes that mammon is at the core of its evil problems. Desires for gain, profitability, and wealth
are enemies that must engaged and defeated.
Here, growth is an adversary.[2] Debt is an opponent. Increasingly, the citizens of this world realize
that they cannot have both profitability and virtue. Profitability must be sacrificed in order to
give customers better, higher quality products, fair prices, and the like. Profitability means nothing, but a happy
customer means everything: making someone else happy means everything. Life revolves around serving, rather than
being served; around giving, rather than getting. Sharing is more important than keeping. Eventually, the realization strikes, takes
hold, flourishes. This life is the life
of poverty, and it must be embraced to find true life and real wealth. Poverty is not something for a handful of
priests, it is the way of life for anybody.
“He who loses his life will save it.”[3]
These two worlds are at war.
As long as this earth remains they shall continue at war. This war cannot be possibly be concluded
until Jesus returns. Until then, the
so-called middle class is a myth. No one
can live in both worlds. It’s time to
decide. Chose profitability and death;
or chose poverty and life. There is no
middle ground.
I submit to you that this is a good thing, very good. Let go of the struggle. Stop trying to hang on to both worlds. Embrace life, real life.
[1] For
example, the oft repeated refrain, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
[2] Unless
it is family growth, or plant growth, or beauty.
[3] Luke
9:23-26; 17:26-33
[4] If
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