Kingdom Building
September 28, 2019
Scripture Reading: Luke 16:19-31
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. –Luke 16:19-25
I spent yesterday at a very productive advocacy group planning meeting designed to set our priorities and goals for the upcoming year. There is a lot that needs to be done as we strive to assure the Common Good. We talked about goals for education, criminal justice, health care including mental health care, and the economy. Oklahoma ranks 39th in education. 42nd in crime and corrections, 47th in health care, and 34th in the economy. We have much work ahead of us. As the meeting closed and I surveyed the total results, it dawned on me that all these areas would markedly improve if every working citizen in Oklahoma earned a living wage.
Jesus was an advocate for the poor. His story from Luke emphasizes his concern challenging all his followers to take up that cross and follow him. I constantly see condescending post about people who receive “welfare”, the stereotypical term used to describe the poor in the USA. There is nothing remotely related to the welfare of another person, when we hear this word spit out like it leaves a bad taste in the speaker’s mouth. “Welfare” usually is used to describe persons who receive case benefits to support their families most often assumed to be a young mother with children and an absent father. The program is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Many of the recipients in Oklahoma are actually relatives caring for the children of all those people we hold in prison, many for non-violent crimes. Nationwide in FY-2017 there were 3.1 million people who received TANF Payments for a total percent of population of .9%. Of that number 2.3 million were children. In Oklahoma in March 2019 there were a total of 5,981 people receiving TANF or .2%* of the state’s population. The poor are primarily working families who do not make a living wage.
The time has come for all Christ followers to prayerfully consider seeking solutions to the poverty in our land. Children 6 to 11 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 23.1%. Adolescents 12 to 17 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 19.0%. Adults 18 to 59 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 15.9%. Adults 60 to 74 Years Old in Oklahoma have a Poverty Rate of 9.4%**.
Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to become advocates for the poor. Amen.
*https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/resource/tanf-caseload-data-2019
**https://www.welfareinfo.org/poverty-rate/oklahoma/ All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.