What type of spirituality can it be when one can feel good in one’s spirit but still be a white racist, a sexist, a heterosexist, or an ignorer of the poor? Spirituality should make us feel so good that we cannot stand seeing the sins of the world. We would then be so filled with the Spirit that we would seek to change the world.” – Dwight Hopkins in Opting for the Margins
When I read that quote recently my first reaction was that in my experience the very opposite has been true. Apart from being the place where we are so filled with the Spirit that we have no choice but to spend our energy on creating a better world, it is actually in the church where I hear the most excuses as to why Christians shouldn’t get involved. It’s really a strange thing to think about. On one hand, it’s hard to argue with the sentiment expressed in this quote. If we are truly filled with the Spirit we will care so deeply about the things God cares about that we couldn’t help but devote ourselves to seeking to serve. In practicality, it is of course harder. I know I often fail miserably at the whole “devote my life to creating a better world” thing. But I at least do my best, or know that I should be doing more.
What really confuses me though are the Christians who find any excuse to not work for a better world. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve heard the phrase “but Jesus said the poor will always be with us” used as a reason why Christians shouldn’t care for the poor and suffering. It’s not that the phrase is even used as comfort to those who feel like their efforts are not doing enough. It’s straight out used as a God-given reason to do nothing. And not just do nothing, but often to actively oppose or resist other Christians who are trying to do something. And it’s usually followed by some sermonette about how the poor are poor because of their own sinful choices. I even heard a pastor pray once after Katrina hit New Orleans for God to help the people there even though they don’t deserve it because they are such sinners.
Now, of course, it’s trendy in the church to label any sort of work that helps the poor as socialism. I read an article recently that said Christians who supported health care for all were in fact breaking the 8th Commandment. By saying that all people regardless of income level deserve basic health care we are stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Apparently the only time that’s acceptable is when it is in blockbuster form and includes lots of scenes of gratuitous violence. But in the day to day, “when I was hungry and you fed me, when I was sick and you took care of me” has been spun as actually being anti-Christian.
Far from being so filled with the Spirit that we want to act like Jesus and love our neighbor, Christians today are finding whatever way they can to twist the words of Jesus to mean the exact opposite. It’s hard to love our neighbors. It takes sacrifice. It takes empathy. It takes repentance of our own sins. It is a lot easier to simple pretend that Jesus said something else instead. Why care for the poor when it is easier to continue to make money off of their oppression and call it prosperity and blessing? Why be filled with the Spirit when the status quo is so much more attractive? Why listen to Jesus when the pundits just make so much more sense?
It is nice to have our Pentecost Sunday and marvel in the pyrotechnics of the event. It’s great to talk with longing about amazing church growth where thousands join in one day. But after Pentecost – then what? Does the body of Christ really want to be filled with the Spirit and see the world through the Spirit’s eyes? Are we ready for that? Or is it just easier to give lip-service to the event, re-interpret Jesus for our own benefit, and do nothing?