This year, Kimball Avenue United Church of Christ – along with the congregations of the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance (LSEA) – is fasting from individualism in order to build the beloved community. Throughout Lent, I will be writing occasional devotionals on issues that remind me of God’s call to “give up” personal and individual interests in order to promote the common good. I expect that I will address issues that touch on race, class, gender, economics, politics (both church and national) and more.
Paul tells us to humbly acknowledge the worth and dignity of others and to practice it by not watching out for our own interests, but for the interests of the others (Philippians 2:4). Jesus Christ is our supreme example. He gave up his own rights to be served in order to serve others. Our faith is expressed in relationship to others, serving, empowering and loving. Our own spiritual and social wellbeing is inextricably tied to the wellbeing of others. Together, we pursue mutual edification. And we not only seek the wellbeing of fellow-believers, but the wellbeing of the larger community as a witness of God’s love and the Kingdom of heaven.
This Lent, I have decided to follow the daily devotional from The Repentance Project that addresses the intersection of faith and racial reconciliation as a part of my ‘fast’ for community. Today’s reflection by Andy Crouch on the “three-fifths compromise” of 1787 (that counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of apportioning the states’ representation and taxation), posed a pointed question that is directly related to the common good: In what ways do we currently treat human beings, our brothers and sisters who bear the image of the Divine, as “less than human” to increase the wealth and power of the few?
Yesterday, 1,700 striking workers at Wabtec in Erie, PA, agreed to return to work for the next 90 days while a long term collective bargaining agreement can be reached between the company (which builds locomotives) and the unions. Workers went on strike on February 26 after Wabtec proposed cutting wages of current and future employees significantly. While the union workers are happy to be back at work, the fundamental issues have not been resolved. In 90 days, workers could go on strike again.
“Whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.” 1 Corinthian 9:10
How we view and treat workers IS an issue of deep concern to God for life in God’s community. Whether it be laws regarding Sabbath or timely payment of wages, God protects the rights of workers. (See James 5:4) So, when we view workers as ‘human resources’ or “human capital,” are we not reducing them to mere cogs in the economic engine–less than fully human? When we refuse to pay living wages or only hire part time or contract workers without benefits, are we not advancing the same economic goals as slave-holders? And is not God grieved when workers are mistreated and oppressed in order to increase profit margins? Is not “community” destroyed when we pursue profit at the expense of our sisters and brothers?
We may have eliminated slavery, but we perpetuate the very economic system that required it in the first place. If we are to build the beloved community, we must lay a new foundation: No one is a “resource” or “capital” to be used for corporate gain. And people must always be given priority over profit.
Tongue on Fire 