Pastor's corner: Make your choice carefully, lest you become like Emerson

By the Rev. Kim Latterell, Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake, creatorpastor@comcast.net 

In preparing for a Bread for The World event planned by Associated Ministries of Pierce County, I came across a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that spoke directly against being concerned about the plight of others. Emerson wrote: "Do not tell me of my obligation to all poor people. Are they MY poor? I tell thee thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, dime and cent I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong." Clearly, the poor are deemed neither Emerson’s concern nor responsibility.  To no one’s surprise, his viewpoint remains contagious in American thought and daily life.

On the other hand, as to counterbalance his view, I recalled an ancient Bible story involving one brother killing another, who, when asked about what he had done, responded with the question that still rings through the generations; "Am I my brother’s keeper?" Does somebody else’s life impinge on mine? The answer to his query appeared to be yes indeed, we are responsible to and for one another. Now I grant that the choice between the two approaches is a matter for your own heart’s consideration. If your heart and wallet grudge the poor still, individualism wins the day and Emerson is truly your man. But if your heart is moved by the plight of others to engage in both charity and justice on their behalf as well as the larger community, then clearly you’ve been shaped and led by a different Author and philosophy. You’re not libertarian but humanitarian.
 

The battle of viewpoint and worldview of the previous paragraphs is not newly made but forever engaged. Twenty-five hundred years ago, in a collection of proverbs, commonsense wisdom sayings gathered from real life experience, those authors included these hard earned lessons and passed them down for our consideration:  Do not let us close our ear to the cry of the poor. Those who are generous are blessed for they share their bread with the poor. And then this verse that speaks directly to American politics, policy and perspective: Oppressing the poor in order to enrich ourselves and giving to the rich, will only lead to great loss. But as I said, the choice and the vote is yours to make. Make it well, that every mouth be fed, every stomach filled, every home be made secure and every life become one of true abundance, together.