Theology, the Rich, and the Poor

This actually relates to Karamoja more than I thought at first. There's not just a common feeling of "oh, the mzungus have everything compared to us, so they should give us everything we ask for" (which is a somehow understandable feeling), there's also a jealousy of any Karamojong who has more, even if it's a job - or a chicken. But there is real need; people have medical emergencies, people are hungry. Those are needs the church is trying to take care of as best it can, especially encouraging church members and not just "the mission" to share. So the issues of rich and poor are touchy ones, which need a lot of wisdom, and sometimes it's probably hard not to feel guilty that you can't/aren't doing more.

I think part of the bad feelings comes from the idea that as a Christian, it's not really a good thing to be rich. It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom, after all. But the rest of the Bible addresses the issue, too.

So finding this post, about the Righteous Poor and the Righteous Rich vs. prosperity theology or poverty theology (with Bono as a proponent), was great - a perspective I want to keep (much as I love Bono and am thankful for many of the things he's doing). Ultimately it's not poverty or wealth that makes one worthy, but Jesus Christ. That's something that can change relationships "slowly by slowly," I think.

It's a very short article, so check it out.