"The Occupy Wall Street slogan, We are the 99%, refers to income inequality and wealth distribution in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population." (Wikipedia)
The OWS movement promotes a Marxist version of "social justice" and is not Christian in the least.
"Early Christians, for example, demonstrated how a system of distribution could be set up to meet the needs of everyone within a local church community (Cf. Acts 2:43-45, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 6:1-6). This communal sharing was a voluntary method of meeting pressing needs within the church. Of course, this was a far cry from the politically driven socio-economic Marxism, communism, and socialism that exist in present times, all which grant citizens the right to possess a large share of society’s burdens but only a small (though equal) share of its benefits." - See more
Christian, if you have become involved in movements to donate money to causes which strive to render poverty non-existent (Bono's ONE, for example, or Passion stamping out sex trafficking cause) or any other cause that uses your God-given money to stamp out social ills, especially to the neglect of giving to your local church, then shame on you.
For does not God raise up rich and poor? Install kings and depose them? Place each one of us in their own nation, state, sphere?
Job, Abram, David, Solomon, Paul, Nicodemus, Lydia, Susannah, Joseph of Arimathea, the three Magi, Matthew/Levi, and so on were in turn very rich. Were they somehow 'wrong' to be rich? Job's fortune increased to a high degree, then God took it away, then God restored it. Was God wrong to make Job rich again? Could he have not given what Job had to the poor who existed all around him?
Jesus even raised up and used rich men for His name who were not believers, Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, and used them for His name.
In terms of Occupy Wall Street, I am the 99%. I am very poor. I have a minimal income. It has actually gone down in recent years, due to the school system rendering furlough days on us. (Unpaid days). I skip grocery shopping twice a month now, choosing to shop only bi-weekly. To save gas, I don't drive anywhere except work and church. I have no savings and I live paycheck to paycheck. I buy nothing for myself, except very occasionally, a book, and new socks. According to the world's standard, I am the working poor and part of the 99%.
Does that entitle me to another guy's money? NEVER! I would not have it so. I don't need it!
Because in fact, I AM THE 1%.
I don't judge my lifestyle according to the world. I am satisfied with Christ's provision. I always have enough to eat. I have a nice, clean, safe place to live. I have clothes and a vehicle and a job. I am cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I have books to read, the bible to study and friends to share with.
I have Christ.
He is all I need. His provision of His blood, freely given on the cross, is all the treasure I need or want, Because that is all there is
Christian it is always good to remember that we are not of this world. If you are in Him, you are spiritually wealthy and of the 1%.
"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8)
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
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Further reading:
A biblical view of 'social justice'
