"Turning the World Upside Down"

The nation seemed to be going in one direction. During the past years efforts were taken to uplift the poor and create a more level ground for everyone-- within certain limits. Although there was a lot of sabotage and pushback by those who always think you have to earn everything, among many religious folks there was an identification of the principles behind governing in this way. Certainly there was legitimate disagreement on means to the end of the best government for all. Still there was a general feeling that this was right and good and more just.

But was it? We can argue the ethics of creating what some would say are artificial “levelers” until we are blue in the face. If we have some kind of universal health care and many of those struggling by working two jobs in the middle pay for it, is it right? If the economic system taxes more highly those who own and manage the companies that employ others, will that ultimately help the cause? Means, not ends, were mostly discussed and debated. But people get tired of discussing means and people both inside and outside Washington tired of having “blue faces.” Why not try a different approach? Why not try a new direction? Why not put someone in charge who throws out the entire discussion and claims he will provide the ends everyone wants?

So we are going in an entirely “new direction”. The masses of people who do not fit into the ultimate goal of reclaiming America’s destiny aren’t really cared about. Now let’s take off all controls and let it go. If we are going to follow any ethics it is rationalist Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. “Laissez faire capitalism all the way, baby! Step on the gas! Every one for themselves (ethical egoism)! It makes sense. Why be concerned about anyone else? If we do well, others will benefit indirectly anyway” (trickle-down economics returned?)

Now there are religious people of all types who will make this sound a lot better than I am making it sound. They will speak about such things as “didn’t Jesus say we will always have the poor with us?” They will hook into a success ethic, a power of positive thinking, and will find ways to make this not sound like “make yourself number one.” But at this time of the year when we think of a tiny and helpless baby born to be that same kind of king, are we able to stomach that? Many with full stomachs will, to be sure. They will see it as a new means to an end— “to make America great again.” They will think that later this new direction will lead to all people having their needs met. It has always been this way—as Herod in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar sang to Jesus: “So you are the Christ, you’re the great Jesus Christ. Prove to me that you’re no fool. Walk across my swimming pool.”

But those of us who do what theologian Karl Barth once directed—read the Bible in one hand and read the newspaper in the other—cannot buy into this direction. Jesus was no Ayn Rand. He taught us to “love God” and “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Jesus was not the kind of king who would build his reputation on swimming pool walking. Jesus was the one who came for all.

Jesus’ own mother directs us, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”

God’s end using God’s means. God always comes down!