Posted by Yong TM (192.169.41.41) on March 11, 2003 at 01:24:17:
In Reply to: Wealth and the Christian / Multi Level Marketing posted by Johanes Wibowo on March 08, 2003 at 13:37:06:
Your questions are difficult for me, and I took some time to think through carefully before answering you. My answers to you are not orthodox, and are not things which even pastors would advocate. They are very much my own opinion.
The first question actually touches on 2 main issues - that of the inequality of wealth distribution, and the suffering of the innocent. One of the key influences in my life has been the thoughts of Mohatma Gandhi of India. Gandhi said that India suffers from seven social sins; the most striking one for me was "Wealth without Work" (the others being Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, and Politics without principle). What Gandhi was referring to was the Maharajas of India, who were like local kings who had great wealth, passing it to their children.
I have given this a great deal of thought. I believe Gandhi to be right; that although everyone wants to strike lottery and have un-earned wealth, Gandhi was right that it is a sin. I understand further from scripture that work is sacred. What few people realised was that Adam was put in the garden to work (Genesis 2:15), and that was BEFORE the fall of man. In our own everyday life, it is clear that work is important and linked with practically everything. To have a healthy body, we need to work at exercising; to pass examinations, we need to study hard.
But modern life has turned this upside down, with people striking millions through lottery, inheriting millions without lifting a finger. This in my opinion, violates God's order of things. So you will find that children of rich families often cannot take hardship at all, or have a very shallow understanding of life. Some people in the west makes it a point NOT to leave anything for their children, believing that this will help them rather than hurt them. I tend to agree with that philosophy.
Back to your question of fairness. It is of course impossible to tell you why to your complete satisfaction. But Dr Tong believes that hardship and suffering have their places in the world, as tools for God to mould us and train us. This he believes strongly, especially since he was an orphan at 3, and grew up in poverty.
I would also like to point out that Biblical, this distribution is NOT what God has in mind. In Deuteronomy 15:4, the LORD said "There should be no poor among you, for in the land your LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today." Clearly, scripture tells us that the LORD has provided enough for ALL the people in the world, and there should be no poor among us if we are all obedient to His word.
But of course we are not obedient, and so the poor distribution of wealth is not God's fault, but man's. When the writer Philip Yancey ponders about this same issue (and the issue of suffering of man), Yancey said that the answer to "Where is God" can be found in His church. This is why God's church is around, to be salt and light of the world and to change the world for His name's sake. But Yancey also pointed out that the great Christian writer Dorothy Sayers said that God suffered three humiliations in the world - the first was the incarnation, the second was the crucifixion, and the third is that He should be represented in the world through us, His church. Our failings become His humiliation.
But He has chosen to work through us, to have us represent Him in this unjust world. So instead of cursing and swearing at the injustices of the world, we are called to be thankful for what we have, and aim to live a life to shine for Him. So people like Millard Fuller read Deuteronomy 15, and started Habitat for Humanity, in the belief that God has provided enough for all, and we are to re-distribute wealth by building houses for the poor. I am so convinced of what Millard believes that I have recently accepted the chairmanship of Habitat for Humanity Singapore.
The biggest mistake most Christians make is to believe that they have nothing, no talent, no money to make a difference in the world. We are to be the 2 fishes and 5 loaves for Jesus Christ, who will multiply our little into abundance for His people, as long as we are willing and obedient. The time to do something, however small, is NOW. Not when you dream of yourself being more rich, more talented, or more capable.
In light of all the above then, schemes like multilevel marketing are often considered unethical, because no work is done in essence; meaning nothing is produced (similar to what Gandhi pointed out; wealth without work), no services rendered. It is a scheme that essentially keep postponing the inevitable to the next round or the next level. Like if I find someone to join the scheme, that someone pays me $5 to join in. In order to make some money, that someone finds another someone to pay him $5, on and on it goes. Everybody will be happy if the wheel keeps rolling, i.e. people keep recruiting others. But in essence, nothing is produced, no economical product exists. Once that wheel stop rolling, the last level will get caught badly, and the whole thing collapses.
This is a very complex issue. Just because something is legal, or makes money does not make it ethical or right. The dot-com bubble for example was a big unethical exercise that cost many people lots of their life-saving. It is very difficult even for Christians to escape the temptation of easy money. I know of Christian leaders who brag about how God has blessed him greatly in his job and business, without realising that his job is often unethical in the first place (like being involved in gambling, tobacco, alchohol, nightclubs, etc). Strangely, nobody pointed out the obvious to these leaders.
Wealth is a very important topic seldom well-preached in church (maybe because pastors mistakenly thought that they need the wealth of rich people). Actually, Jesus Christ preached on wealth more than any other topic. You will find it easier to accept what Jesus Christ had taught if you truly seek to be obedient to Him. I have not met many people in my life whom I can say understood these things clearly enough NOT to be confused or trapped.