One Out of Two Americans Has Low-Income Status: Why Is There So Much Silence and What to Do About It
Political Pulpit
Object:
The title is the subject for this column, a topic that the lectionary texts for March, April, and May compel us to consider. As a nation we are rapidly becoming an economy with a socio-economic class structure resembling Third-World nations. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data we have a class of incredible wealth at the top, an increasingly smaller group in the middle-income bracket, and nearly half of us are categorized as low income. Low income here is defined as including those earning between 100% to 199% of the poverty level. Most recent statistics indicate that there are 97.3 million Americans in this income category. When we add their numbers to the 49.1 million falling below the poverty line, they total 146.4 million or 48% of the population -- nearly 1 out of 2 of us!
This is a shocking statistic regarding poverty in America. It should be a concern on everyone's lips. But since the statistics were released months ago, the media and the politicians of both parties have said nary a word about them. If you're the lucky 1 of 2 fellow Americans not worrying about paying your monthly bills, maybe it hasn't troubled you much. Perhaps that's why the church has been so silent, because too many of us preachers are in the upper 50%. But we won't be faithful to many of the lectionary texts for these upcoming months during the Lent and Easter seasons if we continue our silence.
More related statistics further testify to the stunning injustices of our present economy. While those from families in the top 5% of income enjoyed a 64% increase in earnings since 1979, the inflation-adjusted average earnings for the bottom 20% of families have declined by nearly $2,000 annually. With all the trimming of government at the national level, the result of our Tea-Party, balanced-budget phobia, there is less for the poor. A late 2011 survey of the U.S. Conference of Mayors revealed that in 29 cities about 27% of those in need of emergency food aid could not receive it due to cutbacks. How pressing it is that we balance our budgets, come hell or high water (or starvation of the masses)!
The Gallup poll tells us part of the reason we don't hear much about these troubling statistics is because the majority of Americans aren't troubled by the rich-poor gap. It seems that 52% of us claim that it is an acceptable part of our economic system, with the strongest support for this conclusion coming from proponents of the Tea Party. According to this poll only 45% say that the inequality needs to be fixed. Anyone want to guess the economic status of the 52% who say everything is fine?
I believe, though, the problem is that we have not gotten the statistics noted in the first three paragraphs to the public. Since for obvious reasons just noted, the politicians won't do it and the media is just uttering these disturbing statistics in the most muted way, it looks like the church needs to be the institution to get these numbers out to the public. Here's how:
The March 11 first lesson (Exodus 20:1-17) is an account of the giving of the Ten Commandments. The commandment on theft is a natural for discussion of unjust economic dynamics that have given rise to all the poverty. The gospels for March 4 (Mark 8:31-38), March 11 (John 2:13-22), and March 25 (John 12:20-33) as Jesus addresses adulterous generations, cleanses the temple of unjust economic exploiters, or offers judgments against the world are also occasions for sharing the data on our present economic injustices. Other occasions for such sermons include Good Friday on April 6 as the first lesson (Isaiah 52:13--53:12) refers to the suffering servant as an oppressed victim of injustice, the first lesson for April 15 (Acts 4:32-35) testifies to how the first Christians shared everything in common, and May 13 as the gospel (John 17:6-19) recounts Jesus' high priestly prayer calling for God to protect the people, and for the people to live lives of being not of the world while in it, afford fine opportunities to preach on the need to avoid and critique our present unjust economic dynamics while still being smart enough about economic realities in the evolution of alternatives.
It is hardly surprising that the harsh economic realities the American church and America as a whole need to consider are related to race and ethnicity. Hispanics at 73% are the most likely to fall in the poor or low-income categories followed by African Americans. At least two Sundays in May (6 and 13) provide occasion to address the racial/ethnic disparities in the first lesson (Acts 8:26-40; Acts 10:44-48). The earlier date's testimony to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch demands attention to the too-often overlooked black presence in the Bible and how America likes to overlook the sons and daughters of Africa whenever possible (see the classic of Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man). The latter May Sunday's testimony to the unity of Gentile and Jew reminds us that God does not want us in any way divided by ethnicity.
There is even another Sunday inviting a political sermon. The second lesson for May 27 (Romans 8:22-27) refers to creation groaning. A sermon on ecology is certainly appropriate with that text, and the budget cuts caused by our economic woes have no doubt made things worse for our environment.
What can we say constructively from the pulpit during these Sundays, as we share with the flock the depressing data we have been considering? If you're Republican- oriented perhaps you will want to blame it on Obama or big government and call for "throwing the bums out" in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. Of course the Democrat in me would remind all parties that the dramatic rise in incomes for the rich and declines for low-income workers has been transpiring since 1979 under Republican presidencies or Republican congresses of the Clinton era. It seems the real culprit in causing the disconcerting data we've been considering is the Republican/Tea-Party free-market, small-government ideology. When the rich have a phenomenally large chunk of the pie not much trickles down without government regulations. Besides one of the economic gurus of the Right, Arthur Okun, has contended that the free-market must create rich-poor gaps (Efficiency and Equality: The Big Tradeoff). Deny that point and you must not believe in the doctrine of Original Sin and Augustine's idea of sin as concupiscence/ selfishness (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 5, pp. 273-274). On these classical Christian grounds we should expect the rich as a class (and yes James Madison taught us about class warfare in American politics) never to renounce their privileges willingly without government compulsion (The Federalist Papers, No. 10). Always remember that Madison and the other Founders of our system believed in class warfare (Ibid., Nos. 51, 59).
What else should we seek to accomplish in sermons on this set of themes? We might help our parishioners to evaluate our presidential and congressional candidates based on who is addressing the harsh realities of 1 of 2 Americans as low-income status. If politicians won't speak to this travesty, count on them leaving it alone while in office.
In addition, there is some poll data that provides counter-veiling evidence to apparent American apathy about our plight. According to a 2011 American Values Survey, a strong majority (3 out of 5) think that the country would be better off were there a more equal distribution of wealth. These statistics are certainly in line with the witness of the biblical texts already considered.
If you like all this inequality, then preach exclusively on spiritual issues in the 2012 election cycle. That will help things not to change. Why not be sure that your parishioners agree? Share with them the statistics about poverty in this column, and then along with the assigned lectionary texts for these months, you may find the laity in your congregation begging for compassionate and equality politics in your pulpit. Maybe they'll want to take up Wes' good ideas in your parish. They may also want to lobby for creating economic structures in which we don't have as many losers as the current post-Reagan rules of the game (job creators, pay workers as little as you can and export the jobs if unions get too uppity). For the sake of 1 out of every 2 Americans, I'll be along with you on that journey.
Mark Ellingsen is a Professor of Church History at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. The author of 16 books and hundreds of articles, his most recent volumes include Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative To a Purpose-Driven Life (Continuum) and CSS' publication of his Lectionary Preaching Workbook for Cycle B. The Lectionary Preaching Workbook for Cycle C will be available fall 2012.
This is a shocking statistic regarding poverty in America. It should be a concern on everyone's lips. But since the statistics were released months ago, the media and the politicians of both parties have said nary a word about them. If you're the lucky 1 of 2 fellow Americans not worrying about paying your monthly bills, maybe it hasn't troubled you much. Perhaps that's why the church has been so silent, because too many of us preachers are in the upper 50%. But we won't be faithful to many of the lectionary texts for these upcoming months during the Lent and Easter seasons if we continue our silence.
More related statistics further testify to the stunning injustices of our present economy. While those from families in the top 5% of income enjoyed a 64% increase in earnings since 1979, the inflation-adjusted average earnings for the bottom 20% of families have declined by nearly $2,000 annually. With all the trimming of government at the national level, the result of our Tea-Party, balanced-budget phobia, there is less for the poor. A late 2011 survey of the U.S. Conference of Mayors revealed that in 29 cities about 27% of those in need of emergency food aid could not receive it due to cutbacks. How pressing it is that we balance our budgets, come hell or high water (or starvation of the masses)!
The Gallup poll tells us part of the reason we don't hear much about these troubling statistics is because the majority of Americans aren't troubled by the rich-poor gap. It seems that 52% of us claim that it is an acceptable part of our economic system, with the strongest support for this conclusion coming from proponents of the Tea Party. According to this poll only 45% say that the inequality needs to be fixed. Anyone want to guess the economic status of the 52% who say everything is fine?
I believe, though, the problem is that we have not gotten the statistics noted in the first three paragraphs to the public. Since for obvious reasons just noted, the politicians won't do it and the media is just uttering these disturbing statistics in the most muted way, it looks like the church needs to be the institution to get these numbers out to the public. Here's how:
The March 11 first lesson (Exodus 20:1-17) is an account of the giving of the Ten Commandments. The commandment on theft is a natural for discussion of unjust economic dynamics that have given rise to all the poverty. The gospels for March 4 (Mark 8:31-38), March 11 (John 2:13-22), and March 25 (John 12:20-33) as Jesus addresses adulterous generations, cleanses the temple of unjust economic exploiters, or offers judgments against the world are also occasions for sharing the data on our present economic injustices. Other occasions for such sermons include Good Friday on April 6 as the first lesson (Isaiah 52:13--53:12) refers to the suffering servant as an oppressed victim of injustice, the first lesson for April 15 (Acts 4:32-35) testifies to how the first Christians shared everything in common, and May 13 as the gospel (John 17:6-19) recounts Jesus' high priestly prayer calling for God to protect the people, and for the people to live lives of being not of the world while in it, afford fine opportunities to preach on the need to avoid and critique our present unjust economic dynamics while still being smart enough about economic realities in the evolution of alternatives.
It is hardly surprising that the harsh economic realities the American church and America as a whole need to consider are related to race and ethnicity. Hispanics at 73% are the most likely to fall in the poor or low-income categories followed by African Americans. At least two Sundays in May (6 and 13) provide occasion to address the racial/ethnic disparities in the first lesson (Acts 8:26-40; Acts 10:44-48). The earlier date's testimony to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch demands attention to the too-often overlooked black presence in the Bible and how America likes to overlook the sons and daughters of Africa whenever possible (see the classic of Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man). The latter May Sunday's testimony to the unity of Gentile and Jew reminds us that God does not want us in any way divided by ethnicity.
There is even another Sunday inviting a political sermon. The second lesson for May 27 (Romans 8:22-27) refers to creation groaning. A sermon on ecology is certainly appropriate with that text, and the budget cuts caused by our economic woes have no doubt made things worse for our environment.
What can we say constructively from the pulpit during these Sundays, as we share with the flock the depressing data we have been considering? If you're Republican- oriented perhaps you will want to blame it on Obama or big government and call for "throwing the bums out" in the upcoming presidential and congressional elections. Of course the Democrat in me would remind all parties that the dramatic rise in incomes for the rich and declines for low-income workers has been transpiring since 1979 under Republican presidencies or Republican congresses of the Clinton era. It seems the real culprit in causing the disconcerting data we've been considering is the Republican/Tea-Party free-market, small-government ideology. When the rich have a phenomenally large chunk of the pie not much trickles down without government regulations. Besides one of the economic gurus of the Right, Arthur Okun, has contended that the free-market must create rich-poor gaps (Efficiency and Equality: The Big Tradeoff). Deny that point and you must not believe in the doctrine of Original Sin and Augustine's idea of sin as concupiscence/ selfishness (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 5, pp. 273-274). On these classical Christian grounds we should expect the rich as a class (and yes James Madison taught us about class warfare in American politics) never to renounce their privileges willingly without government compulsion (The Federalist Papers, No. 10). Always remember that Madison and the other Founders of our system believed in class warfare (Ibid., Nos. 51, 59).
What else should we seek to accomplish in sermons on this set of themes? We might help our parishioners to evaluate our presidential and congressional candidates based on who is addressing the harsh realities of 1 of 2 Americans as low-income status. If politicians won't speak to this travesty, count on them leaving it alone while in office.
In addition, there is some poll data that provides counter-veiling evidence to apparent American apathy about our plight. According to a 2011 American Values Survey, a strong majority (3 out of 5) think that the country would be better off were there a more equal distribution of wealth. These statistics are certainly in line with the witness of the biblical texts already considered.
If you like all this inequality, then preach exclusively on spiritual issues in the 2012 election cycle. That will help things not to change. Why not be sure that your parishioners agree? Share with them the statistics about poverty in this column, and then along with the assigned lectionary texts for these months, you may find the laity in your congregation begging for compassionate and equality politics in your pulpit. Maybe they'll want to take up Wes' good ideas in your parish. They may also want to lobby for creating economic structures in which we don't have as many losers as the current post-Reagan rules of the game (job creators, pay workers as little as you can and export the jobs if unions get too uppity). For the sake of 1 out of every 2 Americans, I'll be along with you on that journey.
Mark Ellingsen is a Professor of Church History at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. The author of 16 books and hundreds of articles, his most recent volumes include Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative To a Purpose-Driven Life (Continuum) and CSS' publication of his Lectionary Preaching Workbook for Cycle B. The Lectionary Preaching Workbook for Cycle C will be available fall 2012.
