The Christ I Came to Know Pulling Out of Poverty and the Parallels with Relearning Religion

"Pulling Out of Poverty and the Parallels With Unlearning Religion" was a sub-title that came to me over time as I listened to the stories of my 95-year-old WWII veteran dad. Written during a moment of historical political divisiveness, uncanny parallels seemed to emerge relative to our religious journey and our pathway out of financial poverty. Yes, an impoverished understanding of God can, like poverty, require generations to unlearn. The last 50 years of my life have been tempered by an annual read through scripture, a religious challenge laid out for me by a ninety some year-old mountain lady, whom I met at the age of twenty-eight. Her presence could be felt at some distance, even in a crowd. Ironically, during this season of writing, Leviticus 5:11 stood out for me. God's accommodation made for the poor, "if he cannot afford two doves or young pigeons." You might now better understand the cover art by Stan Lake. Our growing wealth gap and recent right-left factions (Evangelical vs Nominal, the term used in my day) have exacerbated the growing political and spiritual divide in our country. This is perhaps driving the sense of urgency with which I write. Again, reinforced as I simultaneously make annual read through scripture. Leviticus 25 discusses the necessity of the Year of Jubilee, repositioning those who have lost lands, fallen into poverty, etc. Parallel with that the day of Pentecost, the 50th Day after those seven sevens (49 years). Perhaps 50 years is about as long as we broken humans can "dysfunction" without creating an irredeemable challenge of inequities, unless be required some spiritually driven reparation? What a lightning rod that term has become! At this point, it now seems necessary for context to "fess up" to and face my sense of privilege. If this incites an angst within you, you might look further into the concept of white fragility, now so apparent among my Evangelical brothers and sisters.