For four years on my left shoulder, whether it was a tunic or a white coat, I wore a patch of the New York Hospital which showed The Good Samaritan ministering to a man with the words "Go and Do Thou Likewise."
Hearing about Joel Osteen's response to the Biblical flood in Houston, I was prompted to read the story.
A man asked Jesus how he could get into Heaven and Jesus asked him what he knew of the commandment to help his neighbor and the man asked, "But who is my neighbor?" A savvy question.
Jesus replied with a parable about a man who had been beaten and robbed and lay in the road and various people walked past him until one man, the Good Samaritan, stopped and helped him. The Good Samaritan had assured his own place in Heaven by his generosity to his less fortunate fellow man.
So the question arose out of self interest: the man asking it wanted to know how he could get the ultimate prize for himself, entry into Heaven, a good seat at the best restaurant. The Good Samaritan did not ask anything for himself. His motivations are never elucidated. He simply acted generously. Jesus's interlocutor in the story is a man who is interested in what he needs to do to get a prize.
But he is told to love his neighbor as he loves himself. That's a problem for the interlocutor as he realizes "neighbor" could bankrupt him, or at least cost him.
This problem arises daily on the streets of nearly every city in America--there are men and women, vagrants we call them, holding up their hands crying out for a dollar.
Our response to them can be: Oh, well, they do not deserve my help because they are not trying hard enough to help themselves.
The parable from Jesus slid neatly by this problem of being an enabler, of "tough love" to the man who clearly did nothing to bring misfortune and poverty upon himself but had the bad luck to be robbed.
Now consider Joel Osteen, a "prosperity church" preacher, a very slick operator, who like members of this guild is very rich and claims God bestowed riches on him for being a good man. And what is a good man? Not one who helps others, but one who helps himself, according to this brand of evangelism. This emphasis on helping yourself and not asking anything from others is a core value of Republicans and Free State Project people and prosperity church people.
This is the Freedom Caucus, Republican Party brand of religion. God helps those who help themselves so don't ask us for help.
For the less slick practitioners of prosperity church TV evangelism, they pitch very openly: Send me money and God will smile on you and make you rich, too.
Osteen is smart enough to avoid such crass appeals.
But when his "church" which was formerly a basketball arena and holds 16,000 worshippers every Sunday, was faced with the prospect of sodden, muddy and poor people flocking inside to seek refuge from Hurricane Harvey, Osteen was not willing to open his doors to his "neighbors." He had his, they could go find theirs.
This idea of generosity is in tension with the idea of taking care of your self but not others. It is, in some way, the core conflict between Republicans and Democrats. It animates discussion of the welfare queen, of the "don't feed a stray dog or he'll follow you home." It's basic.
Ultimately, the social media storm was enough to make Osteen change his mind. He is nothing if not tuned into public relations and mass communications.
So now he is all about helping his neighbors.
The most amazing part of this story is not Osteen's reluctance to help--no, the most amazing thing is the fact reported that every Sunday Osteen fills 16,000 seats and his preaching is broadcast to a hundred countries world wide.
Who are all these people who are his fans?
Apparently, the creed of self interest has deep and broad appeal.
This is Texas, after all and it is America, well that Red State version of America.
Heaven Help Us.
Never during that time did I look up the reference, but there was no Google then. I simply had no idea this phrase was lifted from the Gospels.
A man asked Jesus how he could get into Heaven and Jesus asked him what he knew of the commandment to help his neighbor and the man asked, "But who is my neighbor?" A savvy question.
Jesus replied with a parable about a man who had been beaten and robbed and lay in the road and various people walked past him until one man, the Good Samaritan, stopped and helped him. The Good Samaritan had assured his own place in Heaven by his generosity to his less fortunate fellow man.
So the question arose out of self interest: the man asking it wanted to know how he could get the ultimate prize for himself, entry into Heaven, a good seat at the best restaurant. The Good Samaritan did not ask anything for himself. His motivations are never elucidated. He simply acted generously. Jesus's interlocutor in the story is a man who is interested in what he needs to do to get a prize.
But he is told to love his neighbor as he loves himself. That's a problem for the interlocutor as he realizes "neighbor" could bankrupt him, or at least cost him.
This problem arises daily on the streets of nearly every city in America--there are men and women, vagrants we call them, holding up their hands crying out for a dollar.
Our response to them can be: Oh, well, they do not deserve my help because they are not trying hard enough to help themselves.
The parable from Jesus slid neatly by this problem of being an enabler, of "tough love" to the man who clearly did nothing to bring misfortune and poverty upon himself but had the bad luck to be robbed.
Now consider Joel Osteen, a "prosperity church" preacher, a very slick operator, who like members of this guild is very rich and claims God bestowed riches on him for being a good man. And what is a good man? Not one who helps others, but one who helps himself, according to this brand of evangelism. This emphasis on helping yourself and not asking anything from others is a core value of Republicans and Free State Project people and prosperity church people.
This is the Freedom Caucus, Republican Party brand of religion. God helps those who help themselves so don't ask us for help.
For the less slick practitioners of prosperity church TV evangelism, they pitch very openly: Send me money and God will smile on you and make you rich, too.
Osteen is smart enough to avoid such crass appeals.
But when his "church" which was formerly a basketball arena and holds 16,000 worshippers every Sunday, was faced with the prospect of sodden, muddy and poor people flocking inside to seek refuge from Hurricane Harvey, Osteen was not willing to open his doors to his "neighbors." He had his, they could go find theirs.
This idea of generosity is in tension with the idea of taking care of your self but not others. It is, in some way, the core conflict between Republicans and Democrats. It animates discussion of the welfare queen, of the "don't feed a stray dog or he'll follow you home." It's basic.
Ultimately, the social media storm was enough to make Osteen change his mind. He is nothing if not tuned into public relations and mass communications.
So now he is all about helping his neighbors.
The most amazing part of this story is not Osteen's reluctance to help--no, the most amazing thing is the fact reported that every Sunday Osteen fills 16,000 seats and his preaching is broadcast to a hundred countries world wide.
Who are all these people who are his fans?
Apparently, the creed of self interest has deep and broad appeal.
This is Texas, after all and it is America, well that Red State version of America.
Heaven Help Us.
prosperity sells!
ReplyDeleteMad Dog and Anon,
ReplyDeleteAgreed-prosperity sure does sell and I too would love to know who the 16,000 faithful followers are that buy his baloney every week. What is surprising is that the Reverend, a masterful snake oil salesman if ever there was one, choked so publicly-you're right-he's usually slicker than that. I've been channel surfing before and come upon him and I must admit his voice and demeanor was calming and reassuring-a polished persuader- but not in this instance. Talking about lame excuses. He couldn't open his mega theater...oops church...because there was some flooding (ya think) and more importantly he hadn't been asked by the city to do so. Hadn't been asked-well that's inspiring...
Of course the Houston furniture store owner who invited the National Guard to come and sleep in his showroom hadn't been asked either. He just saw a need and like the good Samaritan-gave what he could. Joel Osteen may have a bounty of riches and a direct line to Jesus, but he's clearly no good Samaritan. So what does his faithful flock think of their shepherd now that they've witnessed his failure to demonstrate leadership, initiative or generosity when it was needed most? Will they jump ship or still drink the Kool-aid? Maybe they're praying on it...
Maud
Miss Maud,
ReplyDeleteI am shocked! Just shocked at your doubts regarding a man of the cloth.
Why, all you have to do to get your place in Heaven and your own personal enhanced bank account is to send Rev. Joel a fat check and God will take notice and reward you, just as He has rewarded the Right Rev. Joel.
God loves Rev. Joel and will pump lots of gold into your bank account just as soon as he sees you love Rev. Joel, too.
And how best to express that love? Money! Just send that check or better yet, CASH, to Rev. Joel or to God, c/o Rev Joel.
Shame on you Ms. Maud. Now, go sit yourself down and right that check, hear?
Mad Dog