Occupation
Jack Radcliffe
1/10/2012

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
—Micah 6:8, NLT

As the Occupy Wall Street movement has dominated the headlines the past few months, we’ve been inundated with images and stories that have both inspired and infuriated. For a while this unscripted drama was something I could observe from the distance of Internet news and casual conversation. The day someone I know became involved in the protests, I knew I was drawn in and had to engage my mind more deeply with the issues surrounding it.

As the movement continues, we have seen its scope broaden to include such American traditions as holiday shopping. On the surface, it appears to be a battle between morality and socioeconomic and cultural principles. People of faith across the spectrum have weighed in, all claiming moral superiority. Some have posted a list of corporations to boycott while others tell protesters to look for work.

The issues are presented as the classic clash of capitalism, greed, and selfishness against social justice. But in the heat of passion and the midst of the battle, we often are unaware of the innocent victims. Things are not as black-and-white as they seem.

Do we boycott a business that turns profits and at the same time put its hard-working employees out of work? If so, do we provide for them and their families until big business bends to our objectives? On the other hand, do we continue to support what many are calling the moral morass of greed? To what extent is it appropriate to push for legislation that addresses it? The battle lines have been drawn regarding personal morality and social morality. Those who oppose mandating personal morality are often the ones who want to see corporate morality instituted and vice versa.

When it comes to stating the case for a moral or just position, Jesus and the Bible are arguably the most referenced sources. On the whole, both are usually interpreted through the lens of an already established perspective. This means that after consulting the teachings and text, the conclusions we make are the ones we were looking for in the first place.

Both Old and New Testament texts are often used to support social-justice legislation. What we often fail to see in attempting to apply the Old Testament is that the texts were written in the context of a theocracy: a nation and society of God’s people, ruled by God and accountable to him. Applying these principles to American society is difficult because we are not a theocracy that is influenced, let alone governed, by religious teaching.

In the New Testament, Jesus’ teaching is largely directed at religious leaders and those who would be his followers rather than at the political system. Jesus challenged religious leaders for knowing God's heart but not obeying it. Living justly, both personally and socially, is commanded of the community of faith. Three questions, however, must be addressed.

1. Is the rest of society obligated to do the same? In other words, should government and business be required to submit to biblical views on such things?
2. How should believers obey the biblical teaching on seeking, living, and promoting personal and social justice? By example, by influence, by protest?
3. What result does God desire from our obedience in continuing his mission as recorded in Luke 4:18-19?

According to Merriam-Webster, the word occupy means to take possession or control, connoting that what is occupied is taken from others. But there is another way to understand the word. Occupation is the principal business of one’s life. The principal business of the Christian life is not taking but giving life. Its primary activity is not occupying but occupationally living in obedience to the teaching found in Matthew 5–7.

Yes, protests have their place. For followers of Jesus, our trust is not in the political and economic systems we are attempting to leverage. Rather, we are to leverage our resources, which God provides, to help the poor, widows, orphans, and oppressed so they can experience holistic healing and freedom.

Jack Radcliffe is a husband and father of four, coach (www.redwoodcoach.com), ministry trainer and speaker, dean of the Youth Ministry Institute of the Tennessee Conference UMC, and adjunct professor at Martin Methodist College. He has an M.Div. from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio and a D.Min. in Practical Theology, Adolescent Development and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary.