Of Booties and Benefits

Another week and another withering attack pointing the finger at a famous lady for the ills of  society. Dr Wright, headmistress of terribly posh girls’ school St. Mary’s Calne is not happy because the girls under her care might be led astray by the potty mouthed tweets coming from Tulisa’s account. This is followed closely after her vituperative outburst that Kim Kardashian sums up everything that is wrong with society." But forgive me if I am wrong but what would you expect from two ladies who’s major claim to fame (commercial endorsements and alleged singing and designing ‘talents’ aside, and for anyone about to j’accuse me of being a hater, just pop either lady’s name in google and see what comes up for yourself), are sex tapes or  pictures of them in not very much, pouting/and or smiling for the  press and waiting for the cheques to come in? Matthew 7 begins with Jesus telling us not to judge for we too will be judged, but as Dr Wright has illustrated, it is easy and indeed human nature to try and apportion blame.

However, I believe the problem does not lie at any particular individual’s door and Matthew 7 proves just that: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew7:3. It is us, the individual members of society who tune into planet celeb who are the real problem.  Kim, Tulisa, et al are the sawdust, we  on the other hand are the plank that could double up as a table leg. Harsh, but oh so true. The fact remains that if we weren’t a willing audience then there would be no market for either the lifestyles proffered as an example to follow, products sold to a willing crowd or increasingly outrageous tweets put out there to get folk suitably excited, dismayed or more prosaically remaining interested. What does it say about a society when a large part of our interaction be it in person or online is focused on the choices and behaviours of people we do not know or will probably never meet? To my eye, the fixation with celebrity is just another God shaped hole that people are trying to fill with something that is distracting enough to dull the ache but neither emotionally or spiritually satisfying to fill the void. We would all do well to heed our Lord’s counsel and work on our own interior life before we make another person the issue or the problem.

In other news David Cameron is facing criticism for returning to a Conservative Party election promise to slash benefits. The Opposition have been quick to attack; Dave so happy to kick the poor and done-ins  down, whilst he sorts out his mates and more affluent supporters with freezes on  the top rate of tax. Whilst we have all become immune to spin and know that politicians on all spectrums are quick to offer sound bites to further their agenda, it is interesting to note from a Christo perspective both sides have a point.

In Deuteronomy 14 God gives extensive instructions on ways of living for the Israelites to follow. It Is from this  passage the concept of the 10% tithe is laid out. Additional to this Ancient  Spiritual taxation system is the following addendum that is often not dwelled upon  “At the end of three years bring all that year’s produce…so that the Levites and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied.” Deuteronomy 14:28-9. It is not right to horde resources and wilfully deny those in your community or as this passage explicitly offers those who may be on the margins, support and assistance. A meagre sum that is enough so that they are at not death’s door is not what is specified. The word ‘satisfied’ implies not only a certain level of comfort but also contentment. We do not live in agrarian times, but our tithe to those less fortunate than ourselves need not be financial. It could be our time, or sharing our expertise.  Perhaps help on writing a CV? Or offering to babysit when someone needs to get to a job interview but doesn’t have childcare? Even donating a capsule working wardrobe as I did to a junior assistant at a bank I worked for in Nigeria…
Her statement of thanks said it all: ‘Madam, now I look like where I am going, by God’s Grace.”

But conversely the Bible is pretty clear that professional dossers are neither to be supported or sympathised with: Paul’s damning indictment on idleness is there for all to see in 2 Thessalonians 3 but this kicker verse “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10  has been adopted by many a more hard-line believer. The problem with not working is not entirely one of economics. Work provides us with a vital social benefit too. It gives us purpose, allows us to contribute to our community; it engages us with others and takes us a little more out of our own heads, and innate self-centeredness. To take from a community and not contribute to it, points to a certain contempt for that community. It breeds an ‘I deserve’ mentality. It kills compassion. This I hasten to add is not an indictment on the long term poor either; the same argument can be used as a cause for censure for those whose sole purpose is to be a socialite and bask in their super=rich status. The glossy sorts who live off opaque trusts based in the Cayman Islands or some less exotic locale (Isle of Man anyone? I thought not..) are just as underserving as those who are extras on the Jeremy Kyle Show. Both groups  might argue it is ‘their money’ or ‘their rights’ that are being attacked. But is it really if it is at the cost of those who have chosen to work, to contribute, to carry the load rather than dodge it? I say it’s time we did like Paul and turned our backs on them both.