Rev Jerry
Falwell[1] lambasted unions with his
trademark bombastic prose. Rev. Falwell is quoted as saying, “Labor unions
should study and read the Bible instead of asking for more money. When people
get right with God, they are better workers.”
Rev. Falwell
became a Christian in his college days, and then went onto seminary. From seminary,
he went on to found the Thomas
Roads Baptist
Church
What does
the bible say concerning labor relations?
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him:
the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the
morning[2].
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be
of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates.[3]
Do we ever
hear these words from Rev Falwell? Do we hear him stand up for the employees
whose jobs are sent overseas? Do we here him support those who lose income to
the games of the multi-national corporations. Wal-Mart increases it profits by
60% and the employees lose benefits and wages. Do we hear anything about that
from Rev. Falwell? Do we hear Rev. Falwell, Rev. Robertson, or the copious
preachers on the Right standing up for the migrant worker? No, we don’t.
We don’t see
him standing up for the workers who have lost so much during the Bush years. I
cannot tell you why. Only the Religious Right can. They, however, are keeping
to the party line. They are parrots mimicking the dogmatic chant of the
stalwarts of the Republican party. It has long been the message of the
Republicans that business is best for America
Compare that
to the statements made by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin:
Experience
declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind; for I can
apply no milder term to the governments of Europe ,
and the general pray of the rich on the poor. -- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to
Colonel Edward Carrington, January
16, 1778
When men are
employed, they are best content; for on the days they worked they were
good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good
day’s work, they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were
mutinous and quarrelsome. --Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 1731-1759
Perhaps the
key to keeping good employees is to keep them busy at tasks that suit them and
give them a sense of accomplishment. One can but wonder at the senselessness of
the work environment of today. Under the Bush administration and the powers of
today’s corrupt corporations, all that matters are politics and pushing paper.
I have to assume that such realities are of little value to Rev. Falwell. I
also have to assume in this age of revisionist history that most of the people
of the United States Saint
Paul
Servants, be
obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as
menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the
heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing
that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the
Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto
them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven;
neither is there respect of persons with him.[4]
Remember,
Corporate Managers, you are but a speck in the universe. Before God, you are
owed nothing. Skills you may have. The ability to wheel and deal you may have.
In the end, however, the grave still awaits you. This is the shared fate of
mortal beings. From the microbe to the Kings of commerce, all fall to become
one with the universe. Then what?
In the hour
when an individual is brought before the heavenly court for judgment, the
person is asked:
Did you
conduct your [business] affairs honestly?
Did you set
aside regular time for [bible] study?
Did you work
at having children?
Did you look
forward to the world’s redemption?[5]
Since there
is a void in Rev. Falwell’s messages, indulge me the opportunity to insert, for
your consideration, a certain teaching of Jesus that is want of expression in
the current dialogue. It comes from The Gospel of Thomas, a Gnostic Gospel:[6]
Jesus said,
“A certain person was entertaining guests. When dinner was ready, the host sent
a servant to invite the guests.
“The servant
went to the first one and said, ‘My lord invites you.’
“The guest
said, ’Some merchants owe me money, and they are coming to me tonight. I must
go to give instructions to them. Please excuse me from dinner.’
“The servant
went to another guest and said, ’My lord invites you.’
“The guest
said, ‘I have bought a house, and I have been called away for the day. I have
no time.’
“The servant
went to another guest and said, ‘My lord invites you.’
“The guest
said, ‘My friend is to be married, and I must arrange the dinner, so I shall
not be able to come. Please excuse me from dinner.’
“The servant
went to yet another guest and said, ‘My lord invites you.’
“The guest
said, ‘I have bought a farm, and I am going to collect the rent, so I shall not
be able to come. Please excuse me.’
“The servant
returned and said to the lord, ‘Those whom you invited to dinner have asked to
be excused.’
“The lord
said to the servant, ‘Go out on the streets, and bring back whomever you find
to eat my dinner.’
“Business
people and merchants will not enter the realm of My Father.”
Christian
Conservatives, the Lord is calling you to dinner; are you coming, or not?
[1]
Wikipedia: Jerry Falwell Controversial Remarks, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Falwell#Controversial_remarks
[2]
Leviticus 19:3
[3]
Deuteronomy 24:14
[4]
Ephesians 6:5-9
[5]
Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a; Jewish Wisdom, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, p.3,
Morrow
[6]
Gospel of Thomas, Saying 64; The Secret Teachings of Jesus: Four Gnostic
Gospels,
Marvin W. Meyer, 31-32, Vintage
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