Entitlement

We hear a great deal about entitlements these days. Politicians love to whine about programs that benefit everyone. These "public servants" worry most about the cost of the programs because of the number of people that qualify, how much they receive, and how long the benefits last. Their goal is trim  these programs regardless of need or principle.

There is another type of entitlement that warrants more attention. It is the narcissistic view of some that the rules of society no longer apply to them. These people are worshippers of self and wealth. To hell with others.

First up, we have an attitude of entitlement from a free market fundamentalist. It comes from Robert Benmosche, CEO of AIG, the insurance company that got burned by playing in the derivatives market and then was bailed out by the taxpayers of the United States. In other words, he ran his business ship aground and then demanded we all pitch in and pay for the mistakes of his company. As we were bailing his butt out of the water, he was passing out $165 million in bonuses to the very people responsible for the wreck. He is still steamed about the public outcry over those bonuses.

That was ignorance … of the public at large, the government and other constituencies. I’ll tell you why. [Critics referred] to bonuses as above and beyond [basic compensation]. In financial markets that’s not the case. … It is core compensation. 

“Now you have these bright young people [in the financial-products unit] who had nothing to do with [the bad bets that hurt the company.] … They understand the derivatives very well; they understand the complexity. … They’re all scared. They [had made] good livings. They probably lived beyond their means. …They aren’t going to stay there for nothing. 

The uproar over bonuses “was intended to stir public anger, to get everybody out there with their pitch forks and their hangman nooses, and all that–sort of like what we did in the Deep South [decades ago]. And I think it was just as bad and just as wrong. 

“We wouldn’t be here today had they not stayed and accepted … dramatically reduced pay. … They really contributed an enormous amount [to AIG’s survival] and proved to the world they are good people. It is a shame we put them through that.”

So the whiz kids made lots and lots of money, started living well beyond their means, and then made high risk bets that put AIG into catastrophic debt. According to the CEO, these hipsters deserve extra cash to stay on with the company so they can enjoy the fruits of taxpayer generosity. Any criticism of the 6- and 7-figure bonuses is as bad as the lynch mobs that once terrorized people of color in the old South. Right. Greed and arrogance on steroids. It is the perfect illustration of the ethical bankruptcy of many corporate leaders.

In their minds, these people felt they were entitled to ever larger paydays without risk or consequence. Their only innovation was dressing up sow's ears and selling them as silk purses to unsuspecting customers.

Next we have spoiled rich kids. These 300 teens thought they were entitled to break in and vandalize the home of a former professional athlete, Brian Holloway. They even posted pictures of their debauchery and destruction on social media. Mr. Holloway had the pleasure of watching the destruction of his home unfold live on Twitter and Instagram. Kelly Lynch describes his reaction in this open letter to the parents of these kids.

Instead of demanding the arrest of your kids, he instead created a website, www.helpmesave300.com, where he reposted their photos, identified the people involved, and called for ways to reach out to young people and show them that there are better ways to spend their time than drinking, drugs and vandalism.

Only one of the 300 teens took responsibility and showed up. The other 99.67% took their attitude of entitlement to the next level.

Kelly Lynch goes on to describe more entitlement in this saga, this time from the parents.

Instead of sitting little Johnny down and reminding him that what he did is not acceptable and then dragging him by the collar to apologize to Mr. Holloway, you chose instead to harass and threaten the victim. Let's not forget here, your child victimized this man by destroying his home. How dare you respond with anything other than regret, embarrassment, and a sincere apology instead of righteous indignation, threats of violence and lawsuits. 

There is no question where these teens learned their irresponsible, self-centered worldview.

The final illustration of entitlement comes from the millionaires that populate the halls of the U.S. Congress. The latest trend is for these privileged people to demand slashing government assistance for the poor, old, sick, and disabled. So we have people that want for nothing feeling entitled to take away any security for the less fortunate. To amp up the perversity, these people even go so far as claim their callousness is God's will by twisting scripture to serve their mean-spiritedness.

The most recent example comes from Kevin Cramer, a congressman from North Dakota that has been a professional political operative his entire career. In other words, this man has never worked outside the rarified world of wealthy donors, lobbyists, and generous salaries paid by the taxpayers.

Earlier today, a constituent of North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer posted a comment on Cramer's Facebook wall. The constituent apparently wanted to make sure that -- after Cramer's vote to take food out of the mouths of hungry children, disabled people, the elderly and many military veterans -- Cramer was aware of some of the Biblical passages supporting the idea of helping the least of these. Cramer's response is kind of stunning. His response is, essentially, to let those people starve. Citing a different Biblical passage, here's what Cramer wrote:

Congressman Kevin Cramer 2 Thessalonians 3:10 English Standard Version (ESV) 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Cramer's response was to a constituent that dared post Matthew 25:34-43 on the congressman's Facebook wall for all to see. This man is apparently undaunted by Jesus explaining how He will judge the quick and the dead. He is more than willing to bear false witness against the poor by calling them lazy and unwilling to work when the vast majority of those receiving government food assistance are working, but earning too little to support their families. This comes from a man that is paid $174,000 a year to work 125 days, not to mention lifetime health and retirement benefits. He is an entitled hypocrite.

My favorite example of entitlement in the U.S. Congress comes from Stephen Fincher from Tennessee. Like Cramer, he is a big fan of 2 Thessalonians 3:10 as he called the poor freeloaders and frauds on the House floor. His family has also received over $3 million in government farm subsidies from 1999 to 2012.

In Fincher's plan, he recently used a Bible verse about those unwilling to work not eating – as a defense. 

But some have called him hypocritical for reportedly accepting more than $3 million in federal farm subsidies himself since 1999. That includes more than $70,000 in his re-election year of 2012.

He also spearheaded changing how farm subsidies are handed out so large farms (like his) now get large tax cuts instead of direct payments. Profit without social responsibility is his motto.

The reason Christ expressed doubt about the moral fiber of the rich is the attitude of entitlement we see all too often on display. They exhibit narcissism on steroids. No empathy for the suffering of others. Inflated sense that they deserve all they have been given in life and even much more. Their actions have no consequences. They are above reproach. You can see all of those traits on display in the words and deeds of the people cited above.

Jesus used the parable of the faithful servant (Luke 12:42-48) to warn those given much that much more will be expected. The Lord promised dire consequences for the self-centered and self-satisfied, even those that profess faith.

45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

No one should be surprised that Christ had a very pessimistic view of the rich, predicting that most would fail the test of life. Some will exhibit a generosity of spirit that pleases God, but most will only be generous with themselves and their loved ones while giving no thought or care to others. They will succumb to the temptation of self-centeredness that comes from wanting for nothing. Woe to you rich for you have your reward (Luke 6:24).

The question is how should we, the body of Christ, respond during these trying times where the poor are condemned, hated, and left to suffer every indignity possible? Should we approach the rich and appeal to their conscience? Brian Holloway attempted to do that with the 300 children from wealthy families that destroyed his home and he was threatened with violence and lawsuits. Should we engage them by pointing out the error of their ways according to scripture and demand repentance? Do you seriously think that business leaders like Robert Benmosche and political leaders like Kevin Cramer and Stephen Fincher will admit the error of their ways, express remorse, and look to lend a helping hands to the less fortunate? It seems like a colossal waste of time and energy. These people are immune to shame. They respond aggressively to anyone that dares question their actions.

One flaw of liberation theology was attempting to confront and change unjust political and economic systems through political engagement. In the process, some in the church found themselves in bed with those seeking change by any means necessary including violence.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was successful in raising awareness of the evils of racial discrimination through nonviolent protest, but he was murdered when he raised his voice against war and poverty. In our society, mistreating the poor is now perfectly acceptable as long as you do not use skin color as the excuse. Economic inequality and injustices have increased since the death of Dr. King. So far, the arc of history has not bent toward economic justice in a country where Christianity remains the overwhelmingly dominant religion.

Politicians like Cramer and Fincher even tout their Christian credentials, especially when running for office as champions of "family values." Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth but warned that we can lose our savoriness in the eyes of God if we are not careful. In nature salts typically lose their potency by dilution and pollution. These political leaders are pursing materialism (Mammon) while claiming to follow Christ. Their unsavoriness is apparent as they scramble for a sentence of scripture to twist to justify their callousness while ignoring the unmistakeable call for compassion that runs from Genesis to Revelation. Political advocacy by people of faith is not going to change their heart.

Perhaps a more Christ-centered way of bending the arc of history is to find ways to lift the crosses of the poor, sick, disabled, and old that go beyond government assistance and charity. To do that requires people of faith work together and think creatively. Working through or with those infected with the yeast of Mammon will not succeed and more than likely will drag us into the muck with them.