Jack’s Winning Words 1/30/18
“The bourgseoi are other people.”  (Jules Renard)  Try to pronounce, boo r-zhwah-zee.  It’s French for the Rich People, as opposed to the Proletariat, the Working Class.  Like it or not, society tends to identify people “financially.”  I thought that we might move away from that, but divisions seem even sharper today.  Jesus encouraged his followers to see all people as creatures of God and not to be overly impressed by wealth, or turned off by poverty.    ;-)  Jack

ROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  that is what makes people strive to work hard/succeed... it is more a problem than ever bc politics has driven huge wedges between us====JACK:  In the 16th century, the time of this quote, the separation of rich and poor was even more stark than it is now.  Those who tried to change things, even by their words, were often imprisoned and sometimes were sent to the gallows.  It is said that Bradford uttered the words of his quote as he saw fellow reformers being hanged.  Much of the reform speaking had to do with equalizing wealth.====LIZ:  communism equalizes wealth... everyone suffers equally.====JACK:  Some have accused Jesus of being a communist (sharing wealth with the poor and needy).  What do you think?====LIZ:  jesus was a libertarian.====JACK:  I think that Jesus would eschew labels, including Libertarian, Communist, etc.  He was always there to help the disadvantaged.====LIZ:  jesus believed in personal responsibility, i’m sure... personal responsibility encompasses charitable works.  jesus believed in liberty? i am assuming yes.  god is the original libertarian..====JACK:  Can you cite specific instances where God/Jesus expresses libertarian views?  I saw a listing of famous libertarians and the name of Jesus wasn't among them.  The earliest name I saw was John Locke in 1690, and his views were not based on Christian principles.====LIZ:  where doesn’t he?!  god/jesus wants us to follow the NAP, or non-aggression principle, basis of the libertarian party. god/jesus wants us to be free from oppression, a tenet of libertarianism. god also made us free to roam... tho i am not an open borders libertarian.  the LP was founded last century, so you are correct that jesus was not an actual card-carrying libertarian, nor was he even an american...

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  It doesn't matter how much money 💰 u have or don't have it matters what kind of a person u r====JACK:  A pastor received a call to a prestigious congregation.  Before accepting the call, he disguised himself as a poor person and attended worship on a Sunday.  What do you think?  Did he accept the call?

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  There were a number of "rich" kids in our H.S. gang, but they really weren't "other " people to us; They've been life-long friends.  Of course even the poor in the U.S. would be considered "rich" in some other countries...but if you're talking multi-Millionaires or Billionaires, yes, to most of us it's how "the other 1% lives"...and wealth definitely does divide our country into factions. J.L.Kraft (say 'cheese'!) was a very generous American Baptist, and he seemed down-to-earth and humble just to talk to. He was besieged by appeals for financial help, and one Seminarian wrote to him, saying God had told him Mr. Kraft would pay for his seminary education. Mr. Kraft wrote back, "Good. when God tells me the same thing, I'll do it." :-) He'd worked hard, and expected others to do the same!  I imagine my pet rock will learn to talk before wealth is evenly distributed in this country or any other!====JACK:   S.S. Kresge and J.C. Penney were rich people who lived their faith.  Penney's was originally called, The Golden Rule store where employees were told to treat customers as they, themselves, would like to be treated.

FROM TARMART REV:  Thanks, Jack . . . this fit well with my Facebook devotional this morning . . . I shared it, hopefully with your blessing.====JACK:  Yes, I saw that, along with instructions as to how to sign up to receive Winning Words.  Thanks

FROM HONEST JOHN:  I always thought of it as representing the middle class people...particularly merchants....who often were rich, but not  necessarily so.    I know you look everything up, so I am probably off base.   I thought of them as a class that were no longer peasants but not aristocrats. ====JACK:  I suppose that there are nuances, but I think that the division was basically between the haves and have nots.  The have nots were pressing the communist view that the wealth should be shared.  In the 16th century there seemed to be much sharper divide that there is today.====JOHN:  I don't recall reading about Communists in the 16th century....the Chartists in England came much later....the Marxists came from  19th century philosophy....in the 16th century, the Peasants were looking for a break and done land....I don't recall them working for  a remaking of society.... ====JACK:  Note the small "c"..."communist view".  Regardless of labels, each age has seemed to have unrest because of the power of wealth.  Even the Rich Man & Lazarus story speaks of it.
====JOHN:  I think though that communism as a societal movement was a much later phenomenon.    The earlier struggles were mainly just uprisings that came from fury and a sense of injustice.....communism often flourished in families and small groups. (e.g.  The early church).   The "estates" were generally the nobility,  the bourgeois, the clergy and the peasants.    Peasants sought not a radical change of society but an upgrade in their daily lives.

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  good words for today,  Jack.  thanks! ====JACK:  How is winter life among the bourgseoi?====PAUL:  temps in the 70s almost every day since we arrived a month ago.  sunny skies.  nothing to complain about whatsoever!!