The Fronts We Create

A good friend of mine recently told me a story about his grandfather who as a young man enlisted in the army to fight in WWI. He returned with shrapnel permanently lodged in his body from the Western Front in Argonne, France.

His grandfather returned from the war and became a brilliant teacher and theologian (as is my friend) in Chicago. He wrote years later that his experience at the Front was a direct consequence, writ large, of the "fronts" we put up interpersonally. The ways in which we hide behind a false image of ourselves, rather than engage in genuine relation with others in common humanity. (Let me be quick to note: Sometimes a false front is necessary for survival, as in an abusive situation.)

This deeply moved me. I heard the truth in it immediately. For me.

A front, whether in war or personally, creates a border, a chasm between us and them. Even if that border is anywhere and everywhere. The other is inevitably dehumanized in our minds. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Yeshua describes an uncrossable border or chasm between the rich and the poor of this world. He repeatedly warns against the peril of this chasm, especially for the rich. For, in creating this chasm by grasping for money and power, one loses one's soul, while the poor suffer temporarily, though severely, miserably, and needlessly.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (literally "God is my help") is central to Yeshua's teaching in Luke (16). Lazarus lies outside the gate of the rich man's palace. He longs for scraps from the rich man's table where he feasts sumptuously every day. Lazarus is covered in sores that he is helpless to prevent feral dogs from from licking. Both the rich man and Lazarus die--the great equalizer for us all--and Lazarus is taken by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man is in Hades. And between them is a wide chasm no one can cross.

The rich man pleads with Abraham to "send Lazarus"--note the continued corrupt privilege--for a bit of water. But the chasm can't be crossed. Then he asks Abraham to "send Lazarus" to warn his brothers about the consequences of his own greed and neglect. Abraham refuses: They have ample warning from Moses and the Prophets in this matter. "They will not listen, even if someone rises from the dead to tell them."

Luke here boldly proclaims that the lure of wealth, power, and great possessions is too great for even the resurrection of Christ, the teacher of this parable, to penetrate.

The Front and the great chasm between Fronts begins at the interpersonal level and becomes societal, corporate, and national. As Yeshua says just a few verses earlier, "You cannot serve God and Wealth." Whether you are a nation or a human being. For God is in your neighbor. And your neighbor's welfare is your own. 

Let this be a warning to all of us. The consequence of ignoring it is war. Nobody wins. However, there is a gracious invitation: toward an economy (literally "household") of mutual care and concern. In which large chasms are crossed and collapsed. In which your life is my life, in relation, as our life. 

References: Dr. David Hawkinson and his grandfather, Dr. Eric G. Hawkinson; Dr. Ched Myers, Healing Affluenza and Resisting Plutocracy: Luke's Jesus and Sabbath Economics