Sometimes the current situation seems hopeless. Political gridlock with the parties deeply divided seems to prevent negotiation and compromise. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor with the richest 1% having about twice as much wealth as the bottom 90%. A radical self-centered individualism and widespread decay in family life prevail. And the number of Americans who claim to have religious faith has declined dramatically . One is tempted to feel that there is no achievable solution to this interlocking complex of problems.
But a recent book by Robert D Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett offers hope for genuine improvement. (Putnam, Author of Bowling Alone, is a distinguished professor of public policy at Harvard and Garrett is a former student of Putnam.) In The Upswing (2020), they point out that all the major factors that prompt despair today were also present in the 1890s with equal intensity, but that in the next 70 years, things improved dramatically.
Around 1900, huge corporate monopolies successfully fought unions, oppressed workers and made vast wealth for a tiny few. Substance abuse was widespread and family life was decaying. A radical individualism made selfishness a virtue. Political platforms moved toward the extremes as politicians demonized each other rather than seeking compromise. “Inequality, political polarization, social dislocation and cultural narcissism prevailed” (p.8).
Then in the 70 years from 1890 to 1960, things changed slowly but substantially. Economic inequality decreased dramatically. Negotiation and compromise grew much stronger in politics. Social life became more cohesive, strengthening community and family ties. And concern for “we” rather than “I” became much stronger in the culture as people focused more on responsibilities to one another rather than narrow self interest.
Economic equality grew in this period. In 1913 the richest 1% of Americans received 19% of the national income. But in 1976 their share had dropped about 50% to10.5% of total income. After taxes and transfers, the richest 1%’s share of national income dropped from 18% to 8%. While the real income of the top 1% rose 21.5% in this period, the average family income of the bottom 99% grew 300%!
The Upswing shows how similar improvements happened in politics (more collaboration), stronger family life, increased religious engagement and a much stronger sense of “we” and the common good.
Then about 1970, things began to reverse. Economic inequality dramatically increased. 0.1% of American families today hold 20% of household wealth and the top 1% have nearly twice as large a share of national wealth as the bottom 90%. Between 1974 and 2014, the inflation adjusted income for the bottom 10% rose a mere $388 while the income for the top 1% rose by $929,108 – – and $4,846,718 for the top .1%!
The Upswing traces the same kind of decay in most other areas from 1970 to the present. Politics has become increasingly divisive and unable to compromise. Radical individualism has increased as family life, religious institutions and labor unions decayed. Divorce and cohabitation have soared. And the culture has largely abandoned a sense of “we” and returned to a radical individualism.
I find The Upswing deeply encouraging. It shows that a radically unjust, politically dysfunctional, socially disruptive and radically individualistic culture slowly improved from 1900 to about 1970. Putnam and Garrett suggest that the same thing can happen again.
Read the book and be encouraged.
This book, however, does not suggest what would cause such a change for the better. I believe Christians who truly believe and live central biblical principles can play a crucial role. The Bible’s vigorous demand for justice for the poor certainly calls us to structural changes that empower the bottom 50%. The biblical teaching on human selfishness (and the resulting political fact that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely) calls for structural changes that reduce the political and economic power of the very rich. Jesus’ command to love the neighbor as oneself certainly points to actions that emphasize “we” as much as “I”. Biblical teaching on sex and marriage can restore family life.
I beg God to raise up a generation of Christian activists who model and promote biblical principles so winsomely that they slowly transform today’s broken society.
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Dr. Welborn states, in paragraph 1 of his comments, that transformation of the world is possible. Then, in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, he sets out what he believes are the problems of this sin-cursed world and what he believes is the cure which will bring about the ‘structural change’ that he desires. From my understanding of the beliefs of fundamentalist, born-again, evangelical Christians, most, if not the vast majority of fundamentalist, born-again evangelical Christians would agree with Dr. Welborn’s words set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.
The following is a quote from Wikipedia under the heading: ‘Christianity today in the United States’.
“Christianity is the most prevalent religion in the United States. In a 2015 survey, 75% of adults in the United States identified as Christians,[1][2] 70.6% in 2014,[3] 78% in 2012,[4] 81.6% in 2001,[5] and 85% in 1990.”
The following is a quote from Wikipedia under the heading: ‘Religion In Japan’.
“According to the annual statistical research on religion in 2018 by the Government of Japan's Agency for Culture Affairs, 69.0 percent of the population practices Shinto, 66.7 percent Buddhism, 1.5 percent Christianity, and 6.2 percent other religions.[3] (Total adherents exceed 100% because many Japanese people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism.)”
The following information is from the website: https://worldpopulationreview.com
“Japan … has the lowest murder rate in the world of 0.2 per 100,000, has stringent weapons regulations. Obtaining a firearm involves a very lengthy application process, and murder is punishable by hanging.”
“A majority of the countries with the lowest homicide rates are located in Asia”.
The same website states that the USA murder rate is 5.35 per 100,000.
[It is my understanding that these numbers mean that there are 26.75 persons murdered every year in the USA for each person murdered in Japan.] Is my understanding correct?
If a nation such as the USA (which identifies as predominately Christian-75% in 2015) commits many more murders each year than does the nation of Japan (where 1.5% practices Christianity) [and if murder is a sin condemned by God] then what causes Dr. Welborn to believe that his proposed solution will bring about the transformation he desires.
If a Christian is identified to some extent by his actions (and not only by his beliefs) then should the actions of a Christian not be less violent than a non-Christian? Does the Bible not teach that a Christian’s actions should be consistent with Christian beliefs? Matthew 7:16. “Ye shall know them by their fruits”. What does that verse mean in the context of living the Christian life?
What does 1 Peter 1:16 mean? “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” If a Christian
is to be holy just as Jesus is holy, then how can a person be a holy Christian and a murderer at the same time?
Am I misunderstanding what Dr. Welborn is saying? If so, please let me know. If I am not misunderstanding Dr. Welborn, then how can his proposed solution be workable or plausible?