Wealth inequality seems contrary to Christianity's basic teachings. Jesus preached a way of life free of possessions, and the original disciples warned against power and prestige. The first church in Jerusalem abolished private property by holding personal wealth in common and distributing resources to everyone as needed. As the Jesus movement grew in numbers and geographically spread, collectively the churches maintained that their primary purpose was to serve the needs of the sick and the poor and that the practice of surrendering everything in love was the hallmark of the Christian ethic.

• So in the United States with a predominant Christian ethic (at least according to popular belief), why are there so many poor when there is so much wealth?

But even yet more puzzling, today popular Christianity promotes the message that God promises wealth and abundance to those who have faith. This prosperity theology and its proponents claim that the Bible teaches that financial blessing is the will of God and personal wealth is the reward for having faith in Jesus.

• However, why such a dramatic, historical change of beliefs within Christianity from, in its early history, church leaders warning against wealth to today many church leaders and their followers seeking and celebrating it?
• Does popular Christianity believe that the poor are simply poor because they lack sufficient faith? Or is popular Christianity’s fixation on achieving wealth a betrayal of the historic Christian faith?
• As Christians, have we lost the vision of Jesus and the early church where the care of the sick and the poor is the Church’s primary focus of Christian discipleship?

These are the questions I ask. Maybe you as well. Today’s topic will review social, historical, and biblical research conducted by academic scholars that challenges many popular assumptions and beliefs. I hope that with this analysis of our history, national culture, and Christian faith we are able to re-assess and reclaim what we value, what we believe, and how we should conduct ourselves in the sacred interactions we call life.