Solomon Social Theory

A couple weeks ago a friend asked a friend asked a friend asked us if Titus could join other kids to make a short video for a popular variety show called Tian Tian Xiang Shang (天天向上). We agreed and took a cab out to the provincial TV station on a Saturday morning. Titus was more agreeable and relaxed than I expected. The blinding lighting was his biggest problem!

Click here to watch Titus. He appears at 2 minutes 50 seconds. Don't blink or you'll miss his one line, "I want to eat ice cream." And eat ice cream we did. We took the USD$32 paid to our small actor and promptly spent 25% of the earnings on a McDonald's lunch.

The next day we came across Lozzi Donuts opening day event. Coupons for free coffee abounded, so Drew happily seized the opportunity. The owner boss man saw our kids and had one of his minions pass on a message, "If we give you a bunch of free donuts, can we take pictures of your boys for our promotions?" It was a mutually beneficial situation, we agreed, and the boss and his minions did the paparazzi thing.

We're thankful for a chance to be on national television, thankful for McDonald's lunch and free donuts. Very thankful.

On the other hand, there's an unjust social phenomenon at work. This is postcolonial China. Western caucasian people are still treated with higher status. We are the 'haves'. We are the rich. We are the educated. The beautiful. We are sought out. We are idolized. Because we have, we are given more.

The 'have nots' labor and can't get ahead. They are poor. They are uneducated. They are ugly, if only because of their skin color. They are hidden. They are exploited. They have nothing, and what they do possess is taken from them.

Solomon social theory: 

The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many. (14:20) 

Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend. (19:4) 

All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone. (19:7) 

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave. (22:7)

About one year ago, Drew and I began a transformation in attitude towards the poor. It was largely inspired by this lecture by Tim Keller. I would recommend listening to this recording more than any other piece of media. Listen! And listen twice or three times because it will require significant contemplation. Some of you may have read Generous Justice also by Dr. Keller; the content is similar.


I welcome your response to Tim Keller's lecture or my observations.