John Calvin, early Calvinist preacher, writing on collections for famine (2 Cor 8), says Jesus “consecrated” the estate of poverty by living in it. Thus: 1) We need not regard this estate with horror. 2) Free from fear of own poverty, may help those in distress.
Today, do we fear the very presence of people in distress, and thus cut people off from any tie of brotherhood?
How can you no longer regard poverty with horror?
James Pilkington, Puritan, comments on English land use, in light of Nehemiah 5. The princes evicted farmers from vast tracts of land by rent racking and fines. No fraud, just “common dealing”. They hurt people, practiced bad land management.
Anyone today using “common dealing” to evict people and ruin natural settings?
How can you consider the suffering of those working for businesses that you support?
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Greg Johnson