Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you,
for the worker deserves his wages.
Nairobi Chapel, the church we attend here in Kenya, is currently in the middle of the second part of a series called "MKenya Halisi" - translated "the real/authentic Kenyan". Earlier this year, they did a month long series on how Kenya - rich in history, resources and potential - is a country of which to be tremendously proud. Having grown up here for 16 years, I couldn't agree more and it is a message all too rarely heard by many in Africa: that there is so much to take great pride in about where they are from. This second part, however, takes on the parts of Kenya that are not so pretty: corruption, tribalism, etc. (Sermon series), but it addresses them from the individual's perspective. How do we, as individuals, contribute to the unhealthy aspects of Kenya's culture and society? The second week, Pastor Oscar spoke on "Kitu Kidogo" (a little something) - the phrase used when one is asked for a bribe. Oscar challenged the congregation that by giving that "kitu kidogo", we are contributing to corruption. Similarly, by renting/purchasing pirated DVD's and music, we are engaging in corrupt practices. It was a hard hitting sermon that Oscar did a great job with in speaking truth to an uncomfortable topic.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've found myself thinking along these lines and their application to Jesus' words as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. In this chapter, Jesus is sending out his disciples in pairs to do ministry - to heal the sick, to preach the Good News, etc. - and he tells them to not take anything with them (e.g. extra clothing, food, etc.). Instead, within the culture of the day, they would be invited in by those in the community, sheltered and fed. He tells his disciples to except this cultural hospitality, because the workman deserves his wages. Their work of preaching the Gospel is worthwhile, it has value and should be rewarded accordingly.
What does this have to do with corruption and dishonest practices (e.g. pirated movies/music?)? In the same way that an evangelist or missionary is deserving of wages, so are all who work - who engage in labour, that task God called Adam & Eve to even before the Fall. Hard work is a good thing! The writers, producers, actors, artists - even the low person on the wrung who holds the boom mic or helps change lights - involved in making a movie or tv show is worth their wages. Every movie is a financial risk, involving the entire group - from the first pitch by the writer/creator to the company choosing to underwrite the production - making a gamble that in the end they will not only recoup their expenses, but will make a profit. They too are deserving of their wages. And when we buy the 50/- (75¢) pirated DVD off the side of the road, none of those involved in the movie's actual production who took the financial risk will see any of that money. Only the guy who illegally downloaded it from the internet and burned it to a DVD. And while we benefit in enjoying the movie, we have not given the deserving "wages" to those who invested and risked so much for our enjoyment.
The truth is that everyone is deserving of wages for their work. From the guy/kid who washes our car to our wonderfully sweet house help who comes and cleans our home once a week. Part of a Christian's calling in their world and society is to pay deserving wages to those who work for them and to work for deserving wages for those being unjustly paid low wages. And when we go for the cheap option, the easy option, we are choosing to engage in unjust conduct and practices. We are choosing to withhold deserving wages from the movie writer who may only ever see 1 or 2 of their screen plays ever made into a movie in their lifetime. We are withholding just pay from the guy who washes our car that has a family to feed.
Oscar was spot on when he connected the culture of "kitu kidogo" in paying a bribe to a police officer with other areas in our lives where we choose the easy way out. I even think about a PhD. It is hard work, but it is conceivable that someone could get a PhD by paying someone else to do the research for them or skating by on doing a less than thorough job. But either of those choices are unjust. The researcher is presenting their work as thorough and done with integrity, when in fact it was not. They not only undermine their own character, but they undermine the work of others who might - not knowing corners were cut - refer to their poorly done research.
As Christians, we are called to choose the costly, the difficult and the hard. We are not afforded the easy option, because the easy option cheapens ours or others work - that noble God-given calling. We are not afforded the cheap option, because it robs someone of their deserved wages. While Jesus did say his burden was easy and his yoke was light, Paul makes very clear that the Christian walk is still a difficult one that requires perseverance, sacrifices and trials. Our faith calls us to face life and make the right choice - no matter how difficult or costly. We are called to do the hard work involved in a PhD. We are called to pay the full price for a movie or song so that those who have done the work are paid for it. We are called to forego t.v. shows, movies, etc. when they're not legally available to us - even if they are available through illegal means - because it is the right choice, the choice of integrity that involves sacrificing our immediate desires for what's right. We need to be quick to forego our pleasures, if satisfying them would mean cheating another of their well-deserved wages.
We are called to stand against corrupt practices, to refuse to cheapen someone else's hard work and to forego pleasures and desires for righteousness sake.
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