Meritocracy and the Gospel of Grace

[Pilgrim]

In the culture of the U.S. it seems we tend to function mostly on the ideas of a meritocracy: You are rewarded for what you do, you get only what you earn. This seems to permeate both our political and our social environment.

In general I have always though it was a pretty good system. But how does that compare and contrast to a Biblical model of grace? A model that places an emphasis on acts of mercy and charity. For instance with issues like affirmative action. Does it compare at all or is it just apples and oranges?

Any thoughts?

Pilgrim

[Epoetker]

The tree of mercy grows best on the mountainside of justice, and the power of grace works most fully through those who have experienced failure in the meritocracy (and almost everyone, even those who have succeeded within the system, have.)

[Epoetker]

Or, to put it differently:

You cannot make grace systemic or institutional, otherwise Bad Things Will Happen. Grace is PERSONAL. Acts of grace are extended by one PERSON to another.

I can think of it this way: Currently, due to my lack of automobile, I depend on the grace of a co-worker to make it to work(at 3:30 in the morning.) Sometimes stuff comes up and I can't make it there. This creates friction in a meritocratic sense with the supervisor there. His toleration of any missed work days due to my economic condition is almost entirely dependent on the fact that I am a Very Good Worker when present. If I was merely an average to poor worker, I'd have been out of there approximately three months ago. This situation is, in my view, as it should be; I'm not angry at the supervisor for executing his systemic duties, and furthermore, would not encourage him to act any differently with other employees. Neither am I angry (only occasionally annoyed) when I miss my ride to work because of stuff that came up with my grace-full coworker, because he is under no obligation to help me at all. Allowing this interaction of grace and merit is what makes the world go round:thumb:

[HerodionRomulus]

Affirmative action is very much a product of ethical principles, it is a Rectification of past wrongs, Recompense for lost works.
It should be no surprise that the original impetus for racial, social and economic justice emanated from (authentic) Christian leaders such as Dr. King and various 'liberal' churches like the UCC or PCUSA.
These are ancient principles promoted by the prophets and Christ.
Remember Zacchaeus? He paid back all his ill-gotten gain and then some.

[Epoetker]

Affirmative action might have made a little bit of institutional sense...back in the 60s...and much more the 1860s. There the wrongdoers and wrong-done-ers were much more easily identifiable. What wrongs have been done in the past 30 years or so to justify AA? Who should be made to pay for it? Currently it just hurts black people and encourages racism on both sides. Abolish it, don't polish it. Setting equal standards for blacks will get them into the meritocracy much better than establishing preferential set-asides.

And Zacchaeus made INDIVIDUAL restitution for the ILLEGAL extra money he squeezed out of his taxpayers. He gave gracefully above and beyond that what was required of him, but he gave OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET. His grace was personal, not systemic.

[Sozo]

I'm a little confused by you applications of "grace" to human merit.

Grace comes from God alone, it is not ours to give. But, kindness and fairness is.

We relate to God through grace, we relate to each other through merit, maintenance, & assistance

[Pilgrim]

Do you really think that we have no part in grace other than to recieve it from God? I think you have defined grace in entirely too small a way. Especially if we are called to immitate Christ.

Pilgrim

[Sozo]

03-07-2003 @ 09:47 AM
Pilgrim:

Do you really think that we have no part in grace other than to recieve it from God? I think you have defined grace in entirely too small a way. Especially if we are called to immitate Christ.

Pilgrim

There is no evidence of grace being an ability of ours. I think it has become acceptable through constant use, but it is not possible. We have also used the word "faith" in various applications where it has no place. Faith can only be in God, outside of God, it doesn't exist.

[Pilgrim]

So when Christ said to feed the hungry and visit the prisoner clothe the poor he really meant to add, "But only if they deserve it?"

Or when he instructs us to pray asking for forgiveness as we forgive others he meant that for us we only offer forgiveness if they deserve it?

[Sozo]

03-07-2003 @ 11:26 AM
Pilgrim:

So when Christ said to feed the hungry and visit the prisoner clothe the poor he really meant to add, "But only if they deserve it?"

Or when he instructs us to pray asking for forgiveness as we forgive others he meant that for us we only offer forgiveness if they deserve it?

Those are not representitive of "grace", they are forgiveness & assistance.

[Pilgrim]

I think you are getting too simplistic with the definitions...when you "assist" someone when they do not deserve it, or especially when merit tells you they deserve the opposite, that is a function of grace.