SHOULD A CHRISTIAN JOIN THE "OCCUPY MOVEMENT?"

            While the Word of God doesn’t have anything directly to say about the “Occupy Movement,” clear biblical principles can be applied to this present-day situation. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3 gives one biblical principle and makes several key observations that should guide our thinking about this movement.

The principle: If a man refuses to work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Paul here isn’t giving a mere an historical truth that if a man doesn’t work then he will have nothing to eat but a much stronger exhortation, that if a man refuses to work, he should not be allowed to eat. Now the specifics of the situations between Paul’s time and now are different, but the general conclusion is the same – neither group wanted to work. In Paul’s day, the “disorderly” ones didn’t work because they thought the Lord was coming soon. In our day, the “disorderly” ones don’t work because they are lazy and feel others should provide for them. The result is the same regardless of the reason. The Scripture encourages personal enterprise and initiative not dependence upon others for livelihood or daily maintenance. This principle alone should discourage us from joining or helping the “Occupy Movement.”

Observation #1 2 Thessalonians 3:11 validates the idea that when people do not work they usually get into trouble. Those in Paul’s day who did not work became busybodies and caused problems by sticking their nose into everybody else’s business. Those in the present day “Occupy Movement” also get into trouble with each other and with the police. Christians have no place in a movement that encourages such personal irresponsibility.

Observation #2 In 2 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul commands and exhorts the lazy busybodies to go to work and provide for themselves. Although the circumstances are different between Paul’s group and the present day “Occupiers,” the result is the same and both need the same exhortation: get to work.

Observation #3 If such exhortations go back to work failed, the church was not to company with them that they might be ashamed (2 Thessalonians 3:14). God’s demands withdrawal from such “disorderly” people. His Word says don’t feed them, don’t support them, and certainly don’t join them.

            Christians should have nothing to do with the “Occupy Movement” because it violates God’s clear standards and the dignity He places upon work and personal responsibility. God doesn’t want His people to occupy but to be pre-occupied with earning a living, with personal duty to others, and with service to God.

            Don’t get me wrong, I am not equating the present “Occupy Movement” with the church or having to do with Christians. But I am saying that if the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, commands His Church to work (2 Thessalonians 2:12), He certainly doesn’t want His children joining or encouraging in any way a movement that is diametrically opposed to individual enterprise and personal initiative.