Returning to Jesus' Economy
- T.J. Lucas
- Oct 27
- 8 min read
We are living in a time of deep spiritual amnesia.
As George Santayana, Spanish-born American philosopher once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." We look around at the world and see wealth concentrated at the top, corporations profiting off human need and lobbying our government, in turn, governments trimming lifelines for the vulnerable, and churches that have traded in the radically inclusive and extravagantly welcoming Gospel of Jesus for comfort, performance, and polished fundraising campaigns. We see people exhausted, divided, suspicious of one another, pointing fingers at the poor, the immigrant, the single mother, the family on assistance, and each other — while the true sources of oppression go untouched, unchallenged, and unrepented.
And we dare to call this progress? or great?
We are repeating the same sickness of empire that existed before Jesus walked the earth. And, heartbreakingly, we are repeating the same sickness even after He came.
Rome built its power on economic injustice, hoarded wealth, and blamed the suffering on the suffering. Jesus confronted it — and we crucified Him for it. I say we because yes, you and I would be in the crowds too.
Let’s tell the truth: Christ came, but the world kept its empire. And much of the Church aligned with it. Rome didn't fall...it became the Church.
We have not changed — not nearly enough to call ourselves followers of the Way.
So let us go back to the words of Jesus. Not the Americanized Jesus who fuels political campaigns or blesses corporate charity for tax write-offs. Not the institutional Jesus who exists to prop up church budgets or make us feel holier than our neighbors. But the real Jesus — the One who flipped tables and the world’s economy upside down.
The Word of the Lord: Luke 6:20–31
Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Give to everyone who asks of you, and do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Luke 6:20–31)
This is not passive spirituality. This is not charity for a tax deduction. This is a new economy, birthed from heaven, meant to reshape earth.
Jesus didn’t come to sprinkle kindness into Caesar’s system — He came to expose it as anti-Kingdom. I tell my parishoners all the time, politricks have no place in the church or the pulpit. I pray for our leadership regularly. I hold hope they will do the right thing no matter their political allegiance or who lines their pockets but trust me, I put my faith in God alone. We need to reform ourselves, not wait for someone else to do it and God gives us all the power we need within.
Why We Call Ourselves “The Reformed Church”
Our name is not a brand or a theology. Don't go checking Wikipedia for an explanation because the correct answer is not there. It is a prophetic declaration.
We call ourselves The Reformed Church because we believe the Church — and the world — must be reformed again and again in every age. Not by political agendas. Not by religious nostalgia. Not by maintaining the institution.
But by returning to the Way of Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit into a new future. The Reformation was never meant to be a museum piece — it was meant to be a movement. To be Reformed is not to be finished. It is to be always reforming — always aligning ourselves back to Jesus when the world seduces us away. And you best believe, that the enemy is always working to seduce us away.
And friends, the truth is that the universal Church has been seduced by wealth, by comfort, by capitalism disguised as blessing, and by fear of losing members if we tell the truth. But it is losing its members anyway because it stopped being the church a long time before you and I got here. Fear not, we can reform it and to the churches that do close, trust that God will raise them back up as we are a resurrection people.
So here is the truth: If our faith doesn’t feed the poor, it isn’t the faith of Jesus (Luke 6:20–21).
Let’s Talk About Tithing Honestly
Many of us were taught that faithfulness means giving 10% to the church. But that “rule” has been used more for institutional survival than community transformation.
The biblical tithe was never about funding religious buildings. It was:
Food, not money (Leviticus 27:30–33)
A community food system, not a church budget (Deuteronomy 14:28–29)
For the vulnerable — the poor, the widowed, the orphan, the immigrant (Deuteronomy 26:12)
The tithe was God’s economic justice system. It was wealth redistribution rooted in love and equity.
But the modern church turned it into a bill to pay — a transaction that funds the institution and leaves the poor waiting at food banks.
That is not Jesus. That is empire with a cross stamped on it. Don't misunderstand me, if your spiritual gift is one of stewardship and you give, that can be holy! Let me explain...
Why We Don’t Pass the Plate Here
At The Reformed Church, we refuse to guilt people into giving. If someone’s spiritual gift is financial stewardship, the opportunity to give is available — and we honor it. Yes, ministry requires resources. Yes, lights, heat, and mission costs are real. We carry forward the church we inherited and hope to reform. So yeah, bills and budgets exist and we are grateful for every penny freely given from the heart so we can continue our ministries and hopefully grow them.
But we will never weaponize Scripture or shame to extract money.
If you give here, let it be because the Spirit moved you — not because we pressured you (2 Corinthians 9:7).
A Local Revolution of Love — Join the Movement
The need around us is real and rising. Food scarcity was already a crisis before rising costs after COVID, before current threat of SNAP cuts and benefit rollbacks. Children go home hungry over the weekend which is why I started a backpack feeding program near my home town called Food4Kids. Seniors skip meals which is why I'm coordinating with the ministerium near my hometown to serve the seniors of the recently closed senior center. Families choose between groceries and gas which is why here in Scottdale where I serve, I joined the local ministerium to prop up the good work of various non-profits that help families in need beyond what my small congregation can on their own. And last but certainly not least, it is why we started the food pantry box outside our own doors which we have plans of expanding.
Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37).The need is plenty. The workers are few. So beloved Neighbors--this is our moment.
Not to complain. Not to wait for government solutions. Not to blame the poor or police how they spend.
But to be the hands of Jesus again. Let us feed our own community with our own resources and with hearts full of love.
How You Can Help:
Drop Food in the Blessing Box @ The Reformed Church
You can place nonperishable food items in the Blessing Box outside our church, or use the one in front of the Scottdale Library anytime at your convenience. Our church is at 106 North Chestnut, the box is in our doorway to the left. We recently applied for a grant to build a bigger one and to increase resources to keep it stocked!
Every can, every box, every bag makes a difference.
Donate at the Halloween Parade
This Thursday, we’ll be outside of the church giving out free hot chocolate, coffee, and treats to kiddos during the Halloween parade.
You can make donations directly to the church and hand them to me— Pastor TJ — so that I can bless them this Sunday during monthly communion. It is our spiritual practice of extending God's table beyond our walls as God intended.
Bring food, funds, or simply your presence and kindness because just words of support and prayer have power!
Join Our Monthly Table
Come to worship at 9:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month. (We worship every Sunday at the same time but the first Sunday is the one at the Table)
Bring your food donation to the altar so we can bless it during Communion.
No strings attached. No questions asked. You have a seat here.
All are welcome — to worship, to Communion, and to the table of grace.
Help Us Build a Free Monthly Meal Program
Our dream is to host at least one free community meal each month but we know our limitations and right now we can't make it happen alone.
We can provide the space and coordinate resources — but we need you: cooks, servers, cleaners, and donors. Our membership already does so much and we are small in numbers and some are seasoned vets who have put their time in. We really could use some fresh volunteers!
You don’t have to join the church, attend worship, or even share our faith to serve and to belong at our side in this work! I promise you will feel welcomed and not pressured. It is not my style.
You only have to believe in love strong enough to feed someone else.
If you can be one of these people, email me directly at pastor@lovestrucc.org so we can plan something once we have more people.
Join the Scottdale Area Association of Churches
I joined the work of this group as soon as I started serving in this area. I knew what our church couldn't do on its own, we could certainly do with our brothers and sisters beyond our walls. Now I serve as the organization's president and I couldn't ask for a better group of people to have known and grown with over the years! Trust me when I say you would feel very at home with them all.
Our next meeting is November 4th at noon at the Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall on Market street.
Our ministerium already support the local food bank and other community programs like the Salvation Army, Westmoreland Community Action, and the Good Samaritan center to name a few, but this meeting will open new discussions on how to address the growing food crisis as benefit cuts deepen. Even if these programs come back, the rising cost of living means this growing need is here to stay and we need to respond together as a community.
Come yourself, or encourage your church leaders to attend. We meet the first Sunday of the month throughout the year--excluding summers and December. Keep up with us on Facebook here.
If you prefer to help financially because that is your spiritual gift, you can give directly through Zelle — all funds gifted will go toward our pantry and future community meal ministry. Email me if you need a letter acknowledging your giving for tax purposes.
This is our chance to live what Jesus taught in Luke 6 — to bless those who hunger, to love our neighbors in tangible ways, and to build the kind of community where everyone has enough.
We cannot change the empire overnight, but we can change our corner of the world today.
Let us be the Reformation our time is crying out for.
Not in words — but in bread.
Not in theory — but in practice.
Not with guilt — but with love.
Come. Join the Revolution of Love. The Kingdom of God is not far off — it begins right here, at the table.
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