So every city has the old money area. These people got their fortunes the old fashioned way, they inherited it from rich ancestors. Their relatives came over on the Mayflower and made a fortune investing in corn futures. You get the point. So in one particular neighborhood in the Detroit area, the more established, old money streets have three digit addresses, and it is a big deal. This means if your address is 231 Oak Lane that is more prestigious that 25641 Sycamore Place, This is so important that some of the residents of five digit streets petitioned the city to change their addresses to three digits thus improving their property values. And the current three digit street residents are objecting as to protect their standing. And yes this is a real thing.
For most of us the address thing seems ridiculous. But it all comes down to associating with the "right types" of people. The thinking goes that there are certain types of people and we don't want those people living here, then we would be like them.
There is a posh resort in Florida that has been in the news lately due to its connection to a certain outspoken business man turned politician. It is said that it is open to anyone and everyone. All you need to do to join is pay the $150,000 annual membership fee. So yeah, pretty much anyone can join.
It is all the same thing. Their are certain social classes and often one class puts up barriers to prevent another class from entering. They see status by association and it can be lost if the wrong sort are milling around.
This sense of class and association is nothing new. It has been around since there have been people living in groups. I'm sure that once upon a time there was a caveman who would wouldn't want those people living in the cave next door. And of course it was true in Israel 2000 years ago when the son of a carpenter came on the scene.
Jesus didn't come to town and ingratiate himself into the right circles with the best people. No, Jesus went to the masses. Jesus went to the down and out. He went to the sinners. He went to those who needed him most. And in doing so he taught us all that true status is not achieved through our associations with other people, out three digit addresses or the type of country club we can belong to. True status comes from our relationship with God and nothing else.
Maybe the most widely known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
God loved the world and whoever believes. It does not say that the right people have special favor with God. Jesus came for everyone to establish a relationship with God. And that is something that we all need, no matter what social class we were born into.
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