You’ve been in the news again lately, so much so that it’s somewhat difficult to keep up with all you’re saying and doing. Recently though you made some interesting statements about Christianity, and as I am a theologian who engages in theological critiques of modern American politics and those in power, I feel like it’s important for me to respond to your comments regarding the well being of Christianity –albeit a bit late given the frenetic 24 hour news cycle and how quickly we can forget things as a result. I thank you for your patience because I’m sure you prefer not to be kept waiting.

As someone who has written about you multiple times in the past, I must admit to a high level of incredulity regarding your statements about Christianity which included the following: “Unless there is more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right, Christianity will perish” and “I believe in the principles of Christianity like love thy neighbor as thyself (have empathy for all) and turn the other cheek (end the cycle of retribution).” Your past behaviors do make it hard to take those statements seriously, but perhaps I should give you the benefit of the doubt though. People do change their thinking and actions sometimes. So in that spirit, I will offer you some theological advice so that you, Mr. Musk, can personally be brave for Christianity’s sake as you strive to love your neighbors around the world.

You are widely regarded as one of the richest people on Earth, if not the richest. Perhaps you are unaware of what Jesus, a man whose teachings you claim to respect, had a great deal to say about people who hoard wealth while ignoring human suffering. Fortunately, I am here to help with your theological education. In Luke’s gospel narrative for example, we read that Jesus told his listeners to “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15 NRSVUE) and then later in Luke 18:18-26 Jesus tells the rich young ruler to give up all of his wealth in order to follow him. When the rich man exhibits sadness because of his many possessions, Jesus says to him that, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” These are just two of the many places in the New Testament where the dangers of hoarding wealth are mentioned. In fact, as Biblical scholar and theologian David Bentley Hart noted in his translation of the New Testament, “The New Testament alarmingly enough condemns personal wealth not merely as a moral danger, but as an intrinsic evil.” (Hart, “Intro to NT essay, p XXVI).

For someone as wealthy as you, who claims to want to stand up for what is fair and right, I can only assume that you will want to use your wealth as a tool to do good for all of humanity and the biosphere which supports us. You certainly don’t want to be subsumed and overwhelmed by such a powerful “intrinsic evil” like hoarding wealth is, right? Of course it will take bravery for you to follow through on using your wealth as a tool for human flourishing, but just think of the legacy you would leave if you actually put your own words into practice! As someone who has studied permaculture and does my best to implement it in my limited way on a shoestring budget, I have A LOT of suggestions for you about how to use your wealth in ways which will serve humanity – especially the vulnerable ones whom Jesus called “the least of these” in Matthew 25:31-46.

Using your wealth to benefit the impoverished, those who have limited access to clean water, and those put into danger by climate change related chaos, would be a wonderful way to “love your neighbor” as you clearly said that you believe in doing. Not using your wealth to benefit humanity, at this time in history when there is such an urgent need for humanitarian aid however, is tantamount to spitting in Jesus’ face and telling him to “get bent.” So is using your wealth to fund your Martian pipe dreams. Hoarding your wealth won’t do anything whatsoever to prevent Christianity from perishing, so I urge you to put your words into action for the the good of all humanity, and perhaps as important, for the good of your soul.

As mentioned previously, I am a permaculture enthusiast, having began my permaculture journey back in 2007. Since that time I have dreamed of doing meaningful work using permaculture principles and ethics to build sustainable systems and right livelihoods for people who have learned permaculture design. For seventeen years this has been what I daydream about whenever I dream of winning the lottery, yet financial restrictions have always prevented me from doing so. This brings me back to Jesus and to you Mr. Musk, because Jesus said in Matthew 5:42 to ” Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you,” so in all sincerity I ask you now Mr. Musk, please make my dream of enacting the golden rule through applied permaculture a reality. You make more in about 15 seconds than I do all year. Donating a couple million dollars to my Permaculture Paid Forward project wouldn’t make a discernible dent in your wealth, but it would enable me to do a tremendous amount of good. It would also perhaps inspire you should you choose to put your words about Christianity into real, decisive, meaningful action.

Will you put your money where your mouth is Mr. Musk? Will you show the world what radical love of neighbor looks like by shedding some of your enormous wealth for the benefit of others, or will you continue to hoard it for no apparent purpose other than personal enrichment at the expense of others. The love of money is the root of all evil according to the writer of 1 Timothy 6:1-10. Will you renounce the love of money, for that is what hoarding wealth is, for the benefit of your global neighbors, or will you choose the path of Ananias and Sapphira who in Acts 5 held some of their wealth back and were punished for so doing? The choice is yours so choose wisely.

Sincerely,

Dillon Naber Cruz (aka The Tattooed Theologian)

P.S. I’m seriously asking you to fund my Permaculture Paid Forward project as a non-profit permaculture enterprise, so brother Musk can you spare a proverbial dime?