The“holypoor“havelongmaintainedanelitestatuswithinChristianity.Differingfromthe“real“poor,theseclergymen,teachers,andasceticshavehistoricallybeenviewedbytheirfellowChristiansaspersonswhoshouldreceivematerialsupportinexchangeforofferingimmeasurableimmaterialbenefits--teaching,preaching,andprayer.Supportingthem--quiteasmuchassupportingtherealpoor--hasbeenawaytoaccumulateeventualtreasureinheaven.YetfromtheriseofChristianmonasticisminEgyptandSyriatopresentday,Christianshavearguedfiercelyaboutwhethermonksshouldworktosupportthemselves.InTreasureinHeaven,renownedhistorianPeterBrownshiftsattentionfromWesterntoEasternChristianity,introducingustothissmolderingdebatethattookplaceacrosstheentireMiddleEastfromtheEuphratestotheNile.SeenagainstthebackdropofAsia,ChristianitymighthaveoptedforaBuddhistmodelbywhichholymonkslivedbybeggingalone.Instead,themonksofEgyptupheldanalternativemodelthatlinkedthemonktohumanityandthemonasterytosocietythroughacceptanceofthecommon,humanbondofwork.ThismodelofThirdWorldChristianity--aChristianitythatwealltooeasilyassociatewiththeWest--eventuallybecamethebasisforthemonasticismofwesternEurope,aswellasformodernWesternattitudestocharityandlabor.InTreasureinHeaven,Brownshowshowandwhywearestillliving--attimesuncomfortably--withthatchoice.
