Are Christians Different from the World?

Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Luke 6:31-35

These are Jesus’ own words. Sadly, this sounds like the opposite of what is being preached in churches today. To hear them, all rich people are virtuous saints and all poor people are greedy freeloaders. Maybe some are. But I just don’t know how to align “lend to them without expecting to get anything back” with our current philosophy of contempt for the poor and adulation of the ultra-rich.

If Christians only respect those who are “worthy” of respect, how are they different from the rest of the world?