In the United States, food, clean air and water, affordable housing, a livable wage, medical care, education, protection against violence, the possibility of progress, and the potential to flourish – these are well within the purview of the opportunities that our government should be providing for its citizens.
These are not radical ideas. This is why we pay taxes. Are there other things that we may include? Perhaps, but these are the basics. I contend that at least every Christian who pays taxes should insist that these basics be provided for as many as possible. This is just and fair. This is compassion.
Some say that charity is the Church’s responsibility. I say, two things can be true at the same time! And I further contend that if our goal is justice, then true justice and equity will make charity, in the narrowest sense, less necessary. Do you follow?
Caring for the poor, advocating for the least, protecting the marginalized, providing for the sick, these are all part of the Christian mission, but in our type of government this demands collaboration with the government that taxes us. Which means that the political choices we make must be consistent with the foundations of our professed faith! Our votes and our lobbying must be to this end or we contradict ourselves!
True Christians should desire and thus demand these basics for everyone or else admit that command to love one’s neighbors is not essential to our faith. But this, in the end, is decidedly un-Christian. When we allow the Golden Rule to become nothing more than a suggestion, we cannot be who we say we are! We become the self-justifying hypocrite who smugly asks, ‘Who is my neighbor?’
36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
“You go, and do likewise…” Jesus says.
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
pastorpoet 