A new movement in our country has claimed that Jesus Christ and God are not concerned with social justice. This is shouted and bandied about and the claim is that there are no instances of social justice in the Bible.
What do they suppose that Matt. 25:35-40 mean? When we see someone hungry, we feed them. Naked we clothe them. Homeless we give shelter. This is the pattern to be among the chosen, among the Sheep, among God's children. And that's one of many passages about caring for others. Reading the Bible further will only expand the Christian duty to care for those who can't care for themselves.
The argument comes in the idea that the "government" should not provide this service. Well, in conversation with a man who believes in the anti-social justice type of Christian, (and who incidentally has never attended Church or read the Bible), I said well then how do you feel about the government caring for incarcerated people? The reply was well that is JUSTICE, not SOCIAL JUSTICE, and the Bible is all for justice.
Maybe I'm missing something here. But I don't think so. I think that God wants us to think of him in all we do. Striping our government of caregiving functions would not be heroic, but would be the opposite. Not everyone can take care of his/herself. We have record unemployment. How such a movement can arise in a time of record unemployment, a time of rising bank foreclosures, and do so saying that it is NOT Christian to give is beyond my understanding. Please, if you read this and disagree, explain it to me so that I can understand. Because I want to love my neighbor, all my neighbors, even those who disagree with my point of view. I am having trouble understanding how to love haters.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Loving the Unlovable
John 13:34 & 35 tells us that Jesus issued a new commandment to his disciples, to love one another and to be known for this love. Our Bishop focused his sermon yesterday on that love that we should have for one another, and on all the nuances of it.
Many times Jesus told us to love our fellow human beings, both lovable and difficult people, people who we deem may deserve our love, but especially people who don't. Anyone can love someone who loves back. But the challenge is to love the unlovable. For each of us, the "unlovable" one is different.
In light of the political unrest in the world, I feel a bit challenged to love my enemies. I also feel challenged to love people who think differently than I do. It is easy for me to love another "liberal". It is a challenge to love someone whose radical thinking is diametrically opposed to mine.
The new Tea Party movement challenges me to love. I don't have as many problems loving Muslims, Buddhists, and Taoists as I do loving fellow Christians who proclaim fundamental ideas that I see as twisted. I just got off the phone with a friend whom I gave this advice to: "You can't change what other people think. You can accept it, think differently, and go on with respect for a fellow human who happens to think in a way that is strange and even mean seeming to you."
When it comes to politics, then Jesus' challenge to love becomes an almost impossible task. But with Christ, all things are possible. Even loving the unlovable.
Many times Jesus told us to love our fellow human beings, both lovable and difficult people, people who we deem may deserve our love, but especially people who don't. Anyone can love someone who loves back. But the challenge is to love the unlovable. For each of us, the "unlovable" one is different.
In light of the political unrest in the world, I feel a bit challenged to love my enemies. I also feel challenged to love people who think differently than I do. It is easy for me to love another "liberal". It is a challenge to love someone whose radical thinking is diametrically opposed to mine.
The new Tea Party movement challenges me to love. I don't have as many problems loving Muslims, Buddhists, and Taoists as I do loving fellow Christians who proclaim fundamental ideas that I see as twisted. I just got off the phone with a friend whom I gave this advice to: "You can't change what other people think. You can accept it, think differently, and go on with respect for a fellow human who happens to think in a way that is strange and even mean seeming to you."
When it comes to politics, then Jesus' challenge to love becomes an almost impossible task. But with Christ, all things are possible. Even loving the unlovable.
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