I just finished reading an article about the lack of leadership of the “Christian Right”. One common denominator across former leaders is that Evangelicals are tired of being against issues like same sex marriage and abortion.
I think that this shows a fundamental flaw in Evangelical thinking. Being against something drains energy. Even when you win, you still have the status quo. Nothing positive has been accomplished. Being for something is generates energy because people see a benefit, a better life, if they achieve their goal.
In the Bible, we see God as being AGAINST sin but the thrust of God’s work is FOR love, justice, mercy, faithfulness, redemption, reconcillation, and countless other positive outcomes. Maybe it’s time for Evangelicals to be FOR the critical issues of our time. Obvious candidates are MERCY and JUSTICE for the poor and oppressed who lie at our doorstep–struggling single moms, immigrants trying to make a new life for themselves and their families, the poor who live without basic health care or even proper nutrition. Make your own list. It’s not hard.
Of course, the big problem with being positive is that it costs us something. The general attitude of the “againsters” is that it’s OK to help the poor so long as I don’t have to pay for it or give up something to help another. We hide behind the righteous banner of worthiness–the idea that the poor are poor because of bad choices, inappropriate behaviors, laziness and the like. The righteous are justified by their good education, hard work, and being born in the USA. Someone told me recently that they are against universal health care because it would benefit illegal immigrants and women who want abortions. Because of these two things, they are against something that would help millions of poor. Is this justice? If so, let’s eliminate the internet because it propogates pornography. Let’s get out of Afghanistan because innocent women and children are killed along with the terrorists.
Who is for the poor? What campaigns to help the poor of our nation have been sponsored by the Christian Right? What have they offered to sacrifice to provide justice for the poor and oppressed? If the poor are God’s concern (and they are), then where are the Evangelicals? Check out Matthew 25 for some answers.
Tags: evangelicals, Health, immigration, poor, world view
