1. Because I am an evangelical Christian and the root of the word "evangelical" is found in the opening statement of Jesus in Luke 4, where Christ says he has come to bring "good news (the 'evangel') to the poor." So to be an evangelical Christian is to try and bring good news to poor people.
2. Because some very bad news is happening to the poorest and most vulnerable people in Washington's battle over the budget -- both those at home and around the world.
3. Because budgets are moral documents -- they reveal our priorities, who and what is important, and who and what are not. To address excessive deficits is also a moral issue -- preventing our children and grandchildren from having crushing debt. But how you reduce a deficit is also a moral issue. We should reduce the deficit, but not at the expense of our poorest people.
4. Because it is simply wrong -- morally and religiously -- to focus our budget cuts on the people who are already hurting, and make them hurt more. Programs that are effectively reducing poverty should not be cut. They should be made as effective as possible, but not cut.
5. Because there is a selective cruelty going on in this budget debate. Instead of focusing on where the real money is, some budget cutters are actually targeting vital and effective programs that support and protect poor people and some initiatives that are literally saving lives. It was not spending on poor people that created this deficit, and these drastic cuts in programs that help poor people will do little to get us out of our deficit.
6. Because to really reduce the deficit, we should put everything on the table, especially the biggest public outlays in military spending, corporate subsidies and tax loopholes, long term health-care costs etc. -- all of which could actually reduce the deficit, when much smaller poverty programs will not. Last night, 60 Minutes exposed 60 billion lost in revenue to corporate tax havens in Switzerland -- enough to protect many programs for the poor.
7. Because there is a difference between deficit hawks -- some of whom I know, respect and work with on restoring fiscal health -- and deficit hypocrites, who won't go to where the real money is, but go instead to the poor, who have little political clout in Washington to defend themselves, and are an easy targets to score political points with a political base. We do not fast today against fiscal responsibility, but against political hypocrisy.
8. Because those of us who are Christians are bound by Jesus' command to protect the least of these. So people of faith ask, "What Would Jesus Cut?" The extreme budget cuts proposed to critical programs that save the lives, dignity and future of poor and vulnerable people have crossed a moral line. Politicians have only just begun to hear from the many church leaders who are ready to wage the good fight over these bad decisions. This crisis is bringing us together. Those with money and armies of lobbyists have their interests protected. They won't bear the burden of reducing the deficit. But the work to protect the poor is a Christian vocation and obligation, and we will be faithful to it.
9. Because I am blessed to be in the company of dear brothers and sisters, Tony Hall, David Beckham, Ritu Sharma, the 38 organizations that have joined this fast coalition, and the growing movement of people of faith and conscience who together intend to form a circle of protection around vital poverty-fighting programs. Every Christian, regardless of political affiliation, is called to take up the cause of the poor and the needy because that is God's heart, and we will be calling every legislator who says they are a Christian or person of conscience to listen to God's heart as they make their decisions.
10. Because, ultimately, this is a fast before God, to whom we turn in prayer and hope to change hearts -- our hearts, the heart of our lawmakers, the heart of the nation. We will pray and fast, each of us in our own ways, for mercy, compassion, wisdom, strength and courage as we make the critical budget choices about who and what are most important. A line has been crossed in this budget debate; extreme budget cuts are now being proposed and this fast is a spiritual escalation to bring these critical moral choices to the attention of the nation, and to seek God's help in doing so. "Is not this the fast that I choose," says the prophet Isaiah, "to loose bonds of injustice ... to let the oppressed go free?"
Join me in prayer, fasting, and action in response to Congress' proposed budget cuts.
Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs at www.godspolitics.com. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis. +Click here to get email updates from Jim Wallis
Follow Jim Wallis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimwallis
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Today I fasted not only from food, but also from energy. During daylight hours, whenever I wanted to turn on the light I'd ask myself "Can I do what I need to do with only natural light?"
I’m weary as Hell
The confusion I’m feelin’
Ain’t no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God’s on our side
He’ll stop the next war
– Bob Dylan, "With God on Our Side"
Consumption = an american value
conclusion: fasting is un-american
Pardon me; I need a moment to gather myself...
But I agree with you, people who behave this way - and leaders who marginalize the poor, are NOT good Christians!
1. Our constitution is an enumerated powers constitution which limits the authority of Govt. According to those who wrote it, there is NO provision in the Federal govt under the constitution to provide for social programs.
That power under the 10th amendment is given to the states and the people respectively.
2. Helping those in need is indeed both an obligation and an evidence of true Christian life. But to surrender that responsibility to govt is to take the glory from God and give it to man and govt. That is idolatry and a sure path to hell Jesus in Matthew 7 "Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." and also in accordance with Matthew 25 and Isaiah 58.
3. Corporations don't "rob" Americans of jobs. That is liberal mythology.
Rev Larry Robinson
But, of course, that is not on your radar and you left it out.
As far as your state "all public employee unions are willing to help states balance their budget" is not true. In CA they are not budging. Their ONLY solution is to tax us more, those of us who make so much less and don't get ANY benefits, so they can still have their largesse. They are not even willing to pay a fraction of their healthcare like everyone else. I am voting NO. Why should I pay more for the benefits of my public employee sector friends who pay ZERO co pays on their health, earn enough to buy property ane Priuses. Sorry, not fair.
For example, in CA, community college teachers "won" the right to have their pensions based on ONE YEAR of working over time. Now, any sane person would recognize this as unfair, but it is something they won with collective bargaining.
I have to disagree with the unions not being a part of the problem. Yes, they did not cause the economic meltdown, but neither did I, or all the millions of other taxpayers who pay for them. We should not bear the whole brunt, either. Public employee unions are only powerful because they take union dues and give them to politicians to buy their benefits. It's not fair that the taxpayer, who has no such "union" be ransacked because of it.
So the agreeing to concessions is just a ruse...they want to hold onto shake down rights to keep their power for the future.
How's that for ya?
Christians are required to work if they want to eat, this is a simple fact.
If Churches want to do the Christian thing, they should ask their flock to reach into their pockets just a little deeper to help those in need. But rarely do Churches do this.
It's far eaiser to side with the tax collector to take more from others as long as other people's money is going towards you or the causes you support. Somehow, I think Christ would take issues with this tactic.
Is it right to raise taxes on a young family that could use the extra money to save for their kids future education? Or to raise taxed on the elderly to force them to help the poor instead of them being able to purchase needed medications?
How better to control your money than to give as you see where it help best? You think your tax dollars go where it helps or to corporate welfare? How would you know?
This country works best when individuals do the right thing. I would rather let people keep their money so they have more to give. Oh, yea, I do pay it forward. Just because I don't believe the government programs work doesn't mean I don't do what's right.
Thanks for the announcement---such a secret place you found!
Now, back to brag, "10 reasons why I'm fasting for a better budget," sounds a little heavy on the "I" which is common with Wallis.
Once you state that budgets are moral documents you are impling that govs are also moral entities. Based on whose morals? what punishment for not upholding these morals? No Jim do your work because you think it is the right thing to do and don't go down the gov has moral responsibility road
What punishment for not upholding these morals? - How about not being re-elected?
Our government is supposed to be a representation of who we are, yet it has become tainted over the years. There's always been some corruption, but I don't believe it has been nearly as great as it is now.
not to mention practically. Since where we are headed, there will be a requirement to derive every ounce of ability our kind is capable of. That won’t result as a consequence of tying a large part of the population’s hands behind their backs.
“there is a selective cruelty going on in this budget debate”.
Aided and abetted by the deployment of two distinct strategies. Restricted or non-existent access to the balance sheets. Denial of the fundamental principles of democracy.
“What Would Jesus Cut?"
An observation slit, in the shroud of secrecy that swathes and swaddles government.
“We will pray and fast”
While they play fast and loose with us?
Fasting is not to cause God to act, it is so you can understand that your material needs are nothing compared to the needs of your soul.
By denying yourself food, and you are strenghting your soul, and allowing yourself freedom from the material world. You are also understanding the pain of the people that do not have enough to eat.
Fasting is good for your soul.