According to data released this week from the Census Bureau, one in seven Americans are living in poverty. This means that in 2009 a staggering 43.6 million people live in the degradation of food, health care and housing insecurity. Each one of these Americans represents a colossal moral failure of our nation. I wish there was an energized political gathering that would address the lack of decency of such wide spread suffering. I wish there was some well funded religious group that was talking about how we incorporate values into our public life.
Oh, right.
With a startling lack of self awareness, the Values Voter Summit began their conference two days after the census report on poverty levels was released. However, poverty is not what concerns these 'Values Voters.' According to their website their values instruct them to: "Protect Marriage • Champion Life • Strengthen the Military • Limit Government • Control Spending • Defend Our Freedoms."
Now these objectives do represent values - but whose?
To begin with, there is a schizophrenic quality to the values of these voters. They want to control spending, but strengthen the military; and they want to limit government and defend our freedom, but want the government controlling personal morality and affection. These desires work at cross purposes with one another and certainly put the 'Value Voter' at odds with the 'Tea Partier.'
But the most glaring problem of the Values Voter Summit is not the sin of commission but rather the sin of omission.
The Values Voter Summit wants to bring God, and more specifically Christianity and the values of the New Testament into politics. But anyone who has read the words of Jesus knows what his values are - and they don't include strengthening the military. Jesus came to give life abundant to all people, to liberate the captive, bring freedom to the oppressed and called the poor blessed. There is not one thing that Jesus talks more about than the need for justice for the poor. In fact, the word poor occurs in the bible over 2,000 times. Any attempt to bring religious or Christian values into politics must make justice for the poor a priority - or they are not truly representing the Gospel.
Now I know that this sets me up as an adherent of liberation theologian or the social gospel - well those titles do not offend me. But I prefer the title of Christian. A Christian who understands the values Jesus preached and is trying to bring them into the society in which I live. The news that one out of seven of my sisters and brothers are in poverty requires a Christian response. Those who want to infuse our country with values cannot continue to bless an economic playing field that radically increases the gap between the rich and the poor leaving us without a middle class.
What are the values at the Values Voter Summit and whose interests do they ultimately serve? It is telling that the big story at this summit is how the fiscal conservatives and the social conservatives are making nice - which is shorthand for if you oppose gay marriage then I will support tax breaks for millionaires.
The Lectionary is an agreed upon set of texts that Christians around the world use Sunday after Sunday in hopes of a sense of unity in the church. It is ironic that the Lectionary texts for the Sunday of the Values Voter Summit include: Amos 8:4 'Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land'; and Luke 16:13: 'No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.'
In the glaring light of the new census data on the poor, and the Biblical mandate that is so clear, perhaps this will be the year that the Values Voters listen carefully for the word of God as it pertains to the poor.
Andrew Levine: Populism and Equality: It's the Economy, Stupid
Waymon Hudson: Family Values: Who Is it Trying to "Destroy Marriage" Again?
Jim Wallis: Health Care: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Alvin McEwen: Shouldn't being a 'Values Voter' involve having decent values?
Values Voter Summit Kicks Off With Attacks On Gays, Abortion ...
Anti-Islamic Sentiment Cheered at Values Voter Summit
'Values voters' slam spending and taxes
Pawlenty drops out of Values Voter poll, will still speak at summit
'Values Voter Summit' Will Likely Be Missing Jewish Voters: Conservative ...
Certainly, it has nothing in common with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the inbreaking kingdom of God.
The "Values Voters" crowd won't be happy till there are beggars on every corner -- and people are dying from hunger and cold. Then they'll pass laws to criminalize begging and fine "vagrants."
be in the world and not of the world and this will not be a problem for you
Values are not what concern these "Values Voters".
not shared their wealth with me. When will the elite bigots redistribute their wealth?
Can i get an AMEN ?
Thanks for capturing this in one short sentence. :-)
Using Christian language allows these "politically minded pastors, preachers and priests" to assert their influence to even moderated minded Christians, who are very reluctant to draw the line from these "brothers and sisters". Christians represented a large demographics, and any meaning social movement (good or bad) would need their participation. Secular humanists and moderate/progressive Christians need to find a way to work together as they DO have a lot in common. My 2 cents.
he knew religious people belonged in government. His speeches were prayers.
To call someone a "Values Voter" implies that their "values" are superior!
Usually someone who is called a "Values Voter" is someone who doesn't "value" equal rights.
That's not superior ... that's just thinking that your own rights, and views are more "valuable", and should override the rights of others.
If this is what passes for religion and love-thy-neighbor, I will never support an American political party which chooses intolerance toward a huge number of Americans.
I would not want to be a part of any congregation or church that stands with the likes Bryan Fischer and his hatred toward good Americans. People who think this kind of hatred falls under any kind of spirituality aren't worthy of my admiration. Sorry, Gov'nor.
For a party that calls millions of decent Americans ANTI-American, I find their attempt at being portrayed as God-loving amusing, at the best best.
thanks for admitting that the Liberation Theologians / Collective Salvationist preach a big game but
do not share their homes with the poor.
...cast the first stone... (snicker)
It's been great fun fencing with you, but it's getting late.
Goodnite all... .
It's overblown fear of the deficit. - the best way to fix the deficit is to get the middle class running again and to keep the poor from ending up homeless.
I was benefitted by the stimulus - during the time I was laid off - I now am gainfully employed again - and my standard of life has improved since the point when I was without a job. Although it's not as good of a standard as in my previous job - because corporations are using this golden opportunity to cut staff and slash wages - with unemployment this high they get to pick and choose people who are over-qualified and pay them less.
If corporations would cease being opportunists in this climate - and hire the person in for the normal wage and with normal qualifications - then this economy would get back on it's feet much faster.
The larger part of the comment was obviously directed at 'love thy neighbor' (no matter who THEY love), but you immediately 'tailored' that point - to your 'convenience'.
Does the Bible say that everyone should be rich - no. Middle class - no. Does the Bible say to be content in whatever socio-economic class you're in - yes. Does it say God is the one overseeing your socio-economic condition - yes. And to put your trust in Him - yes.
I do agree that the Body of Christ can do more. Health clinics, Job workshops, child care, along with the basics of food, clothing, shelter. But a disciple of Christ and a Church also means we need to have as much concern that the individual's soul is right with God.
I personally see the Values Voter Summit as a political function. It is not the Body of Christ, even if it follows some Biblical principles. So, I don't expect it to fulfill the missing of the Body of Christ. But, when the individuals leave this summit, are they serving the Kingdom in their local church.
America was founded on some basic priciples, such as individual freedom (making choices about
your personal life) and freedom of (and tolerance of other's) religion. This "values" bunch seems
focused on forcing their concept of values, and religion, on others via Government action. How
blatently unamerican. They certainly don't seem very christian. The message of Jesus was about
social justice for those who had little. Bush, and pals, have used this buch to get votes, and look
at the result - wars, rising debt, rising poverty, a shrinking middle class, and a huge financial crash.
Those are values we can all be proud of - lets do it again !
I pay $1295 for a basic two bedroom apartment in the Bay Area, I wonder what a comparible apartment would cost in Jamaica?