PublicChristian

I’ve experienced it a number of times – many of my Christian acquaintances can get so worked up with contempt and even hatred for their government. They often seem to have no respect at all for the idea of government interfering in people’s lives in any way – or at least not in well-off or successful people’s lives.

We’ve all heard it – something like:

I. It is NOT the government’s place to tell people how they should spend their money or how they should treat their employees. That’s an abuse of freedom and a terrible threat to all of us. So it is anti-American and very unChristian. And it will lead to socialism and Communism and fascism and tyranny. » Continue Reading »

Some things cost money; we MUST put out some shekels one way or another for some of what we want or need. That’s part of living in human society.

So to say we should not have health care reform because it will cost some money is not really facing the question. The question is more like, “Do we NEED this or not?” Lots and lots of Americans think we do. And so do millions watching this battle from other nations – where they settled the issue long ago to the great benefit and relief of their populations.

But what if we find out that this reform package will actually REDUCE the budget deficit? » Continue Reading »

With his usual delicacy of style Ed Howard at Nebraska State Paper points out an obvious and important fact concerning discussions about the stimulus (in an email newsletter).

“Sen. John McCain exhibiting cynicism”

What we find approximately unbearable, however, is a fellow like Sen. John McCain exhibiting the ultimate in cynicism and the disingenuousness.

He’s referring to one of McCain’s specific complaints about Obama’s economic stimulus package.
» Continue Reading »

Did you see the recent comment from “Donna”? It stirred me up! Come on people! Christian integrity and humility should compel you to allow that those who voted for Obama are NOT thereby proven to be ignorant or reprobate!

I know that my response refers to the behavior and attitudes of the “religious right” as if they could be sterotyped. But in fact, in my experience, these problems VERY consistently show up in people who get their input from those sources – they are stereotypical responses. On the other hand my experience with Christian Democrats shows them almost always to be much more welcoming and open to information and to real discussion.

Here’s my response (The numbered headlines are quotes from Donna’s comment.):
» Continue Reading »

From an AP article at the Atlanta Journal Constitution site, on Friday October 24, 2008:

Wall Street joined stock markets around the world in a huge selloff Friday, sending major market indexes to their lowest levels in more than five years on the belief that a punishing economic recession is at hand.

The market has been coming back up. But a lot of damage has been done.

I have a couple of questions:

1. What should be a Christian’s attitude as things seem to be – at least to some extent – falling apart? I wrote about that recently.

2. Is there any value in placing blame? Let’s talk about that. » Continue Reading »

Bad News

Warren Buffett, the widely respected Omaha multi-billionaire, used the phrase “Pearl Harbor” to describe the significance of our nation’s current economic crisis, a phrase he has never before used about the economy. Many other very reputable people feel the same way. “Pearl Harbor” was a very damaging air attack on our forces in Hawaii and it got us involved in World War II. It was a surprise, deadly, and very frightening

It took a demanding and costly effort, but we did pull out of it.

The sense of things now seems to be that again we are in for some rough years, » Continue Reading »

It’s extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can’t find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.

- Bono

Thanks to enewsletter from Sojourners for the quote.

One would hope that this bailout will contribute to some children eating better, » Continue Reading »

Once and Future Crash(es)

In 1954 John Kenneth Galbraith published The Great Crash: 1929, analyzing the stock market crash of late 1929, with suggestions about preventing its recurrence. [Quotes are from the 1961 Riverside Press edition.] It shows the high intelligence, serious economic analysis, and the touch of humor that is characteristic of his work.

Rationalization

He said that a new “speculative rampage” in the future (for example, now) would require some sort of rationalization. Since the results of the rampage of the 1920s were so horrendous, no one would want to be accused of setting us up for a replay. So they have to rationalize.

And part of that future rationalization will be to explain why we need less regulation and oversight of financial institutions and of the markets. (Here you should be thinking “Reagonomics.”) » Continue Reading »

Statements by economists. These are from an email newsletter I get from Information Clearing House

Few trends could so thoroughly undermine the very foundations of our free society as the acceptance by corporate officials of a social responsibility other than to make as much money for their stockholders as possible. » Continue Reading »

Obama and McCain each just spent an hour answering questions from Rick Warren, pastor at Saddleback Church in Forest Hills, CA.

I have a few apparently biased observations:

OBAMA

Obama put considerable emphasis on the actual moral priorities of Jesus, mentioning the Matthew 25 teaching more than once – Jesus’ statement that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” He emphasized that Jesus definitely was concerned about “the least of these.”

In fact, when asked what has been America’s greatest moral failing he said it was the violation of that directive from Jesus in a number of different ways down through the years. It was obvious listening to the Fox News types afterward » Continue Reading »

The Matthew 25 Network website features Bible quotes like

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are all of the same body.
- Ephesians 4:25

Seems elementary, doesn’t it? Why should we have to remind fellow Christians to tell the truth about other people? But Paul had to remind the believers at Ephesus, and we have to remind the believers of America.

Because a lot of professing Christians are still parroting lies about Obama (and others), and still forwarding – and choosing to believe – those lying emails.

It also features a verse from its namesake chapter, Matthew 25 » Continue Reading »

Words of Jesus, who is called “Christ.” It is from his title that we derive the word “Christian” (from Matthew 25:34-46)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

•For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
•I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
•I was a stranger and you invited me in,
•I needed clothes and you clothed me,
•I was sick and you looked after me,
•I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry » Continue Reading »

The prior post (”Twillight of the Gods – Greed and Money“) mentioned increasing economic distress throughout our nation. This is for real.

I expect it will continue, though the extent to which it spreads and strengthens, and it’s impact on our international positions, are very much debatable questions.

We could be facing major tragedies in our economic life. That means major tragedies for millions of individual Americans and their families.

But we could also be moving into a time of repentance. » Continue Reading »

I saw somewhere the other day, for the first time, the acronymn FWO’s – for “Formerly Well Off” persons.

The economic state of the USA is changing and people know it, and already there are increasing numbers of FWO’s. And maybe we – “we” as a nation that is, as a culture – deserve it, or at least asked for it.

The Bible has warned us for millenia of the deadliness of greed and the transitoriness of wealth. But we have made it the one inescapable determiner of what a person, a corporation, or national policy should do. It seems we are moving into a time » Continue Reading »

From another blessing of last week’s used book sale – one published the year after I graduated from high school.

Consider it this way: at present, the organization of American society is an interlocking system of

• semi-monopolies notoriously venal,

• an electorate notoriously unenlightened,

• misled by mass media notoriously phony, » Continue Reading »

John Howard Yoder vigorously believes that Jesus’ teaching was very practical and very this-worldly. The spiritual, metaphysical, theological, religious meaning of his life and teaching – in Jesus’ mind and in the thinking of his disciples and apostles – had direct and major implications for how humans should live » Continue Reading »

The moral issues Jesus actually paid a lot of attention to do not have a prominent place in many churches today, or in the work of many prominent religious agitators. I wonder why.

To see my short, nine-”chapter” article discussing how the Gospels present the moral concerns Jesus emhpasized, click here.

Isaiah 10:1-3 (emphasis added)

Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.

What will you do on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?

Here’s William Jennings Bryan, about 100 years ago. He’s rejecting the idea that because a man is rich, powerful, and a faithful churchgoer his behavior should be automatically honored and imitated.

It is not necessary that all Christian people shall sanction the Rockefeller method of making money merely because Rockefeller prays.

[from Michael Kazin, A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan, 2006, p125]

Senator Kennedy recently got a bit worked up in the Senate, trying to get the Republican side to deal honestly with the minimum wage problem – which is really the problem of working people living in poverty in this country while their employers live in unprecedented wealth and comfort.

There’s a short video (maybe 10 minutes) online. Here are a few excerpts.

When does the greed stop?

Do you have such disdain for hard-working Americans …

Disdain is the right word. Contempt also works. Something about those without power or prominence tends – as a general human pattern down through history – to irritate and offend those who do have money and power.

Jesus was touchy about this problem, as were many of the earlier prophets.

Kennedy contintues:

What is it about [a minimum wage increase] that drives you Republicans crazy? What is it? Something. Something!

What is the price that the workers have to pay to get an increase?

Remember – the author of “James” really went to bat for “the workers” against their employers.

Can you live on $5.15 an hour – working 30 or 40 hours a week, with no health insurance? Maybe if you’re homeless. Or willing to go further into debt every month. Or mooching off your parents. And don’t want a family life.

And Kennedy’s most potent line of all:

What is it about working men and women that you find so offensive?

“Working men and women.” They are DOING what the conservatives so often pretend to admire – they are actually WORKING!

Unfortunately, they are offensive because they don’t have money! They don’t live like “WE” do – and we are clearly the real Americans. Ipso facto, they don’t live like real Americans. That is offensive.

They live in tiny houses with cars that are not only not classy – they are not even brand new! VERY irritating and contemptible.

They don’t own businesses or have a lot of interest income. They don’t watch tv on high definition big screens. They don’t fly often or at all. They go to the emergency room to get medical care.

The go to public schools of all things! Talk about repulsive! They shop at K-Mart and Wal-Mart – makes your skin crawl to think of it.

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress …

Leviticus 25:35

If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.

Unfortunately, if we treat US citizens like we treat aliens or temporary residents, that’s going the wrong direction. Maybe we have a few things to learn even from the ancient “books of Moses.”

Amos 4:1

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”

Amos 5:11

You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.

Believe me, this list of Bible references to the poor could go on for page after page.

“Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say” asked Jesus. I suspect he is still asking that question.

Hi Hillary,

I want to talk about prisons.

Here’s a little background:

#1 I grew up in Santa Monica, California, and graduated from what was the 3rd top School District in the Nation (that’s what we were told – but at any rate it was excellent). When Proposition 13 (radical tax cuts) came in, our schools lost massive amounts of funding -which meant loss of excellent extracurricular programs – and guess what? Crime rate immediately skyrocketed.

#2 My son grew up in rural Nebraska, where the schools were top notch and attentive, and he was an honor student… but guess what? When the budget to schools was cut, and his school lost excellent teachers – he dropped out and eventually got in trouble with the law, among many other kids. Now, I’m happy to say that he is doing quite well on his own, but that is no excuse for what happened.

When we cut funding to good schools, bad stuff happens and we have to put funding to embarrassing things like high prison populations and drug use.

Question: Why not TAKE THE LONG VIEW and invest in every child with our whole heart and funding of excellent, creative and purposeful LIFE-PREPARING teaching. It can be done.

Best Regards,

Connie

That’s not an easy question to answer. The Bible criticizes the wealthy, sometimes individually, sometimes for specific behaviors, sometimes even as a group. But it also has harsh words for some of the poor, sometimes speaks well of wealthy persons, and offers promises of material blessing (i.e. wealth) under certain circumstances.

Here’s John Ruskin’s list of common characteristics of each group.

in a community regulated only by laws of supply and demand, BUT protected from open violence,

– that is, in a “community” somewhat similar to the western-style democracies of our day -

the persons who become rich are, generally speaking,

• industrious,
• resolute,
• proud,
• covetous,
• prompt,
• methodical,
• sensible,
• unimaginative,
• insensitive,
• and ignorant.

The persons who remain poor are

• the entirely foolish,
• the entirely wise,
• the idle,
• the reckless,
• the humble,
• the thoughtful,
• the dull,
• the imaginative,
• the sensitive,
• the well-informed,
• the improvident,
• the irregularly and impulsively wicked,
• the clumsy knave,
• the open thief,
• and the entirely merciful, just, and godly person.

Hmm. What a mix. Not making it easy, is he?

Ed Howard clears up (slightly) some of the confusion about Nebraska’s tax rates – in his daily newsletter from Nebraska State Paper.

The Governor is pushing income tax cuts as a dire necessity to reduce “your” tax burden.

Some say “your” tax burden will be reduced only if you make over $90,000 per year. (See Kyle’s article at New Nebraska Network.) So Heineman’s tax relief probably misses the community college kids the last post mentioned – and the vast majority of their families – and the vast majority of Nebraskans.

We did some research on Nebraska’s status as a high-tax state. Governor Heineman noted in his budget plan – which includes proposed reductions in state income tax rates for many people – that Nebraska is among the nation’s “leaders” in taxation.

However – a look at all of the other states so listed shows that they burden their citizens with high income or sales tax.

How did Nebraska make the list? On the basis of local property taxes. Not the individual income tax, or the sales tax. Local property taxes.

(It goes without saying – but we will say it – that Nebraska’s enormous tax breaks for corporations are legendary.)

If I didn’t know I’d guess – on this basis alone – that Heinemann is a Republican. My guess would be right.

It’s important to note, also, that lower tax takes (via income tax cuts or corporate tax giveaways) in Lincoln will only increase the unjustly distributed property tax burdens in this state. That, or further curtail the quality of education and other services out here. Or both.

David Hahn, the Governor’s recent Democratic opponent for that office, was MUCH more straightforward and thorough in describing the tax situation in Nebraska. He talked sense about property taxes and about those massive and largely unaccountable corporate tax give-aways.

So does Heinemann just not understand it? Or … ?

Does this count as a Christmas thought?

I’m going to quote John Ruskin again, from his 4 essays titled as a group “Unto This Last.”

He is talking about the great value of justice.

The mistake of the best men through generation after generation, has been that great one of thinking to help the poor by almsgiving, and by preaching of patience or of hope, and by every other means, emollient or consolatory, except the one thing which God orders for them, justice.

Unfortunately, justice is something few want to hear seriously about.

But this justice, with its accompanying holiness or helpfulness, being even by the best men denied … is by the mass of men hated wherever it appears.

Then he brings out the impact upon Jesus of his insisting on justice.

So that, when the choice was one day fairly put to them, they denied the Helpful One and the Just; and desired a murderer, sedition-raiser, and robber, to be granted to them; — the murderer
instead of the Lord of Life, the sedition-raiser
instead of the Prince of Peace, and the robber
instead of the Just Judge of all the world.

Here’s an older version of Proverbs 22:22,23:

“Rob not the poor because he is poor;
neither oppress the afflicted in the place of business.
For God shall spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.” [See NIV version.]

Ooh – scary threat! I betcha God knows how to spoil a soul if anyone does.

Writing about 145 years ago, John Ruskin added some commentary to that.

This ‘robbing the poor because he is poor,’ is especially the mercantile form of theft, consisting in taking advantage of a man’s necessities in order to obtain his labour or property at a reduced price.

The ordinary highwayman’s opposite form of robbery – of the rich, because he is rich – does not appear to occur so often [to the mind of the authors of Proverbs]; probably because, being less profitable and more dangerous than the robbery of the poor, it is rarely practised by persons of discretion.

So “persons of discretion” much prefer to rob the poor than to rob the rich. Less dangerous and more profitable.

Mr Ruskin, the way you do talk!