Quite a lineup, indeed:
- Richard Land--President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
- James Dobson--Founder, Focus on the Family
- David Barton--Founder, Wallbuilders
- Ted Haggard--President, National Association of Evangelicals
- Donald Wildmon--Founder, American Family Association
- Lou Sheldon--Founder, Traditional Values Coalition
- Richard Doerflinger--Director of pro-life activities, U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Oh, the report did throw Jim Wallis into the mix as well, even though he represents "a progressive Christian philosophy," definitely a minority in this group.
It is interesting to "unpack" the concerns of these Christian leaders. Actually, they only have a couple of values on their list--sort of slim pickins when you have he entire Bible to select from it seems to me!
But, it is true. The values debate boils down to two issues: abortion and homosexuality. That's it for these guys, underscore guys!
The challenge to the President is clear: appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade and work for a Constitutional Amendment that bans same-sex marriage in the United States.
For these leaders of the faith, no concern whatsoever is expressed concerning poverty, racism, education, health care, housing, equal opportunity, war, violence or homelessness. You choose the media--spoken, print, electronic--you will find no concern for anything but these two issues or matters related to them. In fairness I am quick to admit that the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops does share other concerns, but not from the office listed above.
I have to say these guys cause me to scratch my head in disbelief.
Here's a challenge for you.
Run a word search in any exhaustive concordance to the English Bible on these words: poor, oppressed, rich, abortion, and homosexuality. You can even do your research online these days!
Count the verses in each category. Make yourself a "values scorecard." Tally them up. See what you find.
No matter what one thinks about abortion or gay marriage, no legitimate discussion of values, can occur in this nation if those are the only two issues under consideration.
Further, no conversation about national values can omit from consideration issues associated with poverty, wealth and injustice, and at the same time contend that it stands in the historic Judeo-Christian tradition.
Bible believing churchmen and churchwomen should be speaking out today as never before for the sake of a legitimate values discussion, a discussion American despartely needs to have.
After all, literally millions of our fellow citizens and fellow believers do not enjoy the luxury of such debate. They are too busy trying to scratch out a life for themselves and their children in a world made almost impossible by the very poverty so many others want to ignore.
[Just ahead: the values of Jesus]
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ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that the reason the evangelical right continues to focus on issues like homosexuality and abortion lies in their ability to distract us from the greater issues we see every day, issues we know we have a responsibility in making right. Caring for the needy is something tangible that takes human interaction in order for systems to change. Anyone can play cognitive handball with issues that don't directly affect him/her. It's not until a close friend comes out or tells you that she has had an abortion that it becomes more than a political issue. In like manner, when we're able to become a bit less myopic in our view of community, we will see that homelessness and the systems that create its existence should inspire individuals to work for its eradication. As long as we treat these "hot button issues" as political demarcations we will continue to feel as if we're "bowling alone." Only when we realize our cosmic relatedness to everything and everyone will we be able to act under the assumption that our life together is truly a team sport.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Larry, thank you for this. Its hard, take for example someone like me, who, for the most part is a "one issue" voter. I can not and will not vote for someone who supports or gives false promises on the murder of the pre-born. You are right though, there are other issues and attrocities...not caring for the "least of us" is a big one many in the two major parties ignore. We need to a be an "all around" Christian concerned for everything that goes against the Word of God. Both of the major political parties have good ideals(in writing and rhetoric) but both miss the mark....big time. Thank you brother.
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating sometimes to watch Christian leaders do more to spread fear than love.
ReplyDeleteLarry, thanks again for a great post. Once again, I am reminded that I'm not a "bad Christian" for caring about more moral issues than just abortion and homosexuality.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
The discussion here is rich and helpful to me. Thanks for sharing! Speaking of sharing--my dear friend and partner in urban ministry, Randy Mayeux, just launched his own blog! Check it out at th is address:
ReplyDeleteoccasionalmarkings.blogspot.com. I know you won't be disappointed!
Great post. It's all about power. As long as the Republican party can scare the electorate with gay married terrorists, the electorate won't notice that the riches increasingly go to a smaller and smaller group of people in America. The 'values' voters in the last election have gotten, for their efforts, a quagmire of a war that nobody (even war supporters) wants to sign up to serve in, an increasing deficit that our children will have to repay, and bankruptcy 'reform' that benefits the credit card companies.
ReplyDeleteAs much heat is generated over abortion and gay marriage, there should be much more common ground for Christians of all stripes over the issues that Jesus talked about repeatedly. But those issues do not benefit the folks who are financing our politicians.
Thanks again for the post.