Misunderstanding liberal Christianity

I’m a liberal Christian evangelist. I know of no other way than to follow Jesus Christ with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I don’t understand conservative Christian thinking that limits helping the “least of these.”

When Cal Thomas said “the evangelical left see government, not individuals or the church, as the instrument by which the commands of Jesus are implemented,” he shows his lack of understanding of liberal Christian belief. (See: “The forum at Saddleback Church shows that political discourse can be civil,” Aug. 20)

Government is but one way to help those in need. When allied with the individual and the church, helping others then becomes a powerful force of love and goodness for Christ.

When letter writer Roger Latham equates liberal Christianity with communism, he demonstrates ignorance on the part of the “religious right.” (See: “Marx loved his java,” Aug. 20)

It is by God’s grace and blessings that we have any worldly wealth at all, not “the fruits of one man’s labor.”

When Latham said “for the purpose of redistribution to anyone,” he should have added “to anyone who Christ has said was the least of these; those poor, those hungry, those sick.”

My prayer has always been for greater understanding of Christ’s good news.

It is harsh in its simplicity: love others, give freely and worship God.

— David Perkins, Fort Worth

Comments

[Frank Roso, Arlington]

There is a quote in the Bible to cover almost any position. As a more libertarian minded Christian, I object to the government forcing us to do charity. Forcing one into charitable acts is not the proper role of government. Forced charity is also an oxymoron. Charity consists of actions performed out of care and compassion. As such, they must be done of one's free will. Taxing citizens and "giving" that money to other citizens has nothing to do with Christianity or charity. It is forced wealth transfer and should not be dressed up as anything else.

[Bryan Kirby,Ft. Worth]

Liberal Christianity and liberalism sound pretty similar to me: you want the gov't. to pay for it. Got it.

[David calvert / weatherford]

About 4 years ago this paper published my letter "Christianity is Not Socialism". I guess I'll have to resubmit it every so often:

"Christianity is not socialism, and Christ never gave anyone authority or even a hint that it was OK to steal from one person in order to give to someone else; book, chapter and verse, please! (Before anyone brings up the communal living of the saints in Acts as justification for socialism/communism, let us remember that this was a voluntary action by local Christians, for a specific purpose, under the Apostles' guideance. Not a form of government practiced by the masses and enforced by the gun of government. And, even here, the sanctity of the disposition of private property was upheld.)

Christ told the rich young ruler to sell what he had and give to the poor. He did not tell him to use the power of government to plunder his neighbor and to then give to the poor. Christianity is, was and shall always be a personal religion. We do good and seek to convince others to do good but we have no right to force them to do so.

Thomas Jefferson noted the self-evident truth that the government is created by the people and draws its just powers from them. If we can not steal, we can't give our government the right to do it for us. Plunder is plunder, regardless of the cause or the plundering agent.

Democrats use force to tax me to give to whoever will vote for them. Republicans use force to tax me and give to whoever will vote for them. Neither is the work of God.

oleagg

[Mark Durand Jr. Long Prairie, Minnesota]

Being a liberal Christian is about the same as a high tax-loving conservative.

[David Perkins, Fort Worth]

To answer; on the question of secular taxation. I see no voluntary taxation anyplace in history. Taxation is used to finance government, of which our government is unique in that it is Government of, by and for the people. Thus we tax ourselves. We freely elect our representatives who set the rate of taxation. If you do not like it, elect someone else. Thus far smarter and cooler (and more generous) heads have prevailed and this nation has survived. If we exempt ALL government giving to those who need help, then we must stop giving to business, to wars not in the direct interest of the United States (Iraq for one), to faith-based initiatives and so on down the long line. Our nation would change drastically, and IMHO, for the worse, if we adopted this way of taxation. The taxes may go down but so would our country!
To Christianity; we, as a nation, purport to be a "Christian" nation. Thus, if we the people tax ourselves then it is incumbent upon us to implement the words of Jesus Christ to take care of "the least of these."
In the days of Christ, there was no government aid to help those in need. Jesus Christ set the model for how those of us who had God's blessings were to share with those of us who were in need. Can you answer that perhaps God created this nation to implement God's plan?
Once again, it is my humble opinion, that those among us who would not pay taxes to finace this wonderful government and nation that we have (God has given it to us, but that's another argument) would not also give charitably. If you will not support your country then you will not support Jesus Christ!
A stingy person is stingy no matter what the circumstances.
And I'll make a bet that those who would be the first to wear a tee shirt that says "Freedom is not free" would be the first to gripe about taxes. If you and I don't pay for our freedoms, then who will?
Love
David Perkins
Fort Worth

[David calvert / weatherford]

Yes David,he did: ...create this nation to implement (his) plan. But see my comments above and show me where he ever hinted that his plan included scoialism - which has been PROVED in the 20th century to be a specifically GODLESS and Oppressive form of government....and how do you think things got done BEFORE the 1960's -70's when all this junk was passed anyway?

oleagg

[David Perkins, Fort Worth]

You're incorrect about socialism. Communism and totalianirinism (sp?) are Godless. America is socialist and has been for some time with the blessings of the conservatives who benefit from government largesse as much, if not more, than do those who need help from time to time.

I have found that no one is more liberal and asking something from our government than a conservative who needs help. You and I can argue about how socialist America is but there is no argument about America being socialist. And it was a long time before 1960 when America went socialist. when Teddy Roosevelt (not FDR but Teddy) set aside the first national park, a national trust for all of us, that was a socialist move.

Our government has always, in the strictest sense, been secular and thus Godless. THAT dates back to Jefferson, who believed in giving himself. But because we are a Christian nation we, the people, have insisted on some form of governmental help when the need arises. We saw too many old people selling apples on the street in the 1920s and too many children working in coal mines in the 1900s. This nation, thank God, has a heart!

If you had argued that our government should not be doing ANY giving of any sort, particularly church or charitable, I would have listened. But the arguements that I was originally responding to was that liberals say only the government should do the charitable or Christian works.

I simply said not true! We believe in the individual, along with the church and charities and government should do the "good" works.

Now, why government? Because government has the files and means to implement thorough help of those in need. You and I, as individuals, just do not have this data base nor do churches and charities. If we, as a nation of generous peoples, cut out all governmnet help to those that need it, and depended ONLY on the individual and the church, many, many needy would be missed.

As it is, too many in America, a great nation blessed by God, go to bed hungry or remain uneducated or sick not because of their failings, but because somehow their opportunities were not equal to yours and mine. I pray you or ones you love never need special help, where only help can come through government aid. But if you ever do, help is there. For all we know this may be God's way -and the only way- to answer some kid's prayer.

Go back and this time with a charitable heart and open, generous soul re-read the Bible. God's message, particularly after Jesus Christ is born, and the Gospel is revealed, is to take care of one another, to love one another, to be kind and generous to one another.

To argue otherwise is to miss the point of the Holy Spirit of God's love. That part of our taxes go to help our fellow citizens in distress, stop viewing it as "forced" unless you are willing to believe that all taxes are forced and that you, like some brat, will stamp his foot and whine and say "you can't make me!"

What makes you and others believe you are exempt from paying your fair share of taxes? America is a generous nation and most Americans are very generous. Why can't you and some of your friends understand that?

Love
David Perkins
Fort Worth

[Mark Durand Jr. Long Prairie, Minnesota]

If you think America is a socialist country, you need some meds.

To be fair, it's heading that way and more people than you think are waking up to it and WILL put a stop to it.

[David calvert / weatherford]

"Now, why government? Because government has the files and means to implement thorough help of those in need."

BUT NOT THE AUTHORITY!!! At least not under our Constitution.

To repeat from my post above "Thomas Jefferson noted the self-evident truth that the government is created by the people and draws its JUST powers from them. If we can not steal, we can't give our government the right to do it for us. Plunder is plunder, regardless of the cause or the plundering agent."

Please address this self-evident truth in your defense of government plunder.

Oleagg

[Micky Littleton, Fort Worth]

Yes! Yes! Do away with ALL government programs that do not maintain our military and regulate our food and drugs!

After all, we have way too many people now and we could stand to get rid of some of the more...unsavory characters, could we not?

Let's see, if there is no medicare and medicade, well a lot of people would have no access to healthcare so the population will take a heavy plummit right there! Also, with no government funded food banks and homeless shelters, well, there is another deep dive in the population, a nice big chunk. And those that do not perish because of illness, starvation, and weather? Well, we can always rely on them to man our armed forces as a way to make an income. Oh! And those that cannot do that yet are selfish enough to keep on living? How about we send them overseas to work in our outsourced factories and call centers in India, etc? Then, we don't have to deal with them and their whining ways!

Wow, we would be able to rid ourselves of almost all of those useless wastes on society in one go!

Of course, I don't think God would look too kindly on ANY of our souls if we allowed that to happen. Then again, perhaps God is a Republican. (Note: I said Republican, NOT conservative. And don't EVEN bring up abortion and gay marriage, those are quagmires all their own.)

Micky Littleton
Fort Worth