Lest anyone think I am trying to be "Holier than Thou," Peter's remark at the great haul of fish in Luke 5:8 is appropriate for me:
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"Any liberal who believes small government conservatism doesn't square with Christianity should recall that Jesus said nothing of the state confiscating money from citizens and giving it to others. As Dr. Coburn would say, It ain't charity if you're confiscating other people's money to do it. Charity (Caritas, Love) isn't charity if it doesn't come from the heart and from one's free will. A look at America's charitable giving shows we are a loving nation indeed.
Meanwhile, if you must read something, try these on for size:
Paul David Kuhn takes apart Frank Rich's fact-free article charging Obama opponents of *sigh, ho hum...* racism
Are Democrats following in Hitler's footsteps with compulsory health care?
Finally, to really understand progressivism, one must at least make passing acquaintance with the philosopher kings and the idealized society of Plato's Republic. Anders Mikkelsen explores a less know dialog about justice and taking from others...
9 comments:
"Any liberal who believes small government conservatism doesn't square with Christianity should recall that Jesus said nothing of the state confiscating money from citizens and giving it to others."
Jesus said nothing about the state confiscating the rights of homosexuals either nor the state prohibiting legal medical procedures, nor the priesthood being exclusively male.
Jesus actually addressed your quoted paragraph at the beginning of this comment:
"Render unto Caesar…" is the beginning of a phrase attributed to Jesus in the synoptic gospels, which reads in full, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (“Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ”) (Matthew 22:21).
This phrase has become a widely quoted summary of the relationship between Christianity and secular authority. The original message, coming in response to a question of whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, gives rise to multiple possible interpretations about whether it is desirable for the Christian to submit to earthly authority. Interpretations include the belief that it is good and appropriate to submit to the state when asked; that spiritual demands supersede earthly demands, but do not abolish them; that the demands of the state are non-negotiable; or that spiritual authority should maintain its independence from temporal authority, which rules by force rather than moral law.--Wiki
US laws are not predicated on what Jesus said or did not say. Our laws are secular.
"It ain't charity if you're confiscating other people's money to do it. Charity (Caritas, Love) isn't charity if it doesn't come from the heart and from one's free will. A look at America's charitable giving shows we are a loving nation indeed."
SF- This is spot on. My wife and I give weekly at church, we help out in the community and we are active members of the Autism Society. We do this because it comes from the heart and we want to make a difference. Once I am forced to contribute to the "state", there won't be much left to help out those who we feel really need it.
It's a shame that it has come to this.
Commenting on your April 2nd post, for some reason there is no link to comment?
I just wanted to say it was beautiful.
God bless you.
Shaw Kenawe (I love that nom de blog, btw!):
"Jesus said nothing about the state confiscating the rights of homosexuals either nor the state prohibiting legal medical procedures, nor the priesthood being exclusively male."
Touche'. The first two issues, although morally wrong from a Christian perspective, are constitutionally neutral, and therefore the federal government should not be involved. So we probably agree there, albeit for different reasons.
The last issue is one of church discipline, so I actually agree with your statement on that as well, while defending any church's right to run itself as it sees fit.
My point here is to push back on those who maintain it is hypocritical to be a Christian while opposing big government "spreadin' it around" schemes.
Check out Anders Mikkelsen's (completely secular) piece.
As a modern day shakespeare might have said, A theft by any other name is still a theft...
It's Good Friday and here I am "on the grid..."
Leticia:
I didn't want comments because it's not my work, and for us Christians it really needs no comment.
Sorry the quality is bad. If you select the picture you can read it better.
Feliz Pascuas,Silver.
Gracias Oso! A Ti tambien.
Silver Fiddle,
I've seen your comments elsewhere in the blogosphere and am stopping by to wish you a blessed Holy Season.
Hey Silver and Finn, Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours!
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