What Jesus Wouldn't Do, By Jim Wallis, AlterNet. Posted March 9, 2005.

[Ian David]

Excerpt: Much of the religious right's agenda is in direct contradiction to Christ's own teachings – and most devout Christians know it.

Editor's Note: The following is an edited excerpt from Jim Wallis' new book, God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It (Harper San Francisco).

<snip>

In Matthew’s 25th chapter, Jesus speaks of the hungry, the homeless, the stranger, prisoners, and the sick and promises he will challenge all his followers on the judgment day with these words, “As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.” James Forbes, the pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, concludes from that text that, “Nobody gets to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!” How many of America’s most famous television preachers could produce the letter?

<snip>

This examination among evangelicals became clear in the 2004 Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility, an unprecedented call to social action from the National Association of Evangelicals. In contrast to the Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson era, evangelicals are now showing moral leadership in the fight against global poverty, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and sustainability of God’s earth.

These changes represent both a reaction against overt partisanship and a desire to apply Christian ethics to a broader set of issues. Many people of faith have grown weary of the religious right’s attempts to narrow the moral litmus test to abortion and gay marriage. For example, when likely voters were asked in a 2004 poll whether they would rather hear a candidate’s position on poverty or on gay marriage, 75 percent chose poverty. Only 17 percent chose gay marriage. Any serious reading of the Bible points toward poverty as a religious issue, and candidates should always be asked by Christian voters how they will treat “the least of these.” Stewardship of God’s earth is clearly a question of Christian ethics. Truth telling is also a religious issue that should be applied to a candidate’s rationales for war, tax cuts, or any other policy, as is humility in avoiding the language of “righteous empire,” which too easily confuses the roles of God, church, and nation.

<snip>

The truth is that most of the important movements for social change in America have been fueled by religion—progressive religion. The stark moral challenges of our time have once again begun to awaken this prophetic tradition. As the religious Right loses influence, nothing could be better for the health of both church and society than a return of the moral center that anchors our nation in a common humanity. If you listen, these voices can be heard rising again.

Jim Wallis is the editor of Sojourners magazine.

More:

http://www.alternet.org/story/21428/

[etherealtruth]

1. First line says it all

"Much of the religious right's agenda is in direct contradiction to Christ's own teachings – and most devout Christians know it."

[Bill McBlueState]

9. but I don't think they do know it

"Much of the religious right's agenda is in direct contradiction to Christ's own teachings – and most devout Christians know it."

If most devout Christians know that the religious right's agenda contradicts what Jesus said, why do they keep voting to empower the religious right? Do they just not care about Jesus's teachings?

[NewHampshireDem]

2. Bankruptcy bill, anyone?

<on edit>
Not just the bankruptcy bill, which by itself is bad enough, but couple it with the refusal of Repubs to pass a meaningful increase in the minimum wage.

Yes, they are the party of "morality," if by morality, one means allegiance to Mammon.

[liberal N proud]

3. Thanks

excerpt from Jim Wallis' new book, God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It
May need to buy the book.

[BrainRants]

4. I really like this guy!

I spent some time on his Sojourners website during the election to gain some "ammo" to engage my fundie friends. He is one of the road maps for the Democratic party to regain, or at least convert a great portion of the moral values voters.

His thoughts tend to be well reasoned and do a good job interpreting and applying scripture to politics.

I just bought the book and I'm dying to get into it, but I'm also reading "Don't think of an Elephant" and "What's the matter with Kansas?" right now.

[Ian David]

6. Jim Wallis was on The Daily Show. Here's a clip

Jim Wallis -- Jim Wallis, author of "God's Politics" talks to Jon about moral values.
http://www.comedycentral.com/mp/play.jhtml?reposid=/multimedia/tds/celeb/celeb_10009.html

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. What really amazes me is the fact that...

When people of faith and good will uncharacteristically speak up and out on these facts and the dissonances with the message of Jesus and the message of the "religious" right, they are either derided or get no play. But the apostasy of the religious right gets reported loudly.

When will those people of faith and good will stand as one, loudly and firmly? What and where is their point of sufficiency?

[Tux]

8. Maybe

If the media weren't whores for Republician blessings, they could get on TV, radio, etc but so many people are used to the funides, they think all non-fundies are evil.

I wandered a local CHristian store and they had stuff that tried to disprove evolution, astronomy, karma (cause and effect), and even physics.

[magnussun]

12. "What really amazes me is the fact that..."

"When will those people of faith and good will stand as one, loudly and firmly? What and where is their point of sufficiency?"

The bible specifically instructs people of faith to be tolerant of differences. I accept both left and right wing Christians as brothers and sisters, but right-wing Christians don't accept me as a sister because I am unorthodox, and non-denominational. Faith is about love, and spiritualism. I think right wing Christians have replaced spiritualism with patriotism.

M

[Tux]

7. One of few

Christians I like. He is grounded in reality, avoids extremism, and promotes harmony with various religions.

The past elections did bring up religion which is good since people needed to be reminded of religious teachings from sources like the Torah, Koran, Dhammapada, Tao Te Ching, Verda, and New Testament. The fundies try to hijack the trend and try to confuse religion with Christianity. They aren't the same. Christianity falls under that category.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. How to get a copy of Wallis' recent interview by Jon Stewart

It can be seen on Comedy Central's website in small format, but a higher-quality file, fit for replay on your TV, can be retrieved in P2P space by a client like E-Mule.

Normally I wouldn't even post this heads-up because of the fluidness of the copyright laws, but the file is an excerpt (probably from TIVO) and it should easily fall under Fair Use if you don't redistribute it.

As always, let your conscience be your guide.

--p!

[magnussun]

11. social responsibility

"Excerpt: Much of the religious right's agenda is in direct contradiction to Christ's own teachings – and most devout Christians know it."

That's why they call their new religion "Judeo-Christianity," because it mixes the old with the new testament.

"In Matthew’s 25th chapter, Jesus speaks of the hungry, the homeless, the stranger, prisoners, and the sick and promises he will challenge all his followers on the judgment day with these words, “As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.” "

I have confronted right-wing Christians about this. In their defense, they say government shouldn't be reponsible for the needy, churches should. Tithes are supposed to be used to help the poor.

"Many people of faith have grown weary of the religious right’s attempts to narrow the moral litmus test to abortion and gay marriage. For example, when likely voters were asked in a 2004 poll whether they would rather hear a candidate’s position on poverty or on gay marriage, 75 percent chose poverty. Only 17 percent chose gay marriage. Any serious reading of the Bible points toward poverty as a religious issue, and candidates should always be asked by Christian voters how they will treat “the least of these.” Stewardship of God’s earth is clearly a question of Christian ethics. Truth telling is also a religious issue that should be applied to a candidate’s rationales for war, tax cuts, or any other policy, as is humility in avoiding the language of “righteous empire,” which too easily confuses the roles of God, church, and nation."

And according to right wing Christians, God only blesses the USA.


"The truth is that most of the important movements for social change in America have been fueled by religion—progressive religion. The stark moral challenges of our time have once again begun to awaken this prophetic tradition. As the religious Right loses influence, nothing could be better for the health of both church and society than a return of the moral center that anchors our nation in a common humanity. If you listen, these voices can be heard rising again."

I think the religious right is gaining, and it is scary. Not only is abortion, etc.. a litmus test, so are politics now. "Con" servatives
truly don't believe liberals can't go to heaven. It is my understanding that God wants all to turn to Him, not just republicans. He wants us to pray for all leaders, not just republicans. He also wants us to take care of the earth's creatures. Republicans are always at the forefront of animal abuse.
If God told Noah to take two of each kind into the ark, would He approve of exterminating species because they get in man's way?

I once wrote a piece called "Christ's Platform vs. the Republican Platform." They are contradictory, while only a few liberal issues are.

M