By now everyone has heard about Glenn Beck's attack on the fundamentals of Christianity when he urged people to leave their churches if the church preaches "social justice."
Responses to Beck have been diaried already and the Old Redneck doesn't have much to add -- but I'll add it anyway.
Now -- the Old Redneck has been sipping Wild Turkey for the past couple of hours and this diary may be a bit disconnected -- but it's good stuff, so read it.
Read on::::
First, let's recall why we are here.
On his radio show last week, Beck told his audience that churches that use the expression "social justice" are espousing an extremist agenda.
"I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them ... are going to come under the ropes in the next year. I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!"
The Old Redneck was so upset, so pissed, by Beck's attack on the one, single fundamental foundation of Christianity that I couldn't even talk about it until now.
Beck is wrong.
"Social justice" is the bedrock, the corner stone, the foundation of Christianity.
Let's start with the Old Testament prophets.
The OT prophets were NOT soothsayers. They didn't sit around in their caves, reading goat entrails, and predicting next year's crops. In fact, the OT prophets were POLITICAL COMMENTATORS.
Read them -- read Isaiah, Amos, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the rest of the OT prophets. Their message is directed to the leaders of Israel and their message is simple:
- God requires certain things of us and of you, Mr. King.
- Micah 6:8:
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
- God requires that we treat the poor, the widow, the lame, the children with dignity and justice.
- And you, Mr. King, have strayed from God's requirements -- you have chased women, started wars, ignored the plight of the poor.
- Get back to what God requires of you or you're in deep, deep shit.
Of course, the Kings of Israel considered the prophets to be nutcases and they went on chasing women, starting wars, pissing on the poor -- and God smote them as only God can smite.
Here's another of the Old Redneck's favorites:
Amos 5:24: But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Want to see what Jesus had to say about po' folks?? Okay, do this: Get your Bible. If you don't own a Bible, you should -- run, don't walk, to the nearest book store and buy a Bible -- I like the New International Version study bible by Zondervan Publishers.
Got it? Now, find the "Sermon on the Mount" -- it starts in Matthew, chapter 5. Here's a slice of what Jesus said about social justice:
Matthew 5:1 - 10:
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Now -- if you want to read some really strong stuff, track down the writings of one Clarence Jordan, look for his "Cotton Patch Gospels" and his little book titled "Sermon on the Mount."
Clarence Jordan -- 1912-1969 -- was a farmer, a Baptist preacher, and New Testament Greek scholar. He was the founder of Koinonia Farm, a small but influential religious community in southwest Georgia. A New York attorney named Millard Fuller realized that his life was empty, although he had amassed a huge fortune and was, by man's measure, very successfull. Fuller sought out Jordan and his Koinonia Farm. Fuller's experiences at Koinonia led him to found Habitat for Humanity.
Jordan and his Koinonia Farm, where white and black folks lived and worked side-by-side, were attacked by the Klan -- shootings, burnings, dynamiting. But they preservered.
Jordan's "Cotton Patch Gospels" are his translation of the Gospels and some of the writings of Paul, putting them into contemporary Southern context. The Biblical Pharisees are church officials ( read: Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson ); the mobs who attacked Jesus are the Klan -- you get the picture.
Jordan's little book on the "Sermon on the Mount" is one of the most powerful expressions of Jesus' teachings you'll ever read.
If you have never read Jim Wallis' "God's Politics," get a copy NOW. Wallis was one of the first to reply to Beck. Here's a snip from "God's Politics:"
Similarly, when the poor are defended on moral or religious grounds, it is certainly not "class warfare," as the rich often charge, but rather a direct response to the overwhelming focus on the poor in the Scriptures, which claim they are regularly neglected, exploited, and oppressed by wealthy elites, political rulers, and indifferent affluent populations. Those Scriptures don't simply endorse the social programs of the liberals or the conservatives, but they make it clear that poverty is indeed a religious issue, and the failure of political leaders to help uplift the poor will be judged a moral failing.
Finally, I ask you to consider this: When was the last time you heard people like Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, James Dobson, and the rest of the biblethumping "christian right" quote Jesus??? Can't recall when? Because they don't!! They preach, instead, from the book of Deuteronomy -- "man shall not lie with man as with a woman." They'll rail and rave against homosexuality, abortion, and all their favorite "sins" but THEY NEVER TALK ABOUT JESUS because Jesus preaches an truth that they find most inconvenient.
This is what Jesus said:
Luke 4:18. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
Amen.