Out the Door

Caring for the Poor: The Christian's Responsibility

Daniel Burke in a recent articlefor UMNS detailed some criticism of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (Rep) for saying that he is a fan of Ayn Rand.

The atheist philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand published more than a dozen books before she died in 1982. Now, liberal Christians say another work belongs in Rand’s controversial canon: the 2012 Republican budget. 

House Republicans passed their budget along party lines in April, saying its drastic cuts to federal programs are necessary to prevent a deficit crisis. 

But in a petition drive, video, ads and websites, liberal Christians counter that Rand’s dog-eat-dog philosophy is the real inspiration for the GOP budget and its author, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis. 

While I don't endorse Rand's anti-religion, atheistic views to equate them with the U.S. budget is a mighty long stretch.

Toward the end of the article Burke quotes Rand's biographer Anne Heller:

“Certainly you can believe that the state can’t do everything for everybody, but if you are a practicing Christian, you also believe that it is our duty to take care of the least among us.  And we know perfectly well from history that churches and individuals can’t do that job alone.”

Heller is absolutely correct that it is our duty as Christians to care for the least among us.  But implying that churches and individuals can't do it without governmental help is purely conjecture.  At no time in history have churches and individual faithfully fulfilled their duties to the poor.  Until that happens, no one can say that it can't be done without involving a secular government. 

While Heller's conclusions are speculative, it is true that because churches and individuals haven't been obedient to the commands of God that millions of people suffer.  But rather than passing the buck and saying that it's the government who must take care of the least of these, Christian should start taking personal responsibility and doing their part.  Until that happens Christians have no right to criticize a politician or a political party for not doing what they themselves have failed to do.

The Goodbyes Begin

I'm putting the finishing touches on Sunday's sermon, though I'm not sure it can rightly be called a sermon.  I'm going to be sharing some memories from the years we've been in New Sharon.  It's hard to know how to condense it down so that I don't ramble on forever.  As I've worked on it, one memory has lead to another and that one to another.

One of the great privileges that I have as a pastor is that I get invited in to share some of the most important moments in a person's life.  Sometimes those moments are happy, like at a wedding or the birth of a child.  Sometimes those moments are grief-filled, like a divorce or a death.  Each of those moments are locked away in my memory and reflecting back over the past four years brings them to the foreground of my thoughts. 

Since learning we are moving to LeMars, I have often thought of LuLu's song from "To Sir with Love."  (I'm really showing my age here.)   She remembers the things she learned and how she has grown because of "sir" (Sidney Poiter).  Then she asks a question, "How to you say thanks?"

I've struggled with how to adequately say thank you to the people of the New Sharon United Methodist Church.  Words just don't seem like enough.  And what really floors me is that the church is having coffee and pie following worship to say thank you and goodbye to Julie and me.  (I point out the fact that there's pie in hopes of getting a few more people to come.) 

Since I'm at a loss for words, I guess I'm left with quoting another old song, "Thanks for the memories."  You have been a blessing to me.

Federal Judge Voids the First Amendment

Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery has ruled one student's practice of the First Amendment to be a violation of another student's right not to be offended. (Fox News, Christian Post reports) In a case involving Medina Valley High School in Castroville, TX, Biery forbid students from using the words "amen," "bow your heads," "in Jesus' name," and other religious expressions during their commencement speeches.

While I don't support school sponsored prayer, when a judge goes so far as stating that students in their personal comments can't use certain words, the First Amendment right to freedom of speech has become meaningless. Unlike Texas Attoney General Gregg Abbott who stated that, "Part of this [ruling] goes to the very heart of the unraveling of moral values in the country today," I don't believe it has much to do with declining moral values. It has everything to do with an individual having the right to express their beliefs and opinions without interference of the government. Just because someone finds another person's comments offensive that is no reason to strip that individual of the right to state those beliefs and opinions.

Will it ever stop?

In a couple of days the Iowa Annual Conference will convene in Des Moines.  Among other items of business, members will be voting on a series of resolutions which if passed will go on to the 2012 General Conference for consideration.  Anyone who has been around the United Methodist Church for any time can probably guess what they are about, changing the Church's language and understanding around homosexuality.  Even after decades of being turned back, still a minority continue to push their agenda.  All those rejections haven't dissuaded those who deny a Biblical perception of human sexuality.  Will it ever stop?  How many times must they be told that United Methodist believe that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching before they will finally give up, or better yet come to see the truth?

There are several denominations that have an unBiblical stance on this issue.  Most recently, the Presbyterians have liberalized their statements.  If this issue is so vital to the individuals who want to see the United Methodist Church's stance changed, why don't they go to one of these other denominations rather than trying to tear the UMC apart?  There's only one reason I can think of, they care more about justifying sinful behavior than the unity of the church.

So as a result of some individuals' desire to fit into the culture, we'll spend hours rehashing and arguing about an issue that we will never agree on.  And this weekend is just the beginning, the fight will continue through General Conference when this vocal minority will be rebuffed again despite all their protests and slogans and proposed resolutions.