The Most Neglected Parts Of The Bible & Constitution
Last night I was surfing the web looking for resources on civil liberties for a web project I am currently involved in at the moment. I spent about three hours working, then went to bed. This morning, as I reviewed my searching and findings in my head during a shower, it donned on me that the ultra-conservatives of our nation seem to ignore some important parts of the texts that they claim to live by....
One web site proclaimed to represent a civil liberties organization, but then went on to spout off about not having any welfare programs, withdrawing from the United Nations, promoting business at all costs (under the premise that absolute capitalism is freedom), and a committment to God (in the form of Christianity) in the same manner as our forefathers. It seems to me that these folks have not read the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America, which is essentially the mission statement of our government:
The language used by our forefathers seem to emphasize principles of caring for one another, defending one another, assuring liberties for one another, and the emphasis seems to be on individual liberty leading to the common good, the general welfare, the continuity of our way of governing... and only hints at capitalism as a means of achieving success at this mission.
Then, too, these same folks seem to ignore the teachings of Scripture that point to caring for one another. They seem to want the government to stay out of the business of caring for our citizens and residents of our nation and use the Bible to justify this posture. However, when I read Scripture, I see passage after passage--most coming from the Gospels as thw words of Christ--that talks about taking care of the "least among you" and offering love, hope, charity to all, even those that are outcasets in society. Lesson after lesson of Scripture, the need to care for those that are unable to care for themselves--without judging the reason or cause--is emphasized.
Since many of the ultra-conservative churches seem to exclude people from their services and ministries, how can they claim to be following the way of Christ? Since they seem to promote only the exclusivity of their values and work vehemently against anyone that sees the world--or the teachings of Christ--in a different manner, how can they be following the Bible? Since they have leaders that proclaim the supremacy of Christianity over all other religious ideals, including advocating the murder of non-Christians (meaning anyone not following their interpretation of Christianity), how can they say that Christians are being persecuted in the United States?
They do claim that Christianity is under attack. They make the case that any time a religious symbol is ruled unconstitutional under the First Amendment that it is a deliberate attack on their Christianity. However, it strikes me that these symbols have had dominance in our society for a long time. Since our society is changing its overall values from an exclusive preference for Christian values, and since these ultra-conservatives are acting in political opposition of those values, it seems to be more of a process of evolving universal values rather than an outright attack on Christians. Besides, the argument doesn't hold true when the entirety of events are considered:
Religious symbols of any and all religions are excluded from governmental sponsorship. If Christianity were under attack, then other religious symbols would replace the Christian symbols that are being ruled unconstitutional.
Religious symbols can be displayed on private property that offer a public presence without government involvement. Along I-57 in Illinois there is a huge cross erected by a local church on their privately owned property. The cross can be seen for miles in any direction and is even lit up at night. It is in the full view of all travelers along the interstate highway, several state highways, and several local roadways. No one has made any effort to have it removed from public view. The same is true of Nativity displays. If theses displays are erected on private property with a public view, then the First Amendment challenges made against many religious symbols sponsored by governmental monies or erected on public property are nullified.
But we do not see Hindu, Wicca, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist symbols erected on government property. We really never have had these types of issues with other religions. Certainly there would be outcries from every Christian group in the nation were the local, state or federal government to erect a Wiccan pentagram on public property. I am sure that such a display would have every Christian-sponsored legal organization filing suit against the government entity that allowed such a display on public property. But the ultra-conservative Christians refuse to be open-minded enough to see all sides of the argument. Then, too, they also refuse to see that all religions have rights in our nation under our form of government.
Some time ago I received an e-mail that struck me in the face with the hyprocrisy of many Christians (and I remind my readers that I am a Christian). This e-mail identified over 20 things that are clearly stated as God's law in the Old Testament (specifically Leviticus) that practically no Christians follow today, including such things as slavery, eating shellfish, eating pork, etc. These things are more clearly stated than any prohibition against abortion, homosexuality, or most of the other matters that seem to be the obsession of most ultra-conservatives.
Like the way these ultra-conservatives reference the Bible, they seem to do the same with the Constitution, choosing only the parts that promote their views and beliefs, ignoring, dismissing or deliberately bypassing those parts that do not fit their religious views.
I have more to say on these issues, but I want to ponder them some more. But think about it. Then go read the Constitution for yourself, keeping in mind the Preamble as an overall mission statement. And if you are so inclined, read the Bible, starting with the Gospels and the words attributed to Christ.
One web site proclaimed to represent a civil liberties organization, but then went on to spout off about not having any welfare programs, withdrawing from the United Nations, promoting business at all costs (under the premise that absolute capitalism is freedom), and a committment to God (in the form of Christianity) in the same manner as our forefathers. It seems to me that these folks have not read the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America, which is essentially the mission statement of our government:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [Emphasis Added]
The language used by our forefathers seem to emphasize principles of caring for one another, defending one another, assuring liberties for one another, and the emphasis seems to be on individual liberty leading to the common good, the general welfare, the continuity of our way of governing... and only hints at capitalism as a means of achieving success at this mission.
Then, too, these same folks seem to ignore the teachings of Scripture that point to caring for one another. They seem to want the government to stay out of the business of caring for our citizens and residents of our nation and use the Bible to justify this posture. However, when I read Scripture, I see passage after passage--most coming from the Gospels as thw words of Christ--that talks about taking care of the "least among you" and offering love, hope, charity to all, even those that are outcasets in society. Lesson after lesson of Scripture, the need to care for those that are unable to care for themselves--without judging the reason or cause--is emphasized.
Since many of the ultra-conservative churches seem to exclude people from their services and ministries, how can they claim to be following the way of Christ? Since they seem to promote only the exclusivity of their values and work vehemently against anyone that sees the world--or the teachings of Christ--in a different manner, how can they be following the Bible? Since they have leaders that proclaim the supremacy of Christianity over all other religious ideals, including advocating the murder of non-Christians (meaning anyone not following their interpretation of Christianity), how can they say that Christians are being persecuted in the United States?
They do claim that Christianity is under attack. They make the case that any time a religious symbol is ruled unconstitutional under the First Amendment that it is a deliberate attack on their Christianity. However, it strikes me that these symbols have had dominance in our society for a long time. Since our society is changing its overall values from an exclusive preference for Christian values, and since these ultra-conservatives are acting in political opposition of those values, it seems to be more of a process of evolving universal values rather than an outright attack on Christians. Besides, the argument doesn't hold true when the entirety of events are considered:
Religious symbols of any and all religions are excluded from governmental sponsorship. If Christianity were under attack, then other religious symbols would replace the Christian symbols that are being ruled unconstitutional.
Religious symbols can be displayed on private property that offer a public presence without government involvement. Along I-57 in Illinois there is a huge cross erected by a local church on their privately owned property. The cross can be seen for miles in any direction and is even lit up at night. It is in the full view of all travelers along the interstate highway, several state highways, and several local roadways. No one has made any effort to have it removed from public view. The same is true of Nativity displays. If theses displays are erected on private property with a public view, then the First Amendment challenges made against many religious symbols sponsored by governmental monies or erected on public property are nullified.
But we do not see Hindu, Wicca, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist symbols erected on government property. We really never have had these types of issues with other religions. Certainly there would be outcries from every Christian group in the nation were the local, state or federal government to erect a Wiccan pentagram on public property. I am sure that such a display would have every Christian-sponsored legal organization filing suit against the government entity that allowed such a display on public property. But the ultra-conservative Christians refuse to be open-minded enough to see all sides of the argument. Then, too, they also refuse to see that all religions have rights in our nation under our form of government.
Some time ago I received an e-mail that struck me in the face with the hyprocrisy of many Christians (and I remind my readers that I am a Christian). This e-mail identified over 20 things that are clearly stated as God's law in the Old Testament (specifically Leviticus) that practically no Christians follow today, including such things as slavery, eating shellfish, eating pork, etc. These things are more clearly stated than any prohibition against abortion, homosexuality, or most of the other matters that seem to be the obsession of most ultra-conservatives.
Like the way these ultra-conservatives reference the Bible, they seem to do the same with the Constitution, choosing only the parts that promote their views and beliefs, ignoring, dismissing or deliberately bypassing those parts that do not fit their religious views.
I have more to say on these issues, but I want to ponder them some more. But think about it. Then go read the Constitution for yourself, keeping in mind the Preamble as an overall mission statement. And if you are so inclined, read the Bible, starting with the Gospels and the words attributed to Christ.
posted by Jim Downey at 9:47 AM
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