The Christian Perspective

I am deeply troubled by the recent trend to have a few vocal Christians speak for all American Christians. This especially troubles me because I believe their position on certain topics is actually contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

It concerns me that some Christians have decided that pushing for legislation to stop abortion and limiting the rights of homosexuals is in the best interest of the church. Jesus Christ was very clear about how he felt about people who claimed to be more righteous, Godly individuals and people who use this so called moral superiority to enforce laws of hate and oppression. In the days when Jesus walked the earth the law of the land was to stone prostitutes, yet Jesus said no. He asked anyone without sin to cast the first stone. Jesus did not say that what the prostitute did was right. He told her to go and sin no more. He did, however, suggest that her sins were between her and God. This is not only a statement against capital punishment and judging. It is a statement about the lack of hierarchy of sin. Prostitutes are not more sinful than those who worship idols or covet thy neighbors new Hummer. This also applies to homosexuality.

Mathew 7:1-4 states, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Later Jesus states, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Jesus didn’t run around shouting “sinner” and trying to make stricter laws to keep people in line. He went to the sinners, the outcasts, and the “unclean” in love. Only by loving and forgiving them did they cease from sinning and follow him.

Jesus did disapprove of one group of people, the Pharisees. The Pharisees created and enforced the laws that were based on their belief in the Bible. Jesus criticized them for only looking at the laws but not seeing the big picture. In Mathew 12:10-13 people accused Jesus of doing wrong when he healed someone on the Sabbath day. Jesus chastised them for only looking at the law but not the meaning behind it. In Mathew 15:7 Jesus again chastises the Pharisees saying, “You hypocrites! … These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach manmade rules as though they were my laws!”

I agree that Jesus would not approve of abortion and maybe not homosexuality. I also believe this is an issue for God alone to judge. If you believe strongly in stopping abortion or homosexuality, follow the example of Jesus Christ. Go to people in love, not in judgment. Forcing women to have children against their will is not going to help them find Christ. Providing them love, understanding and resources will bring them to Jesus and give them the option of having the baby. It is proven that as unemployment increases the rate of abortion increases. If you help people have good jobs that pay enough money to buy food, if you provide healthcare and support, women choose life. I’ve recently learned of a choose life ministry that provides maternity clothes, and all types of baby items to women thinking abortion is their only option. Now that is what Jesus would do.

I suggest the same is true of homosexuality. If you believe this life style is wrong then you should be called to invite these people to your church, not oppose them. Remember there was a time when blacks were denied rights of ordinary citizens. This also was done using the Bible as justification. But the Bible does not afford rights to only some people. Jesus said that all humans were created in the image of God. He did not shun the lepers, the unclean. He talked about the Good Samaritan as the example of the good neighbor. In the story the priest and Levite passed by on the other side and did not help the man in need. It was the man who ignored the laws, meant to honor God, and helped the man in need who Jesus upheld as correct.

My husband keeps saying that we are confusing social issues and moral issues. He is correct. Morals are what you live by everyday. They are what you instill in your children. Things like love, forgiveness, do unto others, love your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. It is only by applying these moral standards to social issues that we can truly come together as Christians. By claiming this past election was about morals and then focusing on these two social issues the Christian right has asked Christians to turn their back on Jesus’ teachings. Not only the ones discussed above but also his teachings against war, and against the rich getting rich while oppressing the poor. His imperative is to value all human life, whether it be a child in America who is ill and has no healthcare or a child in Iraq. We should value the life of an African citizen with AIDS and a coal miner who is forced to work in unsafe conditions because the company would loose money to make it safe. God asked us to care for our environment, not just when it is cheap for big business or convenient. This election was about many moral issues, unfortunately only two social issues got the endorsement of the louder Christians. I hope that by reading this it inspires all Christians to be loud and to support all of the teaching of Jesus Christ.