From Steve Garber's article on Proximate Justice. The entire article is worth reading.
In the here-and-now, I vote—but always with a torn heart. I have not yet met a candidate or a political proposal that embodies all that I dream for as one whose deepest loyalties are grounded in the hope of the Kingdom. But I do vote. As William Imboden wrote in the Public Justice Report, “It is clear that the precepts and practice of proximate justice are deficient when judged by the standards of the City of God, but they may be superior to no justice at all.” We take up our responsibility as citizens, realizing that our best efforts are clay-footed, our best insights are flawed. And yet it matters for this earth and the one that it is to come that we work alongside others to establish what Walker Percy called “signposts in a strange land” of what is already real and true and right in the now-but-not-yet of the Kingdom.
4 comments:
Larry; This radical stuff like “Christ alone” leads me in directions I have not considered in years past. Thinking in terms of justice and mercy rather than security and investments is rather unsettling. On Sunday you talked about following “proximate justice” and recently I read in the CRC “Banner” that financial accumulation may not indicate the obvious blessing of God I had been led to believe it was. Now I find myself wondering where does this stuff lead? Could it be that our new president elect’s talk about universal health care is in the right direction? As a retiree, am I too concerned about my 401k and not enough concerned about those who don’t have enough to eat? I’m even bothered by the fact that Jesus talks about the poor but never mentions that they may have contributed to their financial situation. Is there such a group as the “deserving poor”? I find it difficult to think in scriptural terms as compared to of white, middle class, affluent, capitalist point of view. I’d be interest in hearing from others regarding these points. Dale
Dale,
"Could it be that our new president elect’s talk about universal health care is in the right direction?"
I would say no. The Bible teaches that the job of government is to restrain evil (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). I think we need to be careful in seeing the government as the solution to problems where Christians/the Church is commanded to act. We are commanded to love our neighbors, not to make the government love them. If we love them it is with Christ's love and with the gospel message. Big government solutions cause people to rely on 'big brother' instead of Jesus for 'What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?' Mark 8:36. Or what good is it for a man to have health care but not a savior?
"As a retiree, am I too concerned about my 401k and not enough concerned about those who don’t have enough to eat?"
We are all more concerned about ourselves no one keeps the law, that's why the gospel is good news Jesus died for those sins. Another question is am I more concerned with getting people something to eat than with their salvation?
"I’m even bothered by the fact that Jesus talks about the poor but never mentions that they may have contributed to their financial situation. Is there such a group as the “deserving poor”?"
See Proverbs 10:4 'Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.' of course that does not mean it is always the case. Are there "deserving rich"? I'd say all of us sinners deserve to be poor. Every thing we have/don't have is in God's purpose to bring him glory even if we cannot see it now. Take the example of the man blind from birth. After he was healed the disciples asked who's sin had caused the blindness but Jesus explained why it happened 'this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.' John 9:3b
Gary
Dale,
A further thought on the role of government. Gary holds that the role of the government is to restrain evil. I think that Gary's take is true, but far too limited. The essential role of government is public justice. Such justice is seen in the restraint of evil, but as Psalm 72 points out it is also the pursuit of the good. I think this point is further spelled out in my message from the Revolution series of a few months back entitled "revolution in washington" which you can find at egm.org in the downloads section.
Since I believe that the Biblical mandate of government is public justice I do not believe that when we turn to government to deal with certain problems that we are turning away from God, anymore than I believe that in turning to friends in times of crisis for help and support that I'm turning away from God. I see the government as a God ordained and good way of addressing problems that face an entire people. If you want to do some more reading, and when don't you :), I'd encourage a trip to cpjustice.org. The Center pursues the idea of public justice, as well as, seeing government as having a very legitimate place and role in dealing with multiple issues. My final thought on this goes all the way back to Calvin who said somewhere that one of the most honorable professions was that of an elected official. Who would have thought?
I really find a need to keep things simple.To me God is love.
It seems it would be a wonderful reflection of Gods love for his creation, to provide health care for all and take the worry away from so many.
And by the way doesn't bringing the Kingdom towards its fruition on earth mean taking care of the poor. Remember" what you do for the least of theese, you do for me".
I don't remember our Lord saying anything ubout "pulling themselves up by their bootstraps."
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