Questions for Republicans

 

Questions
for my Republican Christian friends:

Can you be a true follower of the Christ who commanded us to look out for the poor and weak of society and remain a survival-of-the-fittest capitalist, and a trickle-down economics Republican?

How does Republican economic philosophy fit in with the Christian doctrine of helping the poor, caring for the widow, and supporting the weak in all areas of society (which, according to the Sheep and the Goats parable of Matthew 25, will form the basis on which we will be judged worthy of heaven)?

Republican economics looks more like social Darwinism than the social gospel. Less (or no) regulation of corporations unleashes upon society’s weakest ones a business muscle which the individual voter/consumer/employee will always be powerless to resist. How is that Christian?

But the GOP Believer looks the other way, it seems; or perhaps more accurately is blinded to economic issues by the two-issue blinders: homosexuality, and perhaps even more firmly entrenched in the Christian political mindset, abortion.

Abortion is a controversial issue, a complicated question, an often avoidable tragedy. But what about the living children, the children of the ever-shrinking middle class, or the ever-growing poorer class? Why does it seem like the lives of the unborn are more important to Christians than the lives of the already-born?

What about living children, and their right to a good education (even if their parents aren’t wealthy)?

What about the right of living poor children to the same great health care enjoyed by those lucky enough to have great health insurance?

Then there is the issue of war.

Isn’t the only true Christian view of war an abhorrence of it, an absolute rejection of its use as anything but a last, last resort; an extremely temporary emergency solution?

Diplomacy is difficult, but much more to be desired than bombs and death. Isn’t this a better way to “support our troops”?: be careful to let our government only send them to fight wars when all other options have been completely exhausted, and the purpose of the war is completely just and justifiable? And if there is any doubt about the war’s purpose, or victorious outcome, to support our troops by bringing them home from unjust, unwinnable wars?

Certainly, states have sovereign territory, loyal citizens, and an obligation to protect both of them for the good of all. But isn’t this true: the Christian residing within any state which chooses war before it becomes absolutely necessary (which would be a subjective, individual opinion, in most cases) must protest that war, and work to prevent it?

How else could he or she retain a clear conscience, considering all the potential suffering which could be unleashed on generations of innocent people should war occur? Compare how the present administration is using war with this philosophy, and it is found wanting.

And how is it Christian, or American, or even human, to shout down and obstruct and insult those who promote peace by protesting war? Yet Christians, and Republicans, and Republican Christians have done this to war protesters.

Just a few questions for my Christian Republican friends.

Source: JimBlog.net » Questions for Republicans

 

Technorati Tags: Religion - Politics - Useful - Interesting