First Educate, Then Change

I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. I am only basing this post on what I have read in the blogosphere. Apparently, Limbaugh recently blasted the new low profit, limited liabilty corporation or L3C legal structure that is now available in a few states. Beck ranted against churches who practice social or economic justice.  Beck said,

I beg you, look for the words 'social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”

Huh? I am still  scratching my head on this one. Okay, I get that Beck is not a fan of the government using dollars to take care of poor people, but he doesn't believe the church should either? I cannot, in right spirit, articulate a rebuttal. However, Dr. Gushee does a wonderful job in his post.

There is an ideological and political civil war taking place in this nation. You and I are being asked to choose sides. Either we are traditional capitalists or fanatical socialists. Many have rejected these two extremes. That's why we hear new terms emerging like hybrid cars, hybrid organizations, social responsibility, B corporations, and the like.

I think that this civil war will end with two things, education and a heart transplant. First we need to educate ourselves. Here are a few sources that can help

• Conscious Capitalism
• When Helping Hurts Webinars
• Practical Biblical Justice
• Seeking Social Justice

Perhaps education will lead to a heart change. We can graduate from the mentality that the government wants to take our money so that they can help the poor, to having a genuine concern and willingness to give of our time, talents, and treasure to help those less fortunate. I agree that it is too costly to continue regulating the hearts of men and women.

Those of us who profess Christianity, should want our hearts to mirror the heart of Jesus on this issue. Let's look at Matthew 25:35-40:

...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’