Jesus and Politics

It’s always tricky relating Jesus to contemporary politics, but it is especially so during this time of peace and goodwill. Yet if we are to glean the true essence of Jesus and all of what he so passionately wanted to teach us we must not cower of doing so when an occasion presents itself.

The recent U.S. Congressional budget vote is just such an opportunity. The House has once again voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest taxpayers, while slashing roughly 45 BILLION dollars in social welfare programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, student loans and child-support enforcement.

Jesus’ exhortations to do precisely the opposite are so numerous they need no citation, yet I dare say ALL those who vote against the poorest of us while rewarding the richest are among the most vocal and visible Jesus cheerleaders.

“WAIT!” they typically say, “our actions are not anti-Jesus because they promote personal responsibility and individual freedom from oppressive government.” They will add that their personal charity is sufficient to fulfill Jesus’ commands. Many would further intimate that government welfare is socialism and makes us like “godless” communist states.

First, if anyone doubts Jesus’ desire that we apply his principles even in—ESPECIALLY within—our political process they should refer to ACTS 4: 31-35*. Here you will find no better definition of collective action, of, um…er…wow the truth is sometimes so hard to say…of “socialism.”

In no way am I saying we must conform our free market capitalistic system to this arrangement. And perhaps it is because I derive my goodies from it that I feign ignorance about Jesus’ will in this regard.

But it is beyond any reasonable argument that even should Jesus not require us scrap our system he would certainly want us to do as much as possible to achieve the social EFFECTS of a the collective arrangement described in Acts. That is, Jesus would want us to use our political governing systemto do all we can to ameliorate human suffering and “promote the GENERAL WELFARE” as our own Constitution mandates.

Now of course our very system accomplishes much of this. Free markets encourage the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels industry that in turns provides job and creates progress. And it is to the gods of this private initiative that today’s conservatives so bow, in undying loyalty to “trickle down” theory. Yet we know from our history, from our current situation, that trickle down does not work: there still remains much human want and need right here in our own country.

Admittedly politics is about finding the right balance between fostering free market capitalism and checking its abuses and it is often an area very shaded in gray. However, this last Congressional budget vote is way beyond that area.

Reducing aid to our most vulnerable citizens while adding still more to the richest is bad enough. That they did so during this celebratory season of Jesus’ birth is truly a pity.

And Jesus wept.


*ACTS 4:31-36
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.