It seems like it is becoming more difficult to get people interested in Christ than it was even a decade ago. Calling yourself a Christian has become something of a cliche these days. It has become almost a code word signifying that you can be trusted in personal and business relationships. It is also required when running for public office in many places. I am sure to the non-religious in America we Christians look like a hypocritical bunch. Many who talk a lot about GOD find excuses to treat their fellow citizens with neglect, contempt, or abuse.
Kansas provides one example. State government is filled with people that put their faith on display on the campaign trail. Those professions of faith seems oddly out of character with their professions of policy. The governor and the state legislature have cut benefits for 20,000 low income families even though the state has more than 20,000 fewer jobs than when the Great Recession hit in 2008. What a fine display of less than Christ-like leadership. These benefit cuts will help pay for tax cuts for wealthy individuals and businesses. Nothing is trickling down to the poor. In fact, poverty has increased in Kansas despite some economic recovery.
Some 384,000 Kansans, or 13.8 percent of the state’s population, live at or below the poverty line, $23,050 a year for a family of four. That’s up by nearly 80,000 people since before the recession hit in 2008. Among children, the numbers have jumped 34,000, from 14.5 percent to nearly 19 percent.
Fear not, these "Christian" political leaders have a plan. They want to encourage education, economic opportunity, and "family values. Yes, the big idea of these big Christians like Gov. Sam Brownback is to tell the poor to get a good eduction, a well-paying job, and married. Of course they cut state spending on public education at the grade and college level. There goes that ladder out of poverty. The economic stimulus plan is to give tax cuts to the well-to-do. News flash. Giving rich people more money has NEVER created more jobs. NEVER. And how very droll to tell the poor to get a job when state officials know there is a shortage of jobs, particularly ones that pay more than poverty level wages. Those are mighty interesting family values on display. For good measure, Kansas has also fought any extension of Medicare, which will leave many low income families without any access to medical care.
No one is tempted to Christ by the example of these hard-hearted politicians that love to talk about their faith to get votes. There is no ambiguity here. Jesus taught His followers to help those in need. No exceptions. Deliberately harming the less fortunate is a definite no-no but no one is telling these politicians to repent. In fact, people calling themselves evangelical Christians will come out in droves to vote for politicians that thumb their nose at the teachings of Jesus.
A little reminder from Revelation 3:14-18:
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Talking up Christ while trashing the poor epitomizes a lukewarm Christian. When blinded by greed and ambition, it is impossible to keep your eyes on Jesus. These are lousy witnesses for God's love and grace. They tell people to ignore the suffering of their neighbors. This is why the endorsement of politicians and political ideology by churches, denominations, and religious media personalities damages the Christian brand. No one should be surprised when people walk away from organized religion and let go of their faith in Jesus. The only surprise for me is that the exodus has not been faster.
If you want to push policies that are harmful to the citizens of this country and the world community, please do not share your "faith" in Christ. It makes people that truly want to follow Jesus look bad in our society. The opposite of evangelism is to to drive people away from Christ. Jesus expects his disciples to love others as He does us. That means attending to the suffering of others, not pleasuring yourself. Fair warning. You will be toast if this comes out of your mouth on the day of Judgment: ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ Friends don't let friends become crispy critters.
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