This post is in response to a letter published Sunday, September 25th in the Muskegon(MI) Chronicle titled: “Will the tea party kill U.S. compassion?” It was written by one Rev. W. Brewster Willcox.
Among other insightful commentary, the Rev. opines:
This is most disconcerting to me, a Christian clergy person. I have always assumed being Christian meant being compassionate for the weak and vulnerable. And especially those who are vulnerable through no fault of their own. For as Krugman (that would be Paul Krugman, who believes America would benefit from an alien invasion) points out, most uninsured Americans either have low incomes and cannot afford insurance or are rejected by insurers because they have chronic conditions. The tea party attitude, evidently from the audience response last week, is let them wither and die.
So, the lack of compassion has become a matter of principle for tea party members.
It is a truly radical movement that is angry and organized to overturn the kind of society that we have enjoyed in the past, a society that tries, with the help of government, to ease some of the hazards of life through programs like Social Security, unemployment insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
I must say I found your recent letter published in the Muskegon Chronicle, to be quite puzzling. Considering your position as a “man of the cloth”, one would presume that your concept of “compassion” is firmly based in scripture. However, after careful examination of the several editions of the Holy Bible in our home, I cannot find the “Book of Collectivism”. Perhaps you could send me a copy?
You see, our Bibles don’t have anything in them directing Christians to petition their government to steal money from its citizens and pass it around to cronies, lobbyists, bloated bureaucracies, abortion clinics or any other greedy, morally-bankrupt organizations. Nor can I find any mention of putting our faith in the “god of big government” for housing, health or our daily bread. Perhaps the following verses missing from your copy(s)…
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~ Matthew 6:31-33 ~
Further, I suppose you may be forgiven for your little attempt at deception in accusing the Tea Party of wanting to let people die (although I’m pretty sure it qualifies as “bearing false witness”). I’m sure you can recall President Obama, while pitching his healthcare program, telling a woman at a Q & A session that maybe her 90 year-old mother should just get a pain pill instead of a pacemaker. (And then there’s that little death panel provision in Obamacare.)
Your letter states; “I have always assumed being Christian meant being compassionate for the weak and vulnerable.” I agree. What exactly have you personally done for the weak and vulnerable? Again, there is no mention of collective salvation in any of our Bibles; Jesus Christ is my personal Redeemer. I am called to help my neighbor, not to force him to help his neighbor.
Now I would assume that, as a pastor, you are compassionate about:
• The most vulnerable among us; the unborn. So you stand up for them? Counsel young women to keep their babies? Do you oppose the President’s position on partial birth abortion?
• The millions of fatherless children and broken lives, and the poverty resulting from the disintegration of the nuclear family.
• Saving souls. Are you committed to spreading the gospel as Christ commissioned you to do? Do you oppose the continued efforts of the state to marginalize Christianity?
“But Jesus answered him saying, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.’ ” ~ Luke 4:4 ~
True compassion does not mean robbing Peter to hand out free stuff to Paul. Unless, perhaps, your ”Book of Collectivism” includes a chapter about Jesus appropriating funds from the tax collectors and redistributing them to the poor.
True compassion does not tell a man that he’s incapable of taking care of himself and therefore he and his descendants must be dependent on the government for evermore. It does not diminish his sense of self-worth by devaluing personal responsibility. Would you raise a child with that philosophy?
No, true compassion is aimed at changing hearts,souls, minds and futures. True compassion is what motivated the Christian founders of organizations like the Salvation Army, Focus Hope, Samaritan’s Purse, Prison Fellowhip, and the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.
If you would like to see compassion in action visit World Magazine and check out the nominees for their Hope Award for Effective Compassion. This award was established to recognize ministries that offer challenging, personal, and spiritual help to those in need in their local communities. True compassion, with lasting results.
God bless, and may you someday come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
Designs on the Truth
P.S. You failed to mention which denomination you’re affiliated with… Since you’re playing so fast and loose with scripture, I assume it’s the Faux Temple of Fuzzy Theology.
P.P.S. If you sincerely want to know what the Tea Party is all about talk to Lloyd Marcus.
