This is Class Warfare: "For a while I've been trying to discover the link between right wing Christianity and Republicanism. What is the key that ties the two together? What could a religion that is centered around a humble carpenter who preached compassion, who cared for the sick, who mingled with the outcasts, and who challenged the ruling authorities have in common with a political party so intent on pandering to the powerful and turning its back on the meek and needy in society?"
Indeed. Great question and one that I am still asking as well. How does Jesus become the dominant icon of suburbia (Green Day has a song called "The Jesus of Suburbia" whic is pretty good), SUVs, gated communities, and conspicuous consumption?
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A direct link to the post since it has fallen down the page a bit.
Even much of the Christian left has fallen into the Jesus of Suburbia trap. I went to what was the most liberal Lutheran seminary in North America (Waterloo Lutheran) where social justice/liberation theology was part of the theological diet. But when I suggested that we stop planted churches in well-monied, suburban communities, I received this response "The wealthy need the gospel as well."
But it seems that's who we spend most of our time and resources reaching. Tacitly or explicitly baptising the consumerist lifestyle that is harming the earth, peoples' relationships, and the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities and the world.
These are issues that I'm grappling with as our congregation is about to embark on a 3.5 million dollar building campaign. So I'm feeling a little bit of a hypocrite.
kgp
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