ROOTS & WINGS : Promoting biblical values
Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006
The American Family Association of Arkansas describes itself as "a distinctively Christian communication forum for the families of value and faith."Their newsletter arrived last week describing their interpretation of Christian legislative priorities for our common life.
Since the centerpiece of Jesus’ teaching is the great commandment to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself, I expected their forum to be a place for people to discuss ways of extending our practice of love, especially to the alien and stranger, the widow and orphan who hold a special place in God’s heart according to the witness of the whole of Scripture. I expected something that would promote the values of the great parables of Jesus who commanded his followers to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit the prisoner. There might even be some advocacy of justice in the tradition of the great prophets who challenged the wealthy and powerful to respond with compassion and equity to the needs of the poor and weak. These are the great themes of the Bible, the values of Jesus.
But that’s not what the American Family Association of Arkansas is interested in. Their newsletter listed the legislation that they focused on. Some of their concentration is about narrow issues that the Scripture doesn’t even speak to, or if so, speaks in a very minor way. Some of their positions seem absolutely contrary to the spirit of God as revealed in the Bible and in the life of Jesus. I’m sure these people are reading their Bibles, but they are not making the biblical concerns their concerns.
There is nothing in the Bible about abortion. It is not directly addressed. Exodus 21 provides for a fine when fighting people induce a miscarriage. The procreation of children is deeply valued in Scripture, and many of the purity laws exist to protect the property rights that are passed through one’s progeny. But when Jesus had an opportunity to throw judgment at women who found themselves in compromised positions, he responded with compassion. To the Samaritan woman with many "husbands"he gave living water. He rescued the woman caught in adultery and gave her a new start. Not so with the AFAA. Their agenda seems to be condemn women with unplanned pregnancies and to criminalize doctors who might wish to help them.
Although Paul famously said "in Christ there is no male or female"and Jesus scandalized convention by freely including women in his association and conversation, the AFAA proudly opposed an amendment which would give American women equal rights to men.
Although there are hundreds of orphan, abused and abandoned children in Arkansas needing caring homes, the AFAA happily said "No"to any unmarried couples who might be willing to help.
The group opposed the concept of separation of church and state, admittedly a foundational concept of our founders and our Constitution rather than our Bibles. They supported the new "In God We Trust"license plate. Somehow I imagine they wouldn’t equally favor an option "In Allah We Trust"for our Muslim neighbors.
Thank goodness the Holy Family became immigrants to Egypt instead of Arkansas when Joseph led them away from the murderous threat of King Herod. These good Christian folk from the AFAA make it very clear that undocumented aliens are not welcome here, despite the consistent hospitality commandments of the Hebrew Scriptures and the example of Jesus, who loved outside his culture’s legal boundaries.
Other critical concerns of the AFAA included alcohol and gambling. I wonder what they think about Jesus turning all of that water into wine. I’m sure the AFAA would discourage his doing that in Arkansas.
Where is the concern about health care? Jesus spent most of his public ministry as a healer. Where is the Christian concern when nearly one-fifth of our neighbors have no access to medical insurance? Jesus taught us to pray," Give us today our daily bread."Where is the concern for the poor? For the underemployed? Doesn’t the AFAA know that a religious coalition is promoting a raise in the minimum wage for "the least of these"?
The Bible is packed cover to cover with concern for the poor. It consistently comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable, challenging the wealthy and powerful to act justly and to take responsibility for the suffering of any neighbor. These are the priorities of the Bible. These are the values of Jesus. The American Family Association of Arkansas needs to get back to the Bible. If they want to speak for Jesus, they ought to sound a little more like Jesus.
On the masthead of the AFAA newsletter is this boldface quote: Psalms 108:13."Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemy. "They might be better served with Jesus’ warning:"Woe to you,... for you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith" (Matthew 23:23).
Lowell Grisham is an Episcopal priest from Fayetteville.
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