The Christian paradox - In Depth - theage.com.au

My friend emailed me this article today and it provides good food for thought. Some of my comments are below the link to the article.

The Christian paradox - In Depth - theage.com.au

Essentially, the author is arguing that the church has become too self-focused and no longer promotes the idea of 'love your neighbour as yourself'.

My thoughts.
1. He is plainly coming from a communist/socialist philosophy which obviously biases his comments. He states the following "A rich man came to Jesus one day and asked what he should do to get into heaven. Jesus did not recommend that he should invest, spend and let the benefits trickle down; he said sell what you have, give the money to the poor and follow me. Few plainer words have been spoken."

He conveniently forgets that Jesus also had many rich followers of whom he didn't make the same demand, and in fact, was supported by them.

2. He promotes the idea that it is wrong and un-Christian to argue for tax cuts, on the basis that we should look after the poor with that tax money. Arguing for tax cuts means you don't care for the poor.

However, this thinking doesn't recognise that there are ways to look after the poor without taxes. I know some people think that the responsibility to look after the poor was given to the church not the state, so shouldn't even be a state concern. (I think it's both). As far as I am aware, non-Government organisations seem to be able to provide much more effective poverty relief than governments. If the author's concern is for the poor, perhaps a more innovative suggestion would be arguing for greater tax cuts for those who give generously to NGO poverty relief programs.

3. He has an obvious dislike of mega churches, which he doesn't really supply a reason for that I can see.

4. Finally, I have to say, he nearly lost me at the following statement. "And the Catholic Church, for most of its American history a sturdy exponent of a love-your-neighbour theology, has been weakened, too, its hierarchy increasingly motivated by a focus on abortion."

Could someone tell me when innocent unborn babies, and stressed, unsupported mothers who abort, lost their status as our neighbours?


Anyway - your thoughts?