Fundies: Jim Wallis is a bad Christian

from Rightly Concerned, a fundie website associated with the American Family Association:



Jim Wallis wants to violate the eighth and 10th commandments
Date: 4/19/2010 10:33:43 AM


Now that the health care "reform" monstrosity has been enacted into law, Democrats are falling all over themselves to admit that it really at bottom is all about the redistribution of wealth. Sen. Max Baucus says it is designed to correct the "maldistribution" of wealth. Socialist Christian and Obama adviser Jim Wallis freely admits that health care is about redistribution, and then bizarrely claims that this is "the heart of the gospel."

Now there is no question that the Judeo-Christian tradition strenuously advocates the redistribution of wealth - as long as that redistribution is voluntary. You can hardly read a page in the gospels or in the epistles that does not encourage or model generosity toward the poor.

However, you will look in vain in the pages of New Testament for a single command to government to look after the poor. Expecting the government to do what God has entrusted to us is the ultimate copout.

The early historian said of the first century church that "there was not a needy person among them," not because Roman confiscated wealth from some to give to others, but because "as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need (Acts 4:34-35)."

Not only does the the Judeo-Christian tradition celebrate voluntary generosity, it categorically condemns the involuntary redistribution of wealth. The voluntary redistribution of wealth is charity. The involuntary redistribution of wealth is theft.

As Frederic Bastiat pointed out more than 150 years ago, when government forcibly extracts resources from some citizens to stick those resources in the pockets of other citizens, it's a form of theft. Just because government does it doesn't make it right. The involuntary transfer of wealth, whether done by a mugger at the point of a gun or by government under the color of law, is theft.

It is a violation of the 8th commandment, "You shall not steal." When government does it, it's nothing more than legalized plunder.

The difference between a statist worldview and a Judeo-Christian worldview can be boiled down to this: liberals believe that generosity is giving away other people's money, while conservatives believe generosity is giving away your own money. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147493532

Oh, only as long as it's "voluntary." Of course, they carefully omit the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They, too, wanted to be in with the kewl kidz, and claimed that they had brought everything they owned. But they held back some money they got for selling some land. Peter accused them each of lying, and each of them dropped dead.

So, it's theft, is it, that AFA is accusing Peter and the apostles of committing? Why doesn't AFA point out the obvious conclusion: That the folks who don't participate in the Judeo-Christian tradition are bad Christians? And the penalty for that? The Bible unequivocally says death. A very dramatic passage in the fifth chapter of Acts, climaxing with Peter's pronouncement to Sapphira that "Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." The American Family Association wants to violate the Book of Acts!

They say the church should take care of the poor, and the government should only be concerned with national defense. When I ask them why caring for the poor or providing health care for their fellow Americans would possibly be against the ideals of a Christian nation, they get mad.

... sigh.

they would find themselves totally broke in less than a year. I know severely disabled persons who live in institutions who cost a quarter a million a year. My daughter was one of them until I brought her home - she is now 51 years old. That would have been more than any church (local) I ever attended had. So they as usual do not know what they are talking about.

Perverting Jesus' word since the 80's

The AFA can't have it both ways. If they believe that the Christian church and the state should not be separate, the state must volunteer to redistribute wealth according to Judeo-Christian tradition.