It is a historical fact that both sides of the American Civil War thought that God was on their side – their fight, they believed, was a righteous, holy war. One could make the argument that the North was correct and that the South was delusional. To believe that God wants anyone to be enslaved is ludicrous, no matter what the Bible says about it (read my last blog about reading the Bible, if you like). It is one of the unfortunate problems with being frail, imperfect beings – we like to believe that we are always right and that God would agree. After all, we don’t have opinions that we believe to be wrong, do we? Part of our ongoing struggle to be good is to figure out what God wants, which isn’t always easy, since God isn’t telling us. We have to figure that part out.
This past week, Congress passed a budget. I have attached an image that is anything but art to show some of the things this budget holds. In the midst of it – during the wee hours of the morning – supporters of this bill had the audacity to stop and pray. Who they were praying to is uncertain, but if Jesus is any measure of my faith, it wasn’t to Him. This budget is part of the continued war on the poor and those who are struggling, and if it were passed while I was a child, I would be one of those kids who would have gone hungry. My family would likely have become homeless. The alleged “big, beautiful bill” is really a horrible, immoral attack on decency.
It is also a reminder that we who love God are called to speak up against this kind of treachery. No government should enable laziness, nor should any government make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Government is supposed to keep the bus moving and in good repair so it can be a vehicle for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for anyone willing to work for those things. Poor kids aren’t poor because they are lazy. Sick people go bankrupt because they can’t get affordable healthcare. Capitalism isn’t wrong unless it is twisted into a weapon to punish anyone who isn’t rich. This budget has nothing to do with God and everything to do with greed. Which, by the way, God does not approve of. Ever.
Prayer – Holy God, today we pray for all who will suffer because of the greed of too many of Your alleged followers. Heal us, we pray. Amen