‘Survival of the Fittest’ is Not a Christian Value

Updated 7/6/08

The usual political rhetoric has started already. In a year that voters have shown they want change, the guardians of the status quo have played the “liberal” card. As a person with Christian values, who is disgusted with how politicians have misrepresented my faith for almost 30 years, I decided to consult a dictionary for official definitions of the word liberal.

1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. So far so good. Politicians and Christians must always be willing to grow. None of us have arrived.
2. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties. Isn’t that what conservative politicians claim to believe?
3. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression. Numbers 2 and 3 only work when the parties involved act with good will toward each other.
4. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies. No wonder the Republicans are up in arms. How dare anyone think for themselves and not follow their lead?

One major front in the liberal vs. conservative fight is abortion rights. Keep in mind that I do not believe in abortion, but I also believe that anyone who is not willing to help support a single mother emotionally or financially has no voice is the matter.

This issue never should have been politicized. If our economic policies addressed the reality that many single mothers did not wind up that way by choice and can’t see a way to support more children on less pay than their male counterparts, there would be fewer abortions. Abortions drop in times when prosperity is spread more equally.

Communities can also address sex education without political intervention. If schools are unable to handle these issues because of differing cultural values, churches and community groups can fill the gap. If they don’t, another generation of youth could short-circuit their futures with unwanted pregnancies.

Different perspectives on the gay lifestyle create further conflict. Yes, the Bible condemns such practices, but Jesus called his followers to hate sin because it hurts sinners. Romans 3:23 also says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” I’ve known people who have overcome homosexual tendencies with the help of humble, loving congregations and the power of true Christianity.

So let’s get back to the issues of social justice. Jesus Christ and the original Christians were liberals. Jesus associated with people whose lifestyles made them outcasts in society while he sought to improve their lives. He cared about people who weren’t like him, such as the Roman Centurian, whose people had invaded Jesus’ homeland. The original Christians sold their excess goods and distributed the proceeds to those among them who were in need.

In those contexts liberal means “open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.” and “characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts.” Ideally Christians should exhibit these characteristics and leave government out of it. Some do, but there are so many people drowning in this economy that there aren’t enough generous Christians to fill the need.

As for tax policy, anyone who claims the government can be saved by cutting taxes is living in “Never Never Land.” The war costs this country approximately $5,000 per second. Our infrastructure is crumbling from coast to coast. Our schools are underfunded. All these problems require money.

Many conservatives claim the problem is entitlement programs. That’s funny since our standard of living is falling below that of countries like Denmark that charge 42% to 68% in taxes and provide all their citizens with good social services, including free health care and college.

Denmark, which more than once has been named the “World’s Happiest Country” by a researcher at Britain’s University of Leicester, had just a 1.7% unemployment rate in May 2008. The United States ranked 23rd on the list. If your basic needs are provided, and you have an education that helps you make enough money to get what you want above the taxes, what’s the problem?

The problem is that this country was built on slave labor and continues to seek ways to maintain the system with new faces. In this century the slaves are Latinos, who often work for less than minimum wage, low-wage workers in other countries, who hold jobs that Americans have lost due to outsourcing, and the underpaid workers in the service sector jobs that remain in this country. “Survival of the fittest” is not a Christian value.

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