To Loose the Bonds of Injustice

In a recent conversation with a friend, he made the statement that the federal budget is not a moral document, just a budget. I begged to differ. In as much as a budget is about fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the nation, in as much as it addresses or does not address the needs of the poor, in as much as the budget document fulfills or does not fulfil the aspirations of the American people, it cannot escape being a moral document. On a much smaller scale I have often said that if you want to know what someone really believes look in their wallet, i.e. look at their finances. If we want to know what the leaders of our nation believe we need to look at the expenditures that are being proposed from the federal wallet (in this case Congressman Paul Ryan's proposed 2012 budget.) Ryan's proposed budget, may be Republican, it may be somewhat Libertarian, but it has all but given up Christian values.
Entitled "The Road to Prosperity," and subtitled "Restoring America's Promise," Ryan's proposal was greeted warmly by conservatives and some libertarians. Ryan has touted his budget proposal as the best way to restore prosperity. His claim is that reducing the nation's debt will foster economic growth. The problem is that Ryan's budget doesn't reduce the deficit or the debt. Most of the money that would be gained by Ryan's proposal to curtail social services, is offset by the tax cuts that his budget proposes for the wealthiest Americans. As a moral document on which to base the future of the country, Ryan's budget is a failure. He has apparently decided that financially squeezing people with the least political clout is the best course to follow. Roughly two thirds of the budget cuts that Ryan has proposed will be made to programs that affect modest to low income Americans, as well as our poorest citizens, and the poorest of the poor in other nations. Ryan's budget also proposes a 30% tax cut (up to 30%) for the wealthiest people and U.S. corporations. From a moral perspective how does one justify cutting the social safety net out from under the neediest people while giving further tax breaks to corporations who (they are people after all) are enjoying tax free profits in the billions of dollars and wealthy people whose incomes have increased steadily for a decade?

The words of Isaiah the prophet come to mind:

"Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make orphans your prey! What will you do on the day of punishment,in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth...?"

As a moral document, Ryan's budget is quite clear. He intends to cut medicare, medicaid,food stamps, low income housing assistance,and educational programs vital to our nations future. In addition, the cuts to international health aid will most likely result in higher mortality rates among some of the poorest people in the world. I believe it is impossible to justify budget cuts that will undoubtedly adversely affect the lives of millions while giving a tax bonanza to the wealthy few. More people will die if this budget is passed.

In Deuteronomy 24, laws are given for social and community harmony and well being. Among them:

"When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.
When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow."

There is little doubt in my mind, that Ryan's proposed budget, goes back for the last sheaf, beats the Olive tree till the very last olive drops, and waits for the last grape to be plucked from the vine, leaving the poor with little to nothing. No Christian should be willing to see the poorest made poorer; at least not before every other alternative has been explored. In the last decade, real income for 90% of Americans has declined, while the income of the top 1% has risen by $250,000. With the poor getting poorer, and the rich getting richer it is hard to understand why those who are rich need more tax breaks. (For perspective on this read the parable of "The Rich man and Lazarus," in Luke 16:19-31.)

The alternatives have not been fully explored. Ryan's budget proposal does not offer any cuts to our ever expanding, fiscally and morally unsustainable military budget. With three questionable wars, and military bases throughout the world, the U.S. military budget makes up almost half of all the military spending in the world. To propose a budget wherein cuts to military spending are off limits, despite billions of dollars worth of documented waste is unconscionable and immoral. Nor has our leadership had a recent open discussion about our continued operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and our recent involvement in Libya. Many strategists see no further gains to be made in Afghanistan while there are continuing costs in lives, treasure, and virtue. Currently, the Pentagon is weighing whether to stay in Iraq permanently.

Jeremiah the prophet writes,

"Are you a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the Lord." Jeremiah 22:15-16

Some might call this biblical progressivism. It is more. Love of God according to this text is not found in piety, but in practice. Here, particularly, in the practice of judging the cause of the poor and needy righteously. For too long, I feel like I've been listening to the Christianists (on both sides of the issues) use Christian rhetoric to support their political positions. They themselves having opened that door, I want to see them held to the standard that God holds up in Jeremiah, or even better the standard Jesus upholds in Mark 12:28ff. Particularly verses 29 and 30,

"Jesus answered, 'The first is,"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all our soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is is this," you shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is not other commandment greater than these."

Loving our neighbor as ourselves would be a good start in a society that seeks to find every difference between us and uses it to cause polarizing splits among us. Loving our neighbor is the only way we can see Jesus' own face. As a nation, if we will not love the poor, we have no business chanting any other religious slogans.

Some may counter that deficits are also a moral issue that needs to be addressed. Certainly, a real debate should be had about spending the money of future generations to fund questionable wars, tax subsidies,etc. Yet, the manner in which we address the deficit expresses our moral priorities. I, for one do not want to see any more expansion to the stables of Solomon while the poor go hungry, and I don't want to practice the economy of scarcity wrought by Pharaoh when he told the Israelites to make bricks with no straw.
Most of us remember the story of the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6:30-44.
When it was time to feed the crowd, the disciples had to wade into the crowd to find what was available. They returned with two fish and five loaves; the approximate daily ration for a shepherd boy. That shepherd boy (or whomever) was the wealthiest person in that crowd of hungry people, but unfettered by the myth of scarcity he gave his food to Jesus. Because of his willingness to share; to sacrifice, we have the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Nothing would have happened had not that "wealthy" shepherd boy come forward to give up his lunch. The point is that for too long, we have been part of an economy where the powerful have been hoarding the loaves and fishes at the expense of those who are most vulnerable, most hungry, and most in need, and it is time for Christians to advocate much more forcibly for the poor. It is time to move away from a budget process that scapegoats the poor to one where the needs of Lazarus are the first priority recognizing that the rich man is already well taken care of. As for those who say we "are broke," I say that such words coming from anyone living in the wealthiest nation in all of history, are an affront to God who has so richly blessed us. It is time to let justice roll down like water, so that the poor may be refreshed.
May the contemplation of the great and mighty acts of God, and the obedience of Jesus during this Holy Week move our hearts and minds to act for those very lives are at risk.

In Christ,

Pastor Boehringer