About Not Following "Strangers"

     The problem facing the United States is that too many people who want the United States to be perceived as being the leader of a diverse world are having problems appreciating diversity within their own borders.

      A majority of Americans claim to be Christians, but increasingly Christianity seems more about talking the talk than walking the walk.

     Several years ago, Rev. Andrew Jason, a late associate minister at the church where I am a member, preached the sermon.  He began by recounting for the audience a time when, after many years, he revisited his home community back in rural Louisiana. 

     He said that he knocked on the door of a home of one of his parents old friends--  he wasn't even sure if anyone still lived there.  But soon an old man opened the door, and before he could tell the old man who he was, the old man looked at him and said, "You must be Andrew Jason's son.  Come on in."  The subject of Rev. Jason's sermon that Sunday was "If you are a child of God, you don't have to tell anybody who you are."

     Jesus said that we know a tree by the fruit it bears.  He also said that His sheep know his voice and they will not follow a stranger.  Too many American Christians don't know whether to follow Jesus or strangers.  Jesus said we can't follow both.

However, strangers of different persuasions have convinced many Americans that they indeed can follow both.  Following Jesus to church on Sundays and following strangers Monday thru Saturday allows us to get along better with family members and neighbors, in the work place, and with church-roll strangers.

     If blind men still begged, present-day Republican Christians would require them to pay income tax on the day's collections.  Instead of  putting something in the cup, many of them would favor the government's taking something out.  They want the government out of their own business but wouldn't object to government intervening in the blind man's business.  

     Even today, some Republican would have them back of the corners begging.  They may not be saying it publicly now, but they thinking it.  These are the kinds of strangers that present-day Republicans--and some independents are following.

     But this suggestion that I'm making about Christians too often not sounding or behaving like followers of Jesus is not intended to ignore the merits of conservative arguments that our "welfare state" does encourage some of our people to be dependent on government, and on the wealth of more fortunate Americans.  For those who would have achieved greater independence were it not for such government assistance--sharing the wealth--the welfare system is a handicap.  But for those who would not have become independent but would have been even worse off without assistance, the system has been a necessary safety net.

     Recognizing, therefore, that there are if fact people who will need our help as badly as do those who are blind or mentally challenged demands appropriate actions.  We act as if we have forgotten that people are born whose intelligence ranges from the most severely mentally challenged to the most gifted geniuses.   These people don't have equal chances in their pursuit of happiness.

     Not only do people differ in their intelligence levels, individual differ in many other qualities over which they have no control, such as: educational and employment opportunities; self and other's motivation; encouragement; role models; predispositions; ethnic diversities; kinds of friends and classmates; neighborhoods; religious faiths (or no faith),; home environments,;education, wealth and influence of parents; quality of schools; whether parents are on welfare; personal attitudes and attitudes of others; etc.  

     Those who criticize those who have not achieved their potential because of the welfare system has encouraged it should therefore consider the factors which more often than not contribute to underachievement and welfare dependence.

      Let's face it, though.  If many of these people who are unemployed or on welfare had had in their lives all or at least many of the advantages that contribute to economic success, they would have the jobs of some of those who criticize them because they would have become better qualified.  So many who are employed who are glad that some people are satisfied to receive welfare  and food stamps.  They don't mind contributing financially to keep them there--or they shouldn't.

     But there is a increasing number of people who don't want to help them on welfare and food stamps but also don't want to help them.

     For the rest of the complainers, those who don't follow strangers, let's provide as many as we can of those factors which contribute to success.  Let schools work on student work habits, their skills, their attitudes toward themselves and their futures.  Discuss what schools, houses of worship and communities should be doing.  Discuss why each is failing and what can be done to help them succeed.  Discuss how homes, churches and community can both help and be helped through these endeavors.

     When great majorities of Americans say in all major polls that they favor the wealthy paying higher taxes in order to take some of the nation's financial burden off the backs of the poor and middle class, most of them aren't talking about class warfare; they're responding to a calling for that "Old Time Religion" that was good enough for their parents and grandparents, and used to be good enough for them.  There is a yearning for the joy of their salvation that once made them "kinder," "gentler" and more compassionate.

     Republican presidential candidate Mitch Romney says he believes that the United States is God's pick to lead the world's nations.  But how can the United States ever become God's world leader if the American people no longer allows Him to touch their minds, shape their thoughts and guide their decisions and behavior.  God can't lead a country when strangers lead the people. 

Ronald

Email:  rcspoon@earthlink,net

Blog:    ronaldcspooner.blogspot.com