Family? Values?

Last updated on: May 9, 2013 at 6:20 am by Faithful Democrats

Family? Values? 2013-05-09T06:20:03-06:00 Faithful Democrats

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This week, several Republican groups will hold a “Values Voter Summit” in Washington, D.C., where they promise to discuss ways to “fight for the family” and “defend Christian Values”.

Like most Christians, and most people in general, I love my family. And I embrace many values, among them honesty, fairness, compassion, justice, and peace. I also value transparency and accountability in governance, and ethical behavior in our public policy here and abroad. Without question, these values are rooted in my Christian faith, and strengthened by my loving family. But I am not invited to Washington this week.

I am not welcome at the gathering because people like me do not hold the politically convenient set of values, or sufficiently limit our definition of “family.” For decades, fundamentalists have used these universally positive terms as weapons to further a political agenda—specifically, to inject a narrow interpretation of religious scripture into our laws. Those who hold different values—even if they are driven by the very message of Jesus Himself—are marginalized at best, and demonized at worst. We find ourselves derided as “anti-family,” and “anti-values”—phrases that make no sense, if one really thinks about them.

My values may not be theirs, but they are values, nonetheless. They are the same values I learned in Sunday School, and from my family. They are the values of the Jesus I know.

Jesus did not have much to say about abortion or homosexuality—the issues of choice for the Summit crowd. But he was very clear on how we should treat the poor, the underserved, the meek, the hungry, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned. Of those most vulnerable souls among us, he said “Most certainly, I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

So what will be the talk at the gathering? How to eradicate poverty? The fight to guarantee healthcare for everyone? The best way to end the suffering of this war? Not likely. No, we will hear sound bites attacking gay people, and women who value their right to choose.

I will not be in Washington this week. Like most people, and even a great many Christians, I am excluded. Exclusion, you see, is real mission of the “summit.” After the criminal negligence of Hurricane Katrina, the widespread poverty that continues around us, the grossly immoral drive for war, and the profiteering that followed, perhaps we should ask ourselves: Does Christ have a better mission for us? What are the real Christian family values?

This week, several Republican
groups will hold a “Values Voter Summit” in Washington, D.C., where
they promise to discuss ways to “fight for the family” and “defend
Christian Values”.

I am not welcome at the gathering
because people like me do not hold the politically convenient set of
values, or sufficiently limit our definition of “family.” For
decades, fundamentalists have used these universally positive terms as
weapons to further a political agenda—specifically, to inject a narrow
interpretation of religious scripture into our laws. Those
who hold different values—even if they are driven by the very message
of Jesus Himself—are marginalized at best, and demonized at worst. We find ourselves derided as “anti-family,” and “anti-values”—phrases that make no sense, if one really thinks about them.

My values may not be theirs, but they are values, nonetheless. They are the same values I learned in Sunday School, and from my family. They are the values of the Jesus I know.

Jesus did not have much to say about abortion or homosexuality—the issues of choice for the Summit crowd. But
he was very clear on how we should treat the poor, the underserved, the
meek, the hungry, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned. Of
those most vulnerable souls among us, he said “Most certainly, I tell
you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,
you did it to me.”

I will not be in Washington this week. Like most people, and even a great many Christians, I am excluded. Exclusion, you see, is real mission of the “summit.” After
the criminal negligence of Hurricane Katrina, the widespread poverty
that continues around us, the grossly immoral drive for war, and the
profiteering that followed, perhaps we should ask ourselves: Does
Christ have a better mission for us? What are the real Christian family values?

Reader Blogs

Previous Post

September 19, 2006

Finger-pointing at Muslim Extremists

Next Post

September 19, 2006 The Tragedy of Abortion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Us About Us Action Center Advertise Ask a Theologian Ask a Theologian Blogs Books Campaign Blog Candidate Spotlights Commentary Donate Facebook Featured Writers Fellows Fellows From the Pulpit General Information Hillary Clinton Interfaith Blog Latest Media Center Media Center Media Center MyBlog MyBlog News Newsflash Newsflashes Our Team Reader Blogs RSS Sermon of the Week Shop Social Networking Static Items Support Talking Points Test blogs The Basics Theology Uncategorized YouTube

Select a Month November 2020 October 2020 February 2020 August 2019 July 2018 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 January 2006 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who stopped the sun from setting during a battle?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joshua Samuel Moses Elijah