I'd be scared to see Jesus on a bike. He'd kick too much ass! davo, I work at the Whole Foods. Cept I'm up stairs away from the crazy people!
I think it isn't much of a stretch to think Jesus would be in favor of fuel efficiency and would not be fond of the American SUV trend. Environmentalists have a very strong claim within Christian doctrine in Genesis' edict to Adam to be steward of the Earth and everything in it. In this sense, I don't think this is a 'non-religious' issue (if there is such a thing) -- there are some who feel it is their Christian duty to protect our environment. I don't think vacuum cleaners or Coca-Cola could have a similar claim. I doubt you can find anything in the Bible that would suggest that Christians should have clean floors.
Ha Ha Ha. Don't be foolish. We all know according to the Christian Right that Jesus is a Republican and his interest in public policy would be limited to whatever Bush supports.
Glynch, MadMax, could you flesh out your arguments a bit here? Glynch, I don't know your stance on the environment in particular, but being familiar with your more general political leanings, I would have expected you be at least cautiously pleased with a Christian involvement in a somewhat leftist cause. Or are you too jaded to want Christians involved in anything? Max, I just don't know what you're saying. Lose credibility, why?
Juan Valdez, one of my first political invlovement many years ago was with a group called the Catholic Peace Fellowship. I applied for conscientious objector's status based on my religious beliefs. Unfortunately the more I see of such Christian Right leaders as the poltico preacher Pat Robertson, who use religion to get working class people to vote for Republcians the more cynical I get. To me it is clear. If you believe in Jesus, you should be in favor of the environment, agsinst virtually all war and opposed to any rationlizing that gives tax breaks to the rich instead of food and health care to the poor in the US and other countries, without distinction of citizenship or borders. I welcome Christians who are concerned about the environment. In fact at times some political commentators have wondered what would happen if evangelical Christians stopped focusing almost solely on such wedge issues as abortion and gay rights and got involved with such policy issues as ending poverty and providing health care for all, rather than tax breaks for those who are already comfortable.
I can understand that sentiment. But there is a good deal more to Christian politics than Pat Robertson and the Christian Coalition. I am not too familiar with the National Council of Churches so I checked out their website (http://www.ncccusa.org/). The front page has headlines about various stuff they're doing, including: Cleaner cars Resolving Iraq issue without war Advocate TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) bill HIV outreach in South Africa Something about a 1940 portrait of Jesus and a War and Poverty update This list their top priorities for 2001-2002 as: Mobilizing to reduce poverty in America and increasing the size of their organization to include more churches. It sounds like a group that would have a lot of elements you'd like.
I love that this thread includes attempts at serious discussion. Allow me to "elevate" the discussion with a car that Jesus would definitely NOT drive: Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaawwwwwwww!
I don't think it's out of the scope of valid consideration of Christian ethics. Christians are fond of saying that religion should influence people's perspectives on public policy more. I certainly think this could be included. JuanValdez's comments are engaging. If you really study the Bible, you can find references to all sorts of things. However, people use the Bible to support beliefs they already hold more often than they use it as a source of inspiration for what to believe. Since conservatives tend to be more religious, conservative issues more often are formulated in a Biblical contexts. This doesn't always mean that liberal issues couldn't have a religious formulation - liberals just view such sources as generally less valid. Personally, I think Jesus was a great philosopher. Hence, What Would Jesus Drive might be an academic question. It's just speculative... and I do think the more intereseting part of the question involves unorthodox but consistent Biblical interpretation. Incidentally, much cutting edge Christian academic theory involves applying the Bible to contexts that it's seldom mentioned in, such as the environment, information theory, etc (among other things).
Juan Valdez, I agree there are many Christian churchs that don't support the politics of Pat Robertson, Bush, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Christian Right. That is why it is so valid to try once again to ask of those Christians on the board who talk about their personal good deeds to help the poor, why do you support public policy that leads to more poor people? Why do you go against the policies of the church's represented in the National Council of Churchs? They support a shift from enormous military spending to a more extensive welfare state.as they realize that the good hearted charity of individual Christians has just not been up to meeting the legitimate needs of the underprviliged. How does your Republican politics square with your individual good deeds?
Glynch, I have to assume you're not talking to me since I fall in neither the Christian category, nor the Republican category. I'm actually suprised to not see Christians posting on the subject.
When I was 18 I voted for Bill Clinton because I felt exactly as you mention above. Why wouldn't we do everything we can to help out those who are less fortunate? After a while I began to question my reasoning...Jesus didn't come here and compel governments to give to the poor..he addressed people on an individual basis. And it was never about the ends of helping the poor...it was about the means of a change of heart and real compassion and humility. If Jesus was who he says he was, then he had the power to solve all of those problems. If he turned a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread into a meal for thousands, then poverty and hunger would seem to be over...but that's not what he was here for. And ultimately, charity compelled by law is hardly charity at all. If I point a gun at you or threaten to put you in jail for not turning your money over to the poor, are you really being charitable when you pay your taxes? And if as Christian I say, "hey...we should be feeding the poor." And then I raise taxes on everyone to do that, aren't I then imposing my faith on everyone else??? Bottom line is that neither party has morality cornered...I don't think Jesus Christ made his opinions on degrees of social welfare very well known. He did say you should help your fellow man...no question there. But does that in turn mean that he meant for it to be imposed by law? I personally don't think so.
Madmax, thanks for your very responsive post. As you point out, Jesus wanted Christians to help the poor. Where can you point out that He was only for this as long as long as it didn't involve tax dollars? It seems to me that Jesus in "render to Caesar what is Caeasar's" or something close ,did not find taxes perse immoral or unChristian. You aren't arguing against all taxes, I assume. You seem to support the use of tax dollars for armaments and education, why not to help the poor in other ways? Doesn't it count that a hungry sick child needs food and medical attention, whether it meets your defintion of Christian "charity" ("ultimately, charity compelled by law is hardly charity at all"). Wasn't Jesus in the New Testament against such legalistic distinctions if they would prevent attending to the sick or even to the disgraced such as Mary Magdalen?
You basically answered your own questions. It's not the accomplishment of the good act that should be the focus, but that the act resulted in the increased understanding of God. (legalism - doing good works for the sake of the work.) And unless God wanted to use governmental welfare programs to answer someone's prayers, then He would direct the church to move in that direction. The problem is our perspective. We may think we know the best way or the best timing to solve all social ills, but when they are not consistent with His plans, it's all moo(t). We shouldn't assume that there is only one way to solve a problem, or that circumstances right now won't solve the problem eventually. The problem will be solved in such a way and at such a time that the only explanation is the grace and mercy of an almighty God. (I didn't answer earlier because I didn't fall under your generalizations of what a good Christian should think, thus leading to questions of why I wasn't a better one.)
I'm a Christian... whether or not I think Jesus would drive, or what He would drive is not, to me, what the WWJDrive question is really about. I think the campaign is a way Christians are letting the general populous know that some "right wingers" are just as concerned about the environment as the "left wingers." I also see it as a way to put Jesus back into conversations. That actually helps both causes. It clears up misconceptions about church folks, and it helps get the "Word" out. I, for one, think Jesus would still not drive anything... unless borrowed, because He had no earthly possessions, He did not have a job to pay the car note with, "He made Himself of no reputation" -cars are often status symbols, whether we want them to be or not, and I doubt He'd need one in the small area of the earth He travelled. Remember modern day Israel (the Holy Land) is only about the size of the state of New Jersey. Most of Jesus' travels were in and around three major areas of Israel... so I doubt He'd need to drive, at least while in town. It does get you thinking though... If He would drive, it would probably be something that was highly efficient, not obscenely fuel consuming. I feel like people with large families, or people in need of transporting sporting equipment or the like should feel free to have a large SUV... fact is I own an old S-10 Blazer (mid to small) SUV, and my family is outgrowing it... my issue is the money though, I can't afford an SUV, small or huge, right now... so I live with it. (not the point, I know) I remain grateful for what I've already received. Some of the humor on this thread is about par with what church people would, and will say... I'd just like everyone to realize that not all Christians will turn the other cheek and let it slide... remember, some of us church folk think we're holier than thou... I'd like to think I'm not one of them, but I say "we" because the body of Christ is to work united - another topic entirely. BTW, I'd even thought last night that if Jesus absolutely had to drive, it would be most likely a Ford or Chevy 15 passenger van, like every church in town drives... so there's a jokey-joke in all of us. Well, it was funny.
