At our weekly Bible study meeting, we've been covering Old Testament prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel for the last couple months. Those writings are full of warnings to the Israelites, who were embroiled in serious social degradation and risky international politics. I saw several ways in which Judah at that time corresponded with America today:
1) People were sacrificing their children to idols. Many parents do this today, not only by aborting their unborn children to make their lives more convenient, but also by pursuing selfish goals and ignoring their families in the process.
2) God said the Israelites "oppressed the poor and needy". Today, how can we justify spending hundreds of billions to establish democracy in Iraq but allow poor African nations to continue to slide backwards in terms of economy, social justice, and healthcare? On the domestic side, is capitalism the end goal, or a means to an end? If it is the latter, then why do we allow business interests to blind us to extravagent consumer debt, which affects families at the micro-level and national security at the macro-level?
3) The Isrealites "mistreated the alien, denying them justice." In America, what's with all the anti-immigrant angst? And what's this with making the asylum process more difficult, not to mention the visa process for "valuable" immigrants like graduate students? This is not only a matter of the brain, but also the heart ... God's heart. Here's famous poem I think we should consider:
The New ColossusAfter the Bible study session last night, I felt a pang of remorse at how our country has turned away from biblical principles in many ways, not only in terms of Republican talking points. If there are any American Christians out there, I'd like to encourage you to read some of Ezekiel and think about the things in this post. Then we can pray together.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame.
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
3 comments:
Nice post.
But I fail to see your point about "extravagent consumer debt."
What would you have us (politically) do about this? Consumer debt is like obesity -- there are many influences and causes, but the solution is not in the hands of the government.
Wow, reading over this post nearly four years later makes me feel pridefully prescient in terms of the second point in the post!
Tyson,
I think you are correct in how you are interpreting Ezekiel. There are many places in the OT that conservative US Christians don't like to read because it convicts them. I made some in my Sunday School angry when I read from Ezekiel shortly after 9/11.
Regarding consumer debt, I see the problem as one of idolatry; too many US Christians idolize the consumer economy and get very defensive about anyone who suggests there is anything wrong with it.
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