Hi Buddy aka Beverly

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Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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Thank you for a wonderfully well written article.  Yes, we can't say we are followers of Jesus as long as we take on the attitude of "I've got mine; to heck with you!"  Yet I see this attitude over and over with my Christian conservative friends and relatives.

I once had an argument with such a man (actually had this argument with several, but am thinking of one particular circumstance).  He was, like every conservative I've ever talked to, totally against paying more taxes and felt that the rich pay enough.  I pointed out to him that Jesus told us to pay our taxes.  He agreed that this is true, that Jesus said to render unto Caesar what is Caesars. . .BUT, said he, Jesus didn't say that any of those taxes were to be designated toward helping the poor and furthermore, he felt that private charities and churches could do enough and that those programs just weren't necessary.

First I pointed out to him that people who have lost their jobs due to outsourcing and downsizing who are beginning to see their unemployment running out, desperate people with families that have been responsible tax payers themselves and are in this situation through no fault of their own, are going to need a bit more than some gently used clothes, a bag of beans, maybe some potatoes and a couple boxes of macaroni and cheese and that passing around that special offering plate in church is not going to get them very far, maybe a couple of days at the most.  Then I told him that I agreed with him that Jesus didn't get to tell Caesar what to do with the tax money he collected, but I do think that since the "least of them" were such a high priority to Jesus, I couldn't help but think he would approve of that idea.

I even gave him this scenario--Suppose Caesar HAD sought Jesus' advice on what to do with the tax money.  Suppose he showed Jesus around his castle and said look at this place, gold and oppulence everywhere, all my wives are dressed in the finest silk and covered with jewels, even my servants wear the finest polished cotton, my chariot is pulled by the finest horses ever bred.  Where do you think this latest tax collection can best be applied.  Jesus takes Caesar on a walk around his kingdom starting with the Marketplace where the beggars and the blind sit in misery hoping for a moment's kindness, mercy and generosity from some passer-by.  Then go into some of the poorest homes with hungry families and often filled with the sick and the dying.  And finally a walk passed the leper camps.  Jesus, standing with his arm around Caesar's shoulder, asks him if he sees anywhere that latest tax collection could be put to good use.  Of course, the final say so still belongs to Caesar, and from what I've been seeing lately from the so-called Christian Right, he may well have gone back to his castle and sent his buyers in pursuit of more fine baubles to enhance his self-image of the very rich and powerful man he wants others to see.

After having this conversation, the next day I had a similar conversation with another self-described Christian conservative, and the first thing out of his mouth was, "I'm not giving into any charities.  Those lazy freeloaders can just go to work like I have to."

So much for Christian charity.  So much for showing the heart and mercy of Christ.  So much for Christ and his principals.  Score 10 for Ayn Rand, the other rightwing idol!