Fair and Equal

Today (while goofing off instead of working, I admit), I was surfing Youtube and stumbled across a critcism of one my favorite pastor/writers, Rob Bell.  It was on something called Way of the Master Radio, a satellite radio program sponsored by The Way of the Master.  This is a Christian Evangelical group headed by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort.  I've tried to see where they're coming from theologically, but without success.  From the tone of what I've heard so far, I'd say Reformed and fundamental, but that's just an educated guess.  Anyway, Way of the Master Radio (which was cancelled and replaced with Wretched Radio) was hosted by a fellow named Todd Friel.  Friel, a talk show host and former stand up comedian, was commenting on Bell's theology and said "We now know why Rob Bell's hermeneutic (method of interpretation, I had to look it up too), is so goofy". Followed by "Rob Bell's hermeneutic  is about interpreting scripture through the eyes of social justice".  He goes to say that Bell's church, Mars Hill Bible church, is becoming more egalitarian, so much that, "it will not be long...before something will come out of Mars Hill Bible church, with Rob Bell leading it, about it's okay to homosexual and Christian".  Now, if you've read any of the earlier entries on this blog, you know how I feel about that, so I'm not going there today.  No, what I want to talk about is the way Friel used social justice and Christian Egalitarianism as club on anyone whose theology differed from his.

First, let's talk about those two subjects.  Social justice is the concept that there should be equal justice throughout society, not just in the courts or the government.  This can take shape in many ways, but in my experience, the way works out in the church is through the various ministries like feeding hungry people, clothing them, sheltering them, helping them help themselves.  Christian egalitarianism says that all people are equal before God.  All people, man and woman, rich and poor, sinner and..., well, that one doesn't matter because we're all sinners, aren't we?  Both concepts, to me, seem central not only to the message of Jesus, but the principals this country was founded on.  Everyone deserves a chance and we're all equal.  One of those no-brainers, huh? 

Evidently, some folks (Friel included) have issues with this.  I was reading another blog (I know, I read a lot of them.  Looking for material for my own) about social justice which said that conservatives feel like the term "social justice" has been hijacked by Liberalism.  You know, welfare and all that?  Which shows we're kinda sucking at getting the truth out there.  Social justice is making sure we all have a shot at a decent life.  That's all.  I can only assume that's Friel's problem with it, he just assumes that everyone listen agrees with him and sees the light as he does and doesn't offer much in the way of explanatin.  The egalitarian part I had to do a little digging to get a read on, but I think have.  One of the big deals in Christian egalitarianism is gender equality.  That means that women aren't restricted from leadership positions in the faith.  They can teach, preach and lead just like a man.  And, they can.  The pastor at my church is a prime example.  She's one of the best ministers I've ever seen.  My father, who ranks preachers right up there with used car salesmen and politicians, agrees.  My feeling is echoes that of my oldest daughter.  It doesn't matter what sex you are if God has called you.  That attitude is absolutely heretical to fundamentalist.  Which, I believe, is at odds with Jesus' message of love and inclusion.

For me, the real problem with comments like Friel's goes beyond their ignorance.  No, these folks are out there, getting in others faces and forcing their narrow view down the public's throat.   And, because of that, unchurched folks believe that's the way we all are.  If you take the time to read anything by Hitchens, Dawkins and whoever else is the athiest du jour, you'll see that the vast majority of their complaints are about fundamental concepts and ideas and they rarely address mainline Christianity.  And, because they're fundamentalists in their own right, they refuse to acknowledge any viewpoint but that all Christians are fundamentalists.  Meantime, me and folks like me are left to clean up the mess and get about the business of helping those in need and trying to show people that all Christians aren't like that.  I'm getting tired of having to defend what I believe against positions and attitudes that I don't hold or even agree with.  All I can do is try to show my faith in the way I live, not just what I say.  Because talk is cheap.