November 21, 2004 - And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19 – 16:22

Throughout the recent campaign President Bush crossed the nation with his set piece stump speech echoing the first part of Jesus advice to the young man. He usually began by singling out a local Republican who had been active in charity work as when in Indianapolis he recognized Joyce Irwin and said, “She's active with the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, the Fairbanks Hospital, the Meridian Street United Methodist Church. She helps round up donations of clothing to those who need to be clothed, food for those who need to be fed. But most important, she dedicates her time to those who need to be loved. My call to our fellow Americans is love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself.” He always omitted the last part, lest his listeners emulate the young man and go away sorrowful. Instead he used the introduction as a springboard to tell the crowd the opposite - that his economic policy letting the rich keep more of his own money would create jobs for the poor.

A political theology that honors good works with good words but ignores the responsibility of shared sacrifice in the interest of the whole community is cold comfort. It does not speak to faith but to selfishness. It is a message to love your neighbor but keep what you got. It calls on the poor to have faith that the rich will provide. No one with great possessions hearing that message need go away sorrowful as did the young rich man.

When the young man had departed Jesus spoke further to the disciples saying
“Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 19 – 23:24

Faith is more than observing moral prohibitions. Faith means honoring the shared obligation to act together to raise up the whole of the community. Faith calls for sacrifice not selfishness. It is not just good public policy when we used the engines of government to address economic imbalance, it is a matter of faith.