Conservatives and liberal and societal needs

The extract copied below is from a recent blog, seen at a Sojourners site. The phenomenon he notes is probably typical and his perspective should be a prod for us, whichever side of the contribution equation we normally lean.

Also, from consideration of poverty ( and DC in part) I strongly suggest that you check out http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/seeingpoverty/index.shtml. Either listen, or download and read the transcript. Now that I think about it, a JEPR group discussion on this program would be useful and possibly inspiring.

Scott

I Got Mugged (by Ryan Rodrick Beiler) ( an extract of the longer article)

Why can't we - both as a society and as a church - do better at providing positive choices for our youth? And for me it is a both/and. I've seen more small-government conservatives willing roll up their sleeves and volunteer as tutors. Meanwhile, it's mostly the justice-minded liberals who march and lobby to end poverty and violence. How can we get more liberals to show up at UFD and more conservatives to advocate? (I know these categories are unfair and far from universal, but I've seen this dynamic over and over in my own church experience.)

Government at every level must do better at making the needed resources available, if for no other reason that the churches simply don't have the resources to do it all on their own. But the church must also be the conscience of the state - challenging not only with words, but by example in serving and caring for those at the margins of society. Conversely, the words of the prophet Jeremiah may inspire the church, but they were originally spoken to a king: "Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the Lord." (Jeremiah 22:15b-16)Consider this as the onslaught of opportunities for "Canned Compassion" wash over us with the holiday season, and look for opportunities to do both justice and mercy, not with band-aids of a march here or a meal there, but with sustained service and activism that seeks real healing for our communities.

Ryan Rodrick Beiler is web editor for Sojourners.