Party Problems...

Some pictures from my phone camera 

I have created a new "Social Work" category on my blog! I will address my ventures and thoughts in this passion of mine. 

This photo is of some of the poverty I saw on my service trip to Peru. You can read about my trip here. 








The older I get the more it seems that I am a woman without a party. And I don't mean a social gathering... I'm talking politics. 

I may have lost some of you here... But I am not worried. I am writing the post for my own benefit to relieve the tension I feel caused by the ignorance I see on Facebook and other social media.

So here it begins.. 

I have conflicted feelings often because I see many people associate Christianity with a particular political party and I just do not think that is true anymore. The more I read and watch modern politics the more I find that this party frequently represents something anti-Christian. And that is bigotry. The roaring applause for Donald Trump's comments on disregarding "political correctness" in reference to his hateful and sexual harassing comments toward women.. not to mention his comments against Hispanic immigrants... disgust me. The fact that he is rising the the polls is a testament to the people in that party hearing something they like. 

Political correctness is actually just being a respectful person and considering oppression in one's speech. It seems to me that many of this party live as if this country has not exterminated native people or enslaved a race of people not many generations ago. Yet, I have seen the outrage of people in this party at the thought of giving up the confederate flag in public offices and discouraging protest of civil rights. Being a white-Christian in America means having to constantly be aware of potentially offensive actions or language. However,  I have seen more than one of my brothers and sisters in Christ post something similar to this:

Source

That is the opposite of what God commands!

Isaiah 1:17 - "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."



I am not saying every individual of that party is racist or sexist.. however the popularity of candidates and policies that promote privilege lead me to believe otherwise. 

What am I referring to about privilege? Think about what people group has never had to fight for civil rights, the right to vote, or live in the cycle of poverty due to historical injustice. Basically, the prime example is Donald Trump- white, male, and a billionaire. He wants to "make America great again." Great for who? 

In my Bible I have been following the S.O.A.K. bible study method where you use different colors to highlight passages. I have been using green for "social work" related verses. I highlight verses that relate to Social Work's core values being: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. In my opinion, Jesus was the first true social worker. 

In the Old Testament, the Bible tells us how to care for the poor and needy in the community. 

• "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:10
• When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22
• "However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you." Deuteronomy 15:4
• "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy 15:7
• "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open handed toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11
• "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow." Deuteronomy 24:19-21
• Many more!

People say that Jesus would not be for social programs.. I disagree. Times have changed, God's word has not. Can the poor in inner city Milwaukee glean from the fields? Do Christians take care of the massive number of global poor? Programs such as welfare, WIC, and TANF care for the poor and needy children and families. I have heard many times the retort that people say Jesus wanted individuals do follow these commands, not government. That may be true.  However, I do not see individual Christian's pooling their money together to replace these programs. In fact I see the opposite. 

Source

This quote is from a Catholic nun on Abortion, something that the Bible states God is against. 

However, what are we doing to prevent women from being in the situation that would make them consider abortions? What are we doing to care for women who choose to give life to their child and parent? 

This is my favorite verse that I have come across in my Social Work highlights:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy

  — Proverbs 31:8-9

This post is not meant to offend anyone... I just needed a platform to share some insights from my role as a Christian Social Worker. I see and hear many stories from our own community about poverty, addiction, homelessness, and discrimination. 

How does a Christian expect show love to the disadvantaged without seeing things from the perspective of hardships of those Christ calls us to help?

As long as Christians spend their money on extravagant homes, electronics, and temporal things, we will have no choice but to support the government in doing what Jesus has asked of us all along.