Compassion in Politics: Christian Social Justice, Non-Profits, and Life Theology

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Interesting perspective on a better way to live from Rob Bell in Velvet Elvis:

WAY + +

As a Christian, I am simply trying to orient myself around living a particular kind of way, the kind of way that Jesus taught is possible. And I think that the way of Jesus is the best possible way to live.

This isn’t irrational or primitive or blind faith. It is merely being honest that we all are living a “way”.

I’m convinced being generous is a better way to live.
I’m convinced forgiving people and not carrying around bitterness is a better
way to live.
I’m convinced having compassion is a better way to live.
I’m convinced pursuing peace in every situation is a better way to live.
I’m convinced listening to the wisdom of others is a better way to live.
I’m convinced being honest with people is a better way to live.

Have a favorite Rob Bell quote, podcast, resource or video?

(note to zondervan and other book publishers: Please, please, please as a Christian and book afficionado: three pages is hardly enough of a preview of a book. Please.)

Do you read any of these?  Which are your favorites?  Personally, I read Seth and Steve Rubel at Micro persuasion.  Both have interesting insight and a passion for their craft.

More importantly, however, I wonder if any of the top 100 places any emphasis on ethics in business or being a contributing community member.  The answer may explain a lot about the state of business in America, as our income gap escalates at a hyper-alarming rate.

More greatest hits from the recent publication Unchristian. This time we’ve got Jud Wilhite, who is the pastor at Central Community Church in Las Vegas:

I can love the high rollers and hell raisers that populate Vegas. I can love the gambles, rebels, strippers, students, and soccer moms no matter what they are currently caught up in. It is not my job to change them or judge them. That’s God’s job. It is my job to love them and point them to the love of Jesus. He is the one who brings change. And it is a process that takes time. When people perceive they are accepted for who they are, irrespective of what they have done or will do, then they are open to friendship and influence.

So what would Jesus do in sin city? How would he treat people? Do you agree with Jud? Judgement? Punishment? Or more the fruits of the spirit? Grace? Forgiveness? Dare I say…empathy or love? Maybe a little compassion?

thanks to graham for the flickr photo

Rev. Anne Howard wonders “Whatever happened to compassionate conservatism?”

Remember the phrase “compassionate conservative?” If you can’t remember, that’s OK, because that oxymoron has died several deaths already, in the sands of Iraq, the floodwaters of Katrina, and the classrooms of schools Left Behind. And there’s one more death on the way: our compassionate conservative President is threatening to veto S-CHIP, the proven and popular State Children’s Health Insurance Program that has won wide and deep bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate. 

Rev. Howard continues: 

Maybe he hasn’t heard that it covers 10 million uninsured children.   

Wow! Julie Clawson, also in the clergy, wonders why the administration is turning a blind eye to “the least of these” by ignoring the health needs of 10 million children. Is this our definition of success as a nation? Success in protecting our principles? I ran across this poem about success by one of our nations leading intellectuals, Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
And endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better;
whether by a healthy child,
A garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.”   

Its profoundly tragic that these 10 million children won’t get to live a life of success and won’t get their own taste of the American dream because of a cold and apathetic health policy. What exactly is compassion, if it isn’t protecting and nurturing these 10 million innocent lives? They are certainly the “collateral damage” of this administration’s radically bankrupt policy of compassionate conservatism.

thanks to Sipula for the photo at the top and the poem from Emerson. to Su-chan for the flickr photo below.

Chris Bowers over at OpenLeft asked a question today before one of his Yearly Kos panels about inclusion and empowerment of minorities in the netroots community. I think its an interesting metaphor to talk about issues of compassion and care in terms of how inclusive or exclusive of people you or your organization happens to be.

So here is most of my post in response….

Should minorities be helped or empowered to move to the center? Yes. They’ve probably lived different lives and so would help shatter or at least enlarge the echo chamber. I guess the question is…what the best way to do it?
Is providing help to send 17 folks to Daily Kos?
Is it providing a couple daily columns from people of color?
Is it having a section of Open Left or similar websites that deal with minority and -ism issues? Or more property, all issues from a minority perspective?
Is it having teach-ins or conferences which adopt the BlogHer model?
Is it reaching out to be a mentor to minority bloggers?
Can we sit on our hands any longer while minorities–particuarly those of color are locked out of the system? Or forced to sit at the back of the blogging community bus?

Open left is a big step in the right direction, but a vivid chasm exists.
Answering and actively taking dramatic steps in this direction is, in my humble opinion, the only way to avoid claims of being the “new boss” or passively exclusionary. Can we claim to be be different otherwise? Can we claim to be big-tent progressives otherwise?

Actually, I’m kinda curious what minority bloggers have to think about this…whats their take…..

I’m impressed by an organization thats willing to be open and honest like this and is willing to make substantive changes to attempt to address the issue. I really think that the effort to start a conversation like this speaks alot about the very marrow of the organization. Open source communication seems the most ethical and effective way we have to deal with the problems we face as individuals and as communities. I hope other organizations take the lead in creating conversations which might seem initially risky, but stop infectious dust from being swept under the rug. Any thoughts? What do you think about a big tent mentality?

Compassion symbolizes what is best in all of us. In our politics. In our businesses. And in our daily lives.Compassion is family. Its community. Or put more properly, its the human community. Because we are ground in community. Its in our DNA. So were biologically made for friends, family, love, and compassion.

Why Politics? As I highlighted yesterday in the ongoing conversation about the separation of church and state, “politics” is as more about personal life relationships, as it is about changing roles in government or even speaking out against poverty, neglect, and oppression. So does our personal politics end when we enter the ballot box? Do we speak truth to power about abuse and injustice? I think part of having a public faith is using speech and action to a call attention to and otherwise address the spiral of injustice.

What is compassion to you? Why does it seem it runs in such short supply these days? Also….if you have opinions, questions, or hunches about these topics…feel free to chime in.