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 Progressive evangelical Rev. Jim Wallis is spearheading the "What would Jesus cut?" campaign.
February 28th, 2011
10:11 AM ET
New budget campaign asks 'What would Jesus cut?'By Dan Gilgoff, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor A coalition of progressive Christian leaders has taken out a full-page ad that asks “What would Jesus cut?” in Monday’s edition of Politico, the opening salvo in what the leaders say will be a broader campaign to prevent cuts for the poor and international aid programs amid the budget battle raging in Washington. “They’re talking about cutting bed nets for malaria and leaving every piece of military spending untouched,” said the Rev. Jim Wallis, who leads the Christian group Sojourners, referring to Republican spending proposals for the rest of this year. “Are we saying that every piece of military equipment is more important than bed nets, children’s health and nutrition for low-income families?” said Wallis, whose group paid for Monday’s ad. “If so they should be ashamed of themselves.” The ad and the broader campaign are aimed mostly at a spending measure passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives that cuts $61 billion from current spending levels, including cuts to Head Start, the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program and international aid programs. Senate Democrats consider those cuts draconian and won't pass them. The faith leaders behind the "What would Jesus cut" campaign are also lobbying the Obama administration to forego proposed cuts to programs like college grants and heating assistance to low-income Americans in the 2012 federal budget. House and Senate negotiators are trying to find consensus on a temporary spending measure to avert a government shutdown. Republican House Speaker John Boehner is pushing a short-term spending plan that would cut $4 billion. Monday’s “What would Jesus cut?” ad is signed by dozens of Christian leaders, including evangelicals like David Beckman, president of the charity Bread for the World, and author Brian McLaren. "Cutting programs that help those who need them most is morally wrong," Beckmann said in a statement. "Reducing the federal deficit is critical for our nation's long term health but it should not be done at the expense of the most vulnerable. When Jesus talked about how God will judge nations, he said that God will focus on what we did or did not do for the neediest among us." Sojourners recently ordered 1,000 “What would Jesus cut?” bracelets for its supporters to send to their representatives in Congress, then ordered 2,000 more when the initial batch ran out. The group says its backers have sent 10,000 "What would Jesus cut?" emails to Capitol Hill. Wallis said that he and other Christian leaders are meeting in Washington this week to strategize on ways to prevent lawmakers from cutting programs it supports. They are urging cuts in defense spending instead. “The most corrupt government spending is military spending,” Wallis said. “Its cost overruns, outdated weapons systems, welfare checks to military contractors.” “This is a biblical choice of swords into plowshares directly and the House Republicans want to beat our ploughshares into more swords," he said. "These priorities that they’re offering are not just wrong or unfair, they’re unbiblical.” On Sunday, Boenher gave a speech that framed the government’s mounting debt as a moral issue. "We have a moral responsibility to address the problems we face. That means working together to cut spending and rein in government - not shutting it down," Boehner said. "This is very simple: Americans want the government to stay open, and they want it to spend less money. We don't need to shut down the government to accomplish that." Boehner's remarks were included in a speech he delivered to the National Religious Broadcasters annual convention in Nashville. soundoff (1,281 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Next »
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The ploy here is to make Christians feel bad by not helping others...Well until congress can balance a budget and follow the same guidelines as normal folk. No way do I want to spend into a corrupt sector like healthcare...
How about a National day of savings and resting? From what you ask? This could be monthly, weekly or yearly, in which there is no buying, selling, Walmarting, ebaying ...everything closed down one day to SAVE money and be with family or friends.
Jesus would have followed a weekly Sabbath. 6 days of work and toil, followed by a day of rest, even the work animals and slaves get rest...
This country has a spirit of overspending and no different with congress...
Who would Jesus steal from to fund these programs? Taxation is theft backed up by the threat of violence. So........ Who would Jesus mug in a back alley in order to feed the poor?
He Himself has paid the full budget for the sin of the world provided one would accept the appropriation. The bible says " For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasing life" Blessings.
Haz....If government is able to take our tax money and freely hand it to wealthy corporation then surely they can give it to the poor. You don't seem to have a problem with the government doing that, but you think the poor should rely on charitable organization instead. If Jesus was the government he would not cut the federal deficit on the backs of poor people while ramping up military spending and tax break for corporations. If you and your conservative friends think that’s ok, you should never use the word "morality" again. In your world the government is only responsible for helping the rich get richer. In the eyes of god that is not only immoral. It is sinful and disgusting.
First he would say "stop spending tax payer dollars on religious items, because I am, after all, not real". Next he would say "start taxing churches and close the loophole". Lastly he would say "Stop allowing religions to hijack society and waste resources on battling topics such as abortion rights, gay rights, religious bigotry, and remove all references to religion from government at the state, local and federal levels. No single religion represents all, and it is a personal choice and opinion, not a national mandate If someone believes in a fairy tale, the rest of the non believers should not have to support it financially or live according to that religions code."
Jesus' message would be the same now as it was then... don't just give your tax dollars to the poor and needy, give ALL of your dollars to the poor and needy. A wise man once told me it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get through the gates of heaven.
Heaven is a myth, so I think it will be hard for anyone to enter.
Hum, we socialized the Wall Street bail out but privatize Wall Streets bonus payouts. Capitalism at work? Where is the Tea Party’s outrage? Excuse me, Wall Street is the money behind the Tea Party.
UH..Wallstreet is the money behind EVERY political movement. Grow up.
The tar party is a bunch of schizophrenic nut jobs. They wanted 2 unnecessary wars at 1.5 trillion but want their taxes cut simultaneously. They did not want any regulations of the financial markets but were the loudest screamers at the gpv't when their 401 k were plundered. Also they are racists. TARP was good under Bush but bad when Obama improved it and actually made money from it.
Funny how the Left has no problem with Jesus and politics when it suits their agenda.
There are Leftist Jesus freaks too. The difference between the leftist Christians and the right wing Christians is the left invoke Jesus as a safety net and the right invoke him as a hammer.
Yeah, a safety net enforced with the hammer of the state. No thanks.
Do you live in a cave or a society? Civilization is not a vacuum.
Society is not a vacuum but the government is. I already pay taxes. How much more do you want? Huh?
I keep hearing how everyone must make sacrifices to lower the budget. I agree. For every dollar that is cut from the budget, raise a dollar in tax for those who make more that $500,000.
Now everybody is sacrificing and the deficit will go down.
Where are all the new jobs from the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy? The republicans said everyone was sitting on their money waiting to see what happened. It happened. They got their tax cut. Where are the jobs?
Centaur, what a great post–you are absolutely right. Boehner has the unmitigated gall to say that if jobs are lost due to his Draconian budget cuts, "so be it!" I suggest that if the Democrats want to take back the House they simply need to run the video of him making that irrational, immoral statement. These Republicans want to make budget cuts on the backs of the poor while constantly favoring tax cuts for the rich and allowing many corporations, including big oil, to pay virtually nothing. Ironically, most of these GOP radicals dare call themselves "Christian." Jesus Christ would deplore their vile and sinful tactics.
Sin is a word used to control people by man. So they can quote from there little book about how this is sin or that is sin.
Jesus would have never lied and cheated the people into this mess to begin with.
Expose the GOP for the charlatan heretics they are who merely use the bible as a weapon to keep the dumb in line, all the while, doing everything in their power to NOT advance Christian values
Err...let's not advance one religion's principles. Whatever happened to separation of Church and State?
@Zur Separation of Church and state means you don't make a law favoring one religion over another. It doesn't mean you cleanse your mind of everything a religious philosopher told you before you make a decision regarding the law. You can and should govern with Christian principles. You can NOT use your position as a protestant legislator to make things hard for Jews, Muslims, and atheists.
I'M SO GLAD THAT FINAL SOME REAL CHRISTIAN GROUPS ARE WILLING TO STAND UP TO THIS GROUP OF HATE MONGERS CALLED THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PLAY THE CHRISTIAN CARD
The GOP is going after those that can't defend themselves because they believe that all poor people are that way by choice. If you are not white and wealthy, you have no place in the Republican world. The thing is those other people vote. A lot of them sat out in 2010. I promise you they won't sit out in 2012. The GOP, in their unmitigate arrogance, always shoot themselves in the foot. Always. After 2012, they can be the minoruty party of "No" once again...
Unfortunately they'll probably sit out because after Obama sided with the GOP on everything from foreign policy (Iraq, Afghanistan, Blackwater), energy (nuclear, clean coal, offshore drilling), privatized schools (New Orleans), the bailouts (banks, autos, insurance), and civil rights (renewed USAPATRIOT), people can't squeeze their nose tight enough to help him back into the White House to do more of the same.
I don't know? How would the Tooth Fairy cut the budget? This is an equally valid question.
Tooth Fairy vs. the Easter Bunny in deficit cutting rumble.
Yes the tooth fairy's life and teachings has shaped the known world for the last 2,000 years, does this really have to be explained?
Agreed. This shouldn't even be on the front page of cnn.com
Umm... shaped the known world? Only about 1/3 people in the known world identify themselves as Christians. Further, you do understand that Christianity is just a mashup of previous religions?
He'd cut the defense budget, the war on drugs, funding of governments with tyrannical leaders, the bailout of bankers, the Bush tax credits. Basically all the things that the current batch of Republican politicians won't do.
He would also demand everyone convert to Christianity or die.
Only Islam demands your loyalty or your life. No where in Chrisitain doctrine does it say you must convert or die.
@rcasteel – Tell that to the Spaniards. Or better yet, have you ever read an history of the dark ages in Europe?
The history of europe has nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. It is like asking Why your car crashes when you have read the owners manual.
@rcasteel "No where in Christian doctrine does it say you must convert or die."
Apparently you don't know your own myths that well, look at the 10 commandments: Do not have any other gods before me.
I am guessing he will smite thee if you do, huh?
Jesus would eliminate the military. That would take a bite out of the budget. He'd also reinstate Chritianity's ban on usury, one of his truly great accomplishments, but since thrown out by moneygrubbing Protestants. That would ease the some of the suffering of the working poor who have to borrow to make ends meet. He would also ask everyone to share the burden of a declining economy in equal measure, which means he'd tax the rich at the same rate as the poor, and ask them to take the same pay cuts and loss of benefits that the poor are being asked to suffer alonef. Amen.
Actually, Jesus has already asked the rich to sell all that they have and give to the poor.
Oh yes. Let's just eliminate our Military. That is an excellent idea. And maybe while were at it let's make death illegal and ban war.
What would Jesus cut?
Jesus would be in a homeless shelter and unable to afford his Respirdal right now... if you really think of Jesus in Paul's psychosis version of Jesus (the water walking zombie Jesus that is).
Don't hold you breath.
If Jesus was in charge, we wouldn't be talking about cutting anything. Remember, He is a God of God and when he is in control, everything falls in the right place.
Yes because everyone knows as soon as Jesus was born all suffering disappeared and everyone was happy until after he was crucified. I'm sorry, God doesn't do your hard work for you, he's not a magical genie that instigates world peace and an end to hunger. He gave us all the tools to do that but instead we use them to try and put ourselves above other men in order to feel better.
Have you read the Bible? Jesus gave us free will to make mistakes. Sure he knows we're screwing ourselves for the sake of greed. If Jesus ran the budget, he'd base it on the gospels..
* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
* Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
* Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
* Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
* Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)
Base your budget on that.
Anchorite...try reading the Bible before teaching it.