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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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Thank you. Finally, Christians who understand that Jesus would be horrified at the things that our so called "conservative Christians" do in His name.
If Jesus was alive, and the most important awesome miraculous person on the planet... how come there's not one painting, statue or sketch of him during that time? Nobody even mentioned him until more than 50 years later. Does anyone doubt Julius Caesar was alive? YOU have a point..yet religious people aren't logical at all. Nobody said oh dude strike a pose Jesus.
This is the stupidest article ever! What would Jesus do about the budget? Are you kidding me?!?!
You might as well ask, "What would Frodo Baggins cut?" While we're at it, let’s consider, what would the inhabitants of Fraggle Rock do? They’re all “good and morale” characters. They're all equally real, which is to say, they're not.
Hey, Gandalf was real enough: "Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them?" There's your budget problem right there. What Would Gandalf Do?
Obviously, Jesus would not cut those things which helps human advancement or microcosmic advancement toward its desideratum. Therefore, the basic budget would have to ensure food, clothing, shelter, medical care and eductation. Jesus would be a evolution believing progressive socialism (PROUT). It is that simple.
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."
Follow the money trail when it comes to likes of Jim Wallis, Billy Graham, Glenn Beck, Franklin Graham, Eboo Patel et al.
e.g. -
"In July 2010, Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine, wrote that Sojourners accepted money from George Soros, who has financed groups supporting abortion and atheism.[6] Jim Wallis responded as follows: "It's not hyperbole or overstatement to say that Glenn Beck lies for a living. I'm sad to see Marvin Olasky doing the same thing. No, we don't receive money from Soros." Wallis later admitted that Sojourners had, in fact, accepted funds from Soros' Open Society Inst-itute. Wallis stated that the funds made up "the tiniest fraction of Sojourner's funding during that decade–so small that I hadn't remembered them."[6] The grants from the Open Society Insti-tute totaled $275,000 from 2004 to 2007.[7] Wallis apologized to Olasky for his comments about him. Jay Richards wrote that Sojourners had received $2.2 million from various foundation grants from 2003 to 2009, including the Tides Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Wallace Global Fund, and the Streisand Foundation."
Maybe the Sojourners aka Jim Wallis will sponsor AIDs research with some of their funding? No donations to AIDs support listed on their IRS Form 990. But what do we find on the Sojourners aka Jim Wallis' IRS Form 990 (guidestar.org)?
Jim Wallis is paid $351,140/yr which includes benefits and speaking honoraria for doing things like giving BO grief about AIDs funding. They/he also have/has ~$1 million invested in the stock and bond market. (A million dollars for AIDS support in Africa would be great.) Again Mr. Wallis/Sojourners pays no taxes on the dividends, interest or capital gains on these investments
Hey, report that thing about moderation for the n00bs.
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.
Leave religion out of the argument and what are you left with? Should we be a military nation like a communist country or are we a free nation where man seeks peace rather than bloodshed?
“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...
Of course that's what the budget cuts say–and NOBODY wants to own that.
Jesus has been dead for over 2000 years. Hold on, let me go dig up his bones and ask him. These types of questions are irrelevant unless Jesus has a plan for feeding the entire world or making sure everyone gets healthcare. Please lets just focus on whats happening now!
Jesus wouldn't have gotten himself in debt, so there wouldn't be anything for him to cut.
cop out
Probably because there were no credit cards at the time, mostly.
Jesus would be a total Republican. He would cut spending on the poor, increase military spending, and wage holy war.Jesus was no liberal, class warfare, hippie wuzz. He was a bad ass!
Aw, I think He'd spend our whole national budget on toga parties, since we're making up stuff about a two thousand year-old rabbi.
You might as well ask how a unicorn would cut the budget. Same inane fairytales.
I actually agree with their goal but I think they are confusing people about what the bible says Jesus actually promoted. Jesus never got into politics and never tried to change the political structure of Rome despite aweful laws towards Jews in Rome at the time. Instead Jesus promoted personal responsibility towards being good and forgiving others as we would have them forgive us. If Jesus were alive today he might be disappointed how much the church focuses people's attentions on politics as opposed to focusing people on their own personal spirituality and being a good samaritan towards others.
I wrote an extremely innocent paragraph about national repentance a couple of hours ago and it came up, "awaiting moderation." It was a paragraph that would have been applauded even just 10 or 15 years ago, but like the sayings of the apostles and prophets and even Jesus Himself, they were silenced by the CNN elite who love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil.
P.S. And it never was posted.
Keep your theocratic ideologies to yourself, please. This is no place for sanctimonious sermons. Also, the reason your post was reviewed is that someone else flagged it for review, not because of the CNN employees. It's your fellow commentors.
The board stops certain words from posting. A human has to review it before it will post. Nobody is out to get you. Look up CLBUTTIC if you need more info.
To "Demand truth and verify what u get" and Mike, I did not expect anything more from imbecile worms like you. You mistook many of us who give a flying f*** about what morons like you have to say!
Bill, you should be ashamed of saying such things! Jesus is crying from reading your harsh words. I can hear him sobbing.
Steve, the real one
Bill, you should be ashamed of saying such things! Jesus is crying from reading your harsh words. I can hear him sobbing.
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I see somebody is too lazy to create their own handle!
When my mommy picks me up from school I am going to get a hamburger.
Steve, the real one
When my mommy picks me up from school I am going to get a hamburger
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I did not realize i was that much of a threat to you!
1) He'd cut all social welfare programs and return them to the providence of the Church. He commanded INDIVIDUALS to be charitable, he did NOT condone government redistribution of talents.
After that nothing else needs to be cut, because we would now have a surplus. Taxes could then be lowered.
Show me Biblical quotes that support your assertions.
Jesus would not cut the budget because he had no use for budgets. He told his followers to leave everything behind and go with him and help those in need. Don't these so called "Christian" leaders not know what they are preaching? Of course not – they are evangelicals – Christian in name only.
Who cares how Jesus would cut the budget? The last time I looked we lived in a country with a separate church and state.Lets operate that way and keep the oppressive christians out of our budget.They are already in our bedrooms . Is'nt that enough for them? Or do they want it all? As far as I am concerned they have caused more touble than the rest of the world combined. Please just go away
Secular ideologies of the 20th century caused far more trouble than Christianity and far more death, destruction and suffering. It could be argued that Islam has as well (do some research into the Islamic conquest of Afghanistan and India if you want to read some really sickening accounts of brutality).
Also you clearly didn't read this because the "Christians" they are talking about are completely different and separate from the social conservatives; they are "progressive" Christians, i.e. liberal left wingers. You obviously didn't read the article and the word "Jesus" just set you off on a knee jerk anti-Christian rant
I'd be 100% cool saying "who cares what Jesus would cut" when religion, faith, and belief aren't regularly brought up in any major political election. When we elect an atheist and everyone in the US just shrugs, then...yeah. This is a perfectly cool answer.
But since faith is brought up on a regular basis in this country, it's nice to see a group saying, "Look, if you really call yourself a Christian, how can you defend cutting government programs that protect the poorest and least represented parts of society"? No matter how you slice it, Jesus was pretty big on the meek, humble and downtrodden. I'd love to see more politicians called on the hypocrisy of claiming to be a good Christian just to vote for lower taxes on the rich, and fewer social services for those who desperately need them.
I agree on one specific point, the church has the responsibility of providing aide and support to the poor, not the government.