Ron Sider: "If American Christians simply gave a tithe rather than the current one-quarter of a tithe, there would be enough private Christian dollars to provide basic health care and education to all the poor of the earth. And we would still have an extra $60-70 billion left over for evangelism around the world."
Jim Wallis: "I often point out that the church can’t rebuild levees and provide health insurance for 47 million people who don’t have it."
Jesus: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Ron Sider said that? Hallelujah! He has been giving conservatives heat for decades for saying we don't need government intervention if the Church would just do its job. Well, I guess he didn't exactly acknowledge that we don't need government programs, but we'll take what we can get. Also, it would be nice if someone would point out that tithing a full 10% would be a lot easier if the various levels of government weren't demanding 30-50%, but that is a side issue. Welcome to the dark side, brother Ron. Hope the left treats you better than they've treated us.
Posted by: R. C. Smith | September 01, 2009 at 02:27 PM
'Nothing will be impossible for you.'
Hmmmm, it's not impossible for a man to become a woman.
Posted by: Truth Unites... and Divides | September 01, 2009 at 03:02 PM
"Once you drop the false dichotomy of private and public this is plain to see."
Indeed! And let us bring back prayer in schools, public humiliation of miscreants, blue laws, and the full bent of Christendom!
No? Oh... yes, I see... you only want our money...
Posted by: TimC | September 01, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Great post - and great to see you haunting the halls of Touchstone Mag...
Grace and peace,
Don
Posted by: Don | September 01, 2009 at 09:03 PM
I'll give Ron Sider some credit: though a man of the left on many things, he's not afraid to buck his own party (the Democrats) on a number of issues (abortion comes to mind). And I guess there's a hidden capitalist in there somewhere!
Posted by: Steve | September 02, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Always enjoy your posts, JB.
Posted by: Hunter Baker | September 03, 2009 at 09:37 PM