Perhaps a silly and too basic a question, but I wonder if you have sat and thought about the question: "Where does the ability to love come from?" There is a new film out about Charles Darwin's life and of course his theory of evolution. The theory (and that is all it is!) describes a dog eat dog existence - where only the fittest survive. In all this the theory fails to address the existence of love. I'm thinking about the type of sacrifical love that we see clearly in the life of Jesus Christ. The type of love that on a good day we might manage to emulate. The Bible of course is absolutely clear about the source of love. Dear friends (says John) let us love one another, for love comes from God. And more clearly goes on to say: God is love! In the New Testament there are 3 words for love: Philia (family loyalty) Eros: (physical intimate love) And Agape: (sacrificial, life transforming, Christ like love) All these are gift from God but it is the th
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One of interesting phenomenon that my doctoral thesis highlighted was how Christians are more likely to believe large faith based organisations (FBOs) are mainly self funded via donations (from Christians?) and have a staff team largely made up of believing volunteers. In reality many large FBOs are heavily reliant on the taxpayer and a staff team made up of anyone willing to work for a slightly above minimum wage salary (in London that means immigrants, often ignorant of the cultural nuances necessary for social work). Even St George's Crypt receives 50%of it income from the taxpayer and anyone can work there (except willy-woofters of course, despite non-believing heterosexual staff not having too many questions asked about their private lives!).
I mention this because I think there is a good deal of Christian charity that is done via 'proxy' - certainly the interviews I did and questionnaires returned to me, suggested Christians in particular had an unshakeable faith in the belief someone else was doing the 'Christian' charity for them. Obviously I am not applying these findings to all Christians, but I think it is safe to say there are many Christians happy with the status quo that someone else gets their hands dirty so they can claim the work is the work of ALL Chrsitians, by a process of association. This is augmented by a curious belief that Christians (or at least donations) fund a good portion of large FBOs' work. However this belief is also evident in the wider population, but to a lesser degree.
I have been very saddened recently by just what motivates a certain brand of conservative Christian to social and political action. It is interesting to note that there have been two concerted Christian lobbying campaigns recently. One involved Tesco's, where there was a militant and well organised campaign to boycott the store because it made a paltry donation to Gay Pride - thus in the eyes of some Christians, undermining 'the family'; the other is the present anti-same-sex marriage petition. What I find interesting about both is the fact it is really a case of closing the stable door long after the horse has bolted. The breakdown of the family unit has complex social & economic reasons and the greatest breaches in this bastion of society occurred long before gay-marriage was mooted. It is just easier and far less challenging to cardinals, clerics and congregations alike to believe the blame has a convenient location! Indeed, it ironic that conservative religious societies often have higher rates of divorce and/or single parent families (Ireland in Europe and The Bible Belt in the US lead the Western world in the lone-family (& in the case of the latter, divorce) stakes!). Certainly there has been much in the employment, marketing & cultural practices of supermarkets and big business in general that has impinged on family life (e.g. Breaking the 4th commandment) yet we've heard little from our conservative Christian friends about these: it seems it is only 'easy' righteousness that appeals - and of course has little, if any, personal costs to these devout souls! (Cont...)
The reason why I mention these examples is that there appears to be both a dissonance between reality and perception concerning some aspects of Christian 'charity' in addition to a disproportionate interest in matters that are insignificant, when it comes people's daily lives and the requirements laid upon them by the Gospel. The fact a tiny proportion of the population want to enter into CIVIL same-sex unions is a paltry matter when compared to something like the number of children languishing on the adoption register or the complexity of factors that have eroded the strength of the family unit over the years. It is time to end these sorties into cheap righteousness. As our one time boss (DLH) noted on several occasions, Jesus gave few commandments: to love one another and wash each other's feet. The very that some Christians like to believe someone is doing this for them by proxy; or get hot under the collar about 'easy' righteousness rather than their own or what would be costly for them personally, are a few of the reasons why the churches decline and their influence wanes.
So I doubt you'll see a flood of Christians mobbing the adoption agencies. Adoption is a costly action - particularly if you really want to help and take the older children with disabilities or behavioural problems. I know I couldn't do it - but then I don't make judgemental, easy and unrealistic pronouncements on other people's private lives! Nor to I burden others with loads I couldn't carry myself...