[darrellmaurina]

31 posted on Mon Jan 07 2013 09:53:06 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time) by ksen: “Wanting to reduce inequality brought about by market and political failures should hardly be classified as ‘works of the devil.’ Why does it seem to me that many conservative Christians would side with the rich, young ruler in Jesus’ parable?”

Oh boy, where do I start?

I didn't say anything in my post about economics. Given the right context, I'd say some pretty strong things to modern-day Republican equivalents of the “Rich Young Ruler,” many of whom are RINOs who love their money more than their Lord or their Constitution, and who belong to “big steeple” churches mostly for the social prestige and access to money-making opportunities that belonging to the big downtown or big suburban “First Church” gives them.

If you want to know my views on helping poor people better their condition, you probably ought to know that I have served in inner-city ministry and have lived in areas where many conservatives would be afraid to live. Frankly, I wouldn't live in several of those areas today now that I am married with a family to be concerned about. I've got more in common with Marvin Olasky (though I don't agree with him on everything) than I do with some of the hard-right secular conservatives.

You're part of the Class of 1998 on Free Republic. If you are the Iowa OPC member who I think you are (don't tell if you don't want to), we've debated repeatedly on other boards. You won't hear me focusing on economic issues here on Free Republic but rather on social conservative issues, even if that makes me a bit “out of step” at times with some secular Freepers.

My response is that's fine. We all understand there are economic conservatives, social conservatives, and military conservatives; I happen to affirm all three positions but my passion is on social conservative issues.

Those social conservative issues include the biblical belief in private property, work ethics, Romans 13, and similar positions. Being a social conservative doesn't divorce me from economic and military conservative positions, but those issues aren't where I choose to focus. I'll leave that focus for others.

[Lakeshark]

ksen is a leftist, he may be a class of 1998 sign up, but he is a doctrinaire leftist democrat (who somehow magically thinks he's a moderate, as they all do, *poof, I'm a moderate*.....because I say so....).

[ksen]

I'm not the Iowa OPC member you thought I was. I don't know who that is. But judging by your post you seem like someone who would actually engage in a conversation about these issues instead of just responding in knee-jerk fashion "Leftist! Communist!"

Also I'm glad of your work in inner-city ministry. I hope that you are still able to find a way to invest your time with a family to worry about now.

I do focus on economic issues because I believe that those are at the root of so many of the social problems we are seeing. And as more and more of the income and wealth get concentrated at the top the more social problems you will see pop up in society as people start to feel more and more helpless and desperate.

Anyway, carry on with your good work!