I Will Know How Much You Love Me by How You Treat Them
Pope Paul VI, January 1, 1972
This week’s assignment brings continued thoughts about power and dominance over those who are disenfranchised following my recent blog on John Wesley’s book, Thoughts Upon Slavery. Authors Jim Wallis and Brett Fuller bring meaningful and unique viewpoints that combine Biblical and historical reflections with contemporary ideas on leadership and justice.
Jim Wallis, who wrote God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It, has been a social justice activist since the civil rights movement. He contends that “The values of politics are [the] primary concern in this book. When either party tries to politicize God or co-opt religious communities for their political agendas, they make a terrible mistake.”[1]
But the truth is, that religion and politics have been mixing since the colonial era. Even John Wesley’s disdain for slavery, based on religious beliefs,[2] was revealed in a letter penned to William Wilberforce. In it, Wesley encouraged him to, “Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.”[3]
America’s founding fathers desired a system that separated church and state, so they crafted the Constitution’s First Amendment prohibiting the establishment of a national religion and protecting the freedom of religion. However, religious ideas and values still influenced political discourse and policies. By the 19th century, faith was used as a reason for the temperance movement (Ephesians 5:18). In contrast, the 20th century brought about greater influence by the Christian right on issues such as education (Matthew 28: 19-20) and abortion (Psalm 22:9-10). In my opinion, the 20th century was also when society began separating from a shared sense of moral code. Biblical values that called us to love our neighbors began dissolving into a secularized world that prioritizes self above others, which means the poor and vulnerable get left behind.[4]
For Wallis, his life’s work has been about elevating our brothers and sisters in Christ who are burdened by the weight of poverty. In his latest book, The False White Gospel, Wallis talks about a lesson he learned early in his seminary career. He took a pair of scissors to an old Bible and literally cut out every scriptural verse that dealt with the poor and justice. By the time he was done cutting, more than 2,000 versus had fallen onto the floor.[5] He held up the bible with all its holes as a visual representation of God’s concern for the poor. It helped make the point that Christians should flip the script by prioritizing the well-being of the least of these rather than our current cultural norms, which elevate those with the most resources, giving them even more power and control.
In addition to Wallis’ insights, I am contemplating Brett Fuller’s lens through which to view leadership and change. In Dreaming About Black and White, Fuller’s novel explores matters of race, identity, and personal transformation. The story focuses on Michael, a young African American, who struggles with his identity in a racially divided community. In many ways, the character reflects some of the same issues that Fuller faced firsthand while growing up in the segregated South.[6] As Michael launches into his journey, the story goes on to explore what everyday life was like for him, including his relationships. Fuller highlights the complex dynamics of race, especially the challenges of balancing dreams with societal pressures.
Oppression has not only burdened the poor and non-white Americans but also women. In Fuller’s other book, High Ceilings: Women in Leadership, he outlines the four generally accepted Christian roles between a man and a woman within marriage, family life, and religious leadership.
- Complementarian: men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities.
- Egalitarian: men and women are equal in all aspects.
- Complementary-Egalitarian: at home, the roles are different but complementary; however, outside the house, the roles are equal.
- Suppressionist: men are superior to women in all ways, and women should be subservient.[7]
The author is quick to share that his own belief is complementary-egalitarian;[8]however, he recognizes that biblical scriptures have sometimes been misused to form suppressionist values at home and abroad (1 Corinthians 11:2-16). He goes on to say that he believes women and men are blessed with different giftings so there can be balance and order in the world.
Ultimately, “We are all sojourners walking through the journey of life trying to understand our purpose and calling while managing the tension of the environment around us.”[9] While I will continue to pray about the specific questions I may ask each author during the upcoming Advance, the question to Fuller will likely be focused on ways that a single mother can share the complementary-egalitarian perspective with her child when the child’s father is out of the picture, leaving mom to serve in both roles. The question to Wallis will likely have something to do with ways to navigate and diffuse Christian nationalist ideologies in states that are deep red.
[1] Wallis, Jim. God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. 1. paperback ed., [Nachdr.]. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2008, p.xvii
[2] Wesley, John. Thoughts Upon Slavery. Classic. Vol. XI. The Works of John Wesley. London: Lettel Books, 1773.
[3] “Wesley to Wilberforce | Christian History Magazine.” Christian History Institute. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/wesley-to-wilberforce.
[4] Wallis, Jim. God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. 1. paperback ed., [Nachdr.]. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2008, p.xix
[5] American Bible Society, ed. The Poverty & Justice Bible: Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 2009.
[6] Fuller, Brett. Dreaming In Black and White. [S.l.]: Bookbaby, 2021.
[7] Fuller, Brett. High Ceilings: Women in Leadership. New Haven, CT, 2024, p.2-3
[8] Fuller, Brett. “- YouTube.” Rise Community Church. High Ceilings. Last modified April 24, 2022. Accessed September 15, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vdVk0Zz8d4M.
[9] Wallis, Jim. The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy. First edition. New York: St. Martin’s Essentials, 2024.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.4 responses to “I Will Know How Much You Love Me by How You Treat Them”
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Jennifer,
Good job on tying the strings all together, even with last weeks reading. I also love your question for Fuller. I have never really had the experience of single parenting and that is a question that has never come to my mind when thinking about gender roles. What might you ask of Wallis when we listen to him?
Thanks, Adam. I will likely have a number of questions for Wallis and in fact, have already emailed him one about his relationship with the founder of the organization I work for. Note: He is also speaking in Oklahoma at a university this coming October, so I will see him there too. Onsite, I will probably ask something along the lines of what patterns he sees repeated today based on his involvement and history in the civil rights movement, and what solutions might look like given today’s environments. History repeats itself. so it seems natural to look backward as lessons for how things might look different in our immediate future.
Hi Jennifer, I agree that religion and politics has been mixing for a very long time. I see it as some politician calling on God just to give weight to what they are saying rather than actually believing God’s word. I see that as one of the things Wallis would like to stop. I would really like to hear his answer to your question. My experience is that anyone on the far right or far left would have a hard time changing. Not a specific question for you, just hoping you have a chance to ask Wallis yours.
Hi Jennifer, I appreciated you inviting Wesley back into your discussion. You mentioned wanting to ask Wallis more about “ways to navigate and diffuse Christian nationalist ideologies in states that are deep red.” What are ways you have personally tried this? What would a successful conversation look like?