Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1983. január-június (37. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1983-04-28 / 17. szám

Thursday, April 28. 1983.

AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO

11.

Reagan's accusation condemned

By PAUL WALLEY, ECUMENICAL CAMPUS PASTOR OF THE STUDENT

CHRISTIAN CENTER New Paltz-------- /

In a recent speech to the National Association of Evangelicals, President Reagan referred to all Communists as evil (“They are the focus of evil in the modem world”). His condemnation, in religious terms, of a large portion of the world’s population is serious and disturbing.

Contrary to what Mr. Reagan and his evangelical bedfellows would have us believe, Communism, in my opinion, is not the primary focus of evil in our modem world. While there are major defects and glaring injustices in Marxist-Leninist ideology, it must be admitted that there are benefits that have accrued to the citizens of some Communist nations. A look at China’s system of paramedical teams that visit even remote villages in that vast land, where one-quarter of the world’s population live in cohesive communes, reveals that they have mastered lessons we might learn. Though it is sparse living by our standards, no one starves or lines up for an unemployment check. They care for their people. They are not evil or demonic but human beings like us—a mixture of good and bad, struggling to better their lives.

According to my Bible (I question if Mr. Reagan is reading his copy very carefully), Communism is not mentioned as the epitome of evil. The Scripture says “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). That comes dangerously close to identifying philosophical proponents of the Capitalistic system! Pursuing the Almighty Dollar is an idolatrous sign of the Beast (spoken of in the Book of Revelation) as much as subordination to the State.

Actually, the seeds of evil lie much deeper than any system—economic, political or ideological. “Out of the heart come evil thoughts” Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 15:19). Evil resides in attitudes of envy and hatred, domination and lust and greed. No country is exempt

from such.

When our President labels a whole segment or group of people as evil or demonic, he commits the sin of branding them as less than human. His judgement is a condemnation of their worth and value in the eyes of God. Such pronouncements provide the rationale for some to despise Communists as persons, not just the ideological philosophy they espouse or the political- economic system or which they are a part. They are depersonalized, more easily look ed on as objects of hate who threaten us and are not to be trusted to act as rational and caring human beings. The President is providing a justification for rejecting all Communists as decent human beings—and, not incidentally, a justification for increased military defense spending.

Hatred of any person is contrary to the spirit of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus, who preached love of neighbor and even enemies. That was the reason he was willing to die on the Cross rather than let his disciples fight to save his life. The forgiving love of God extends out to all people, even his executioners. I believe it is the most powerful force in the world. We are all God’s children. The Russians, Chinese, Cubans and Poles, and many other Communist people around the world, are his children—whether or not they acknowledge God as Creator (many of them do) and follow his teachings.

I find it ironic and unsettling that the President and some evangelic Christians have become bosom buddies and bedfellows. Evidently they find no difficulty or absurdity from such a relationship, an illicity liaison the Bible constantly warns against (“they have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, These are your gods”’ Exodus 32:8). There is a great danger in uncritical allegiance to God and Caesar (Pharaoh or Feuhrer).

Nor is the present Administration exactly a religious or moral one. A nation where over 11,000,000 people are out of work

because more dollars are going to defense than to meeting human needs and services is not a healthy nation. A nation where criminals are let out of prison because no funds are allocated for adequate prisons and alternative facilities is not a wise or caring one. A country that decries imperialism yet closes its doors to those fleeing tyranny and oppression is hardly a religious nation. An Administration that spends more on developing a missile system than on its schools, that closes hospitals while exporting nuclear technology for weapons production, that decrees those who are poor cannot have birth control help and must bear unwanted and retarded childred (in some cases, even when through rape or incest)—while the rich buy promiscuity and divorce and abortion—that perpetuates racism and sexism (the religious right has been quick to set up “Christian schools” to avoid integration and fought hard against the Equal Rights Amendment): that governmental Administration is eroding the family God, created as full human beings, not preserving it.

The evangelical right cheers the President on in these punitive policies that hurt many people, especially the poor and the powerless. Yet the Bible is clear that God cares for the poor and stands on the side of the oppressed. Why has the religious right sided with the rich and the powerful? Why do these militant evangelicals stand with the oppressor rather than with the victims of injustice? Has the so-called religious right betrayed their Lord—and sold their soul for a seat in the kingdom of the Republican right?

I wish to point out that most Christians from the mainline denominations (I am a Lutheran Christian) do not hold the views of the evangelical right. In fact a significant number of evangelical Christians disagree with those of the militant right (Jerry Falwell’s “Moral Majority” does not speak for all evangelicals). On the question of

peace and how to achieve it, we stand on quite different turf.

Christians are called to be peacemakers, not warmongers. We place our trust in the power of God, not military weapons, for security and salvation. We are commanded to love our enemies, not terrorize them by building bigger and ever more destructive nuclear missiles—capable at the moment of destroying 100 to 200 billion people (out total population) and leaving a radioactive planet for our surviving children and generations unborn. Such a legacy is a sin and crime against all humanity—which God calls upon all persons of compassion to work with all their strength to prevent.

I do not condemn members of the religiou right as evil (I would like some of their spokespersons to return the favor). But I am convinced that we must challenge their heresies and idolatries, their religious and political beliefs which are neither Christian nor humane.

The greatest failing of the militant evangelicals is not their blind fanaticism.

Their cardinal “sin” or betrayal is their selling of the Cross of Christ for a corporate crown of success and prosperity, which they regard as signs of blessing from God. They ahve confused the Kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. God has been dethroned and replaced, by their preachers, with the corporate oligarchy of the American military-industrial complex (i.e., big business, high technology firms, energy empires). They have placed their trust in the Capitalist system of wealth and profits, even when large sectors of our society are exploited and unemployed. They give service to the Spirit, but press the flesh of the world.

Daily Flights now connect London and Budapest, with MALÉV (Hungarian Airlines) and British Airways alternately transporting the fifty- thousand passenger each year.

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HOL KAPHATÓ A MAGYAR SZÓ?

Delray Party Store, 7900 W Jefferson, Detroit

IN MEMÓRIÁM

In loving memory of my husband,

Louis Kiss

who died April 15, 1982. So sadly missed by his family.

Mrs.Louis Kiss Detroit, Mich.

In loving memory of my father,

William Szalay

who over these many years not only enjoyed but supported this publication.

Tedd Szalay

Windsor, Ont.

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