Whose responsibility is it?

Whose responsibility is it?
An Article in Support of  Blog Action Day 2008 to Help Fight Global Poverty!
Written and Contributed by Nate Steury

Not many people today question the hypothesis that our culture and community are in need of radical reform in many areas.  The question that is constantly debated is, “Whose responsibility is it?”

From health care and insurance needs to poverty related issues, the debate over who should own the responsibility is stalling any major progress towards a solution.  Democrats say it’s the government’s responsibility to provide assistance.  Republicans say it will trickle down if corporate America booms.   But in the meantime, people suffer from diseases for which there is known, effective treatment simply because they cannot afford it or are unaware of how to go about accessing it.

So who is right? Probably in the final analysis, both.  I know, that sounds like a politically correct answer, but I would like to suggest something less politically correct: that we end our partisan politics, start working towards solutions and stop just talking about them.

But it’s not just the two political parties that have something to contribute.  It is of course also our faith communities.  Today I attended an interfaith meeting opportunity presented by Brevard County in which social service agencies and faith based agencies are given a chance to network and connect with each other.

There is a growing recognition that none of us can do it alone.  We need each other to help address the growing needs of a suffering community.  Government needs corporate human and financial resources and faith-based volunteer efforts.  Faith communities need government assistance with tax-breaks and financial assistance as well as corporate donations.  Corporations need the meaning to life that faith-based organizations offer and the continued tax breaks for donations that the government offers.

It is no longer, “Whose singular responsibility is this?”  Rather it is a matter of figuring out how we can be involved together in helping meet the needs of the community around us and the needs of the global community.

Whoops!  I think I just lost some of you who were with me as long as I was talking about the needs of our community. Many cease to be interested when talking about the needs of the global community.  “Those are not our problems!” some say.  Sometimes its simply a matter of prejudice.  Often it’s because of a philosophy that I’ve heard even in the church, “Charity begins at home.”  (Just for the record, that is NOT in the Bible).

But as people of faith – and specifically as Christians, we believe that all human beings are created in God’s image and that we are called to compassion for all – not just those in our neighborhood.  As one recent interdenominational body sought to find unity in the midst of their theological differences, they affirmed a statement that should inspire all of us who claim to be Christian: “We ourselves are those who have come to believe that Jesus of Nazarath is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that the great change required of those who follow him entails a radically new view of human life and a decisively different way of living, thinking and acting.” http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/docs/Evangelical_Manifesto.pdf

In other words, we, as people of faith, and more specifically as followers of Jesus Christ, are called, not to throw theological stones at those who disagree with us, but to learn the priority of compassion which Christ came to show us in the way he lived.  And to make that kind of difference, we may need to seek what is common in our humanity and work together with corporations and governments for the greater good.  And while this should never bring compromise to our principles, it may well cost us something.  It could cost us our passion and sweat and money and belongings…oh yeah, and Jesus said it may cost us our lives.  That’s when I realize that it is my responsibility.

Are you ready to pay the price?

Nate Steury is the pastor of St. Mark’s Church in Indialantic, where he lives with his wife and four kids. Contact him at stmarksumci@yahoo.com

(References: 1) Originally Published in the Hometown News at: http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=50161 )