SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR JIM WALLIS
1. 1. Why do you consistently present yourself as a moderate or a third-way person and deny that you are a liberal? On virtually every issue other than abortion you take a liberal, often very liberal, position. You advise many candidates about how to get the Christian vote. In all cases that I know about your assistance goes to the more liberal candidate in a race.
2. 2. Why did you call Marvin Olasky a liar when he said that you have received substantial funds from George Soros? Investigation shows that your organization has received $300,000 from Soros, so faced with undeniable evidence, you now admit it. As I understand it, you have apologized privately to Olasky but since you called him a liar publically, shouldn’t your apology be public?
3. 3. Why are you are a strong believer in redistribution of wealth when Scripture defends private property? In all the history of writing about private property rights, no statement is stronger that what is found in Exodus: “Thou shalt not steal.”
4. 4. Why do you frequently use the words “we” and “our” without defining them? You blur the line between we Christians and we Americans. For example in God’s Politics you say “We must also ensure that those who are unable to work are cared for by our society.” Are you saying we Christians or we Americans? If you want to impose all Christian values onto society, isn’t that a theocracy? And sometimes when we Americans is appropriate that does not necessarily imply government involvement.
5. 5. Why do you promote fear? I know that in God’s Politics your chapter on terrorism is entitled “Be Not Afraid,” but in Sojourners editorials on immigration you promote fear. Your April, 2010 commentary contained the following: “…do you think undocumented parents will now go to the police if their daughter is raped or their family becomes a victim of violent crime?” “Parents or children of “mixed-status families” (made up of legal and undocumented, as many immigrant families are out here) could be arrested if they are found together. You can be arrested if you are ‘transporting or harboring’ undocumented people. Some might consider driving immigrant families to and from church to be Christian ministry — but it will now be illegal in Arizona.” Apparently the Arizona police are more to be feared than terrorists. But the real problem is that Christians are not to live in fear, yet you selectively incite it.
6. 6. Why do you see helping the poor as always motivated by justice and not compassion? If ten starving poor people presented themselves to you, five of which were victims of injustice and five of which were not, would you only feed the victims? Compassion is a much better motivation. The emphasis on justice makes people feel like victims, whether they are or not, and leads to bitterness. Compassion leads to gratitude.
7. 7. Why do you often suggest that the year of Jubilee was for the purpose of redistributing wealth? In the four passages of Scripture where Jubilee is mentioned, there is no hint of redistribution of wealth. Jubilee was for the purpose of keeping the promise land divided among the Jews as God had originally done it, thus land went back to original owners every fifty years. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia it was seldom observed, and only then when all the original tribes were in possession of Palestine. After that is was mostly ignored or only observed nominally in anticipation of the return of all tribes to Israel. It was all about the Promised Land and not at all about violating people’s property rights as you suggest.
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