On Faith-based Service and My Relationship to Christianity (Part 2)

Decades ago, President Ronald Reagan engulfed American society into a hotly contested, public policy debate: should faith-based organizations receive taxpayer dollars to support their social service causes, such as day care, food banks, hospice care and homeless outreach? At the time, Reagan wanted governments at all levels, but particularly the federal government out of as much social service work as possible. Turn it over to private faith-based organizations (mostly affiliated with Christian denominations) and throw some money their way to help the mission.

I remember that debate well, and how opposed I was at the time to any taxpayer funds supporting any aspect of religious institutions. It seemed a clear violation of the great Constitutional notion of separation of church and state. My thinking was: these institutions are going to use the money in some secret or overt method to proselytize, convert and push a strident Christian agenda onto people in need.

So much time has elapsed since that initial debate. I no longer recall how the version of it played out from that era. Still, the issue rears itself every now and then, mostly in relationship to various Christian educational institutions receiving federal money via student loan monies and funds associated with other programs, all the way down to free breakfast and lunches in K-12 schools, but then also practicing discrimination that directly violates federal law. I mean, you don't want federal dollars supporting schools that teach interracial or gay marriage is a sin. At least, I don't.

Over the years I have come to change my mind on taxpayer support for faith-based service organization. Quite frankly, this nation would collapse in several months if these organizations weren't around to feed the hungry, cloth and shelter the poor and homeless, provide drug and alcohol treatment, offer safe haven from domestic violence, and provide care to seniors and the terminally ill. I might also add that the best thrift stores in Oregon would no longer exist!

If I believe anything now about this issue it is this: more taxpayer money should flow to these faith-based service organizations because I have witnessed for myself on a weekly basis for over a year some truly incredible work accomplished by staff and volunteers. I also haven't seen one second of proselytizing.

As I see Christian (and non Christian) people motivated by their faiths and ideals to serve others, it has made me reflect on my own unique Christian upbringing and how that history informs how I serve now and how I am writing about the homeless issue.

And speaking about serving the homeless, here is the blessing I've been tinkering with. It's still in draft form and might completely change in the heat of delivery:

Brothers, sisters and others somewhere in between, let us take a meditative moment before beginning our service today to bless this holy house of congenial comfort, its staff and volunteers, these donated items and meals, yes even the dastardly fake hazelnut creamer and tins of Vienna sausage. It is all nourishment in one form or another for the body and spirit.

What blessing is truly complete if it does not stir us into action or teach some pertinent new vocabulary connected to serving our homeless friends, vocabulary from long, long ago that has sadly fallen into disuse, but not anymore!

Such a word is raiment, an ancient word meaning clothing for the needy. We shall provide that. Raiment is related to our other vocabulary word today, ruth, a noun, from the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament, which means compassion for the misery of others. That's what Ruth did for others and that's what we'll do today without agenda and with dashes of mirth.

So open the doors, down your last shot of Folgers, open your hearts, be prepared for anything, and let us say Amen to whatever higher power you believe in and go to work.

AMEN!