Mr. Beck's good advice.

Glen Beck gave some good advice recently. I don't know how you feel about him but for me it is the first time I have ever thought... "Hey good idea Glen!" I'll tell you what he said... Glen Beck advised his viewers to look for the words social justice or economic justice on a churches website...

This is where I would like to stop with his advice, because he goes on to counsel leaving a church that works toward social and economic justice. As you might imagine our beliefs diverge at this point.

I think you should look for the words social justice or economic justice on your church's website. One the the biggest things I love about being a Unitarian Universalist is find these words is as easy, if not easier, than finding directions to the church. Our principles call for social justice, and equality. Unitarian Universalism calls for us to hold a deep respect for all life.

The thing is... this is not one of the ways we differ from Christianity. Jesus was a radical! He called for social justice, for caring about people who were poor and mistreated. Jesus wanted us to help each other, to serve the poor and downtrodden. There are more than 300(!!!) verses that address this issue. Here is a sampling -

Luke 3:11. And [John the Baptist] would answer and say to them, "Let the man with two tunics share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise."

Mt. 6:2-4. "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

Luke 4:16-21. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read... "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD... Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

1 Tim. 6:10. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

Christianity has gone though a lot of growth and change over the years, but social justice and working toward the improvement of others has long been an important part of many Christian denominations.

I don't know what church Mr. Beck thinks you should go to. But I suggest you take his advice and look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on it's website. It's the best advice I've heard in a long time.