What I Don't Believe

Nobody Asked Me but...

I want to apologize in advance as this post may be somewhat disjointed. I'm not a writer by trade or training. What I am is a poor kid who grew up fast, left home early, but turned out well by most standards. After a twenty-two year military career I went to school on the GI Bill and while in school started a business which supports my family and charitable causes in which my wife, Cheryl, and I believe. I am passionate about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness within a framework of moral and ethical beliefs.

This has been a crazy year - much of it discouraging (bottom line down 44% to date). It's also been a year of study and reflection (actually the last couple of years). A short time ago I tweeted (@ttolson) and posted the following to FaceBook:

"It is said that you need to know what you believe and why. I'd like to suggest it's equally important to know what you don't believe too."

I feel a need to expand on that thought but need to first define terms as so many words and phrases have been hijacked both politically and theologically over time. At this point, for the sake of space, you'll have to do your own homework. I will, however, provide some links.


Define:
Social: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social
Fairness: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fairness
Equal: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/equal
Gospel: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gospel
Justice: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/justice
Opportunity: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/opportunity
Outcome: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/outcome

Now I don't expect to get any pushback on single word definitions from anyone by using a common resource site like http://dictionary.com. These are all common vocabulary words. The weirdness comes when people start combining words and phrases that evoke an emotion without conveying the underlying meanings to those phrases.

Really, on the surface, who can't emotionally get behind:
Fairness
Social Justice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice
Equal Opportunity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_of_opportunity

What about:
Social Gospel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel
Equal Outcome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_of_outcome

But what do these terms really mean? By what means are we to achieve them? If these are worthy goals would God care how we get there? Or, do the ends justify the means? Of course, one might ask the question - "What Would Jesus Do?" A phrase coined by Charles Sheldon who was committed to "Christian Socialism." Having said that, I believe WWJD is a valid question. I do NOT believe, however, that I would necessarily come up with the same answers Mr. Sheldon would with his bent toward socialism.

I could probably spend weeks trying to put this together but I'm not trying to do anything more than began to expose my thoughts to the light of day. I'm certain to revisit this subject as I want to express some thoughts on Douglas Hyde since some in theological circles seem to hold this Communist turned Catholic seeking social justice who died agnostic so highly as a Christian leader.

So, going back to my original thought that it is important to "know what you don't believe too."

I Don't Believe, in fact I REJECT:

Social Justice
Social Gospel
Equal Outcomes (as opposed to Equal Opportunity)

God's justice is not the result of man made institutions or collective conscience. It available to ALL regardless of station in life or income as the result of Him reaching out to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. No where is my Bible do I find support for institutional theft as a means to supporting the poor, widows or orphans. My Bible speaks to me in the area of income that it's ALL His and I'm to give back 10% to further His work. I find opportunities for offerings beyond tithe for special needs. I find that He recognizes personal property rights and expects us to make good investments. I find in His creation three rules:

1. The Law of Resiprocity - you reap what you sow
2. The Law of Increasing Returns - you reap more than you sow
3. The Law of Delayed Gratification - you reap after you sow

Nobody asked me, but I don't find those in Social Justice, the Social Gospel or the pursuit of equal outcomes. Show me I'm wrong!