[Magdalen] whose theology is this?

[Lynn Ronkainen]

Did anyone ask him to 'defend' his stance?
Lynn, curious and still pondering the question

My email has changed to: houstonKLR at gmail.com

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Eleanor Braun" <eleanor.braun at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2015 4:26 PM
To: "Magdalen" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] whose theology is this?

> I do not understand the notion of only helping the neighbor we can see or
> who lives near us.
>
> Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the lawyer's
> question, who is my neighbor.  Now there are many ways to interpret the
> parable, but it speaks to me in a way that says my neighbor is everyone,
> even the "other", the despised ones.
>
> It is unconscionable to me to suggest that those of us in the US and the
> West, who have so much, should *only* be concerned about those across the
> street.  When there is such a crying need for basic medical care,
> education, clean water and sanitation, and basic food security, we must
> care as much for our neighbor in Honduras, in Sierra Leone, and in India 
> as
> we do for those in our zip code.
>
> As for not concerning ourselves with politics, I also disagree.  In order
> to satisfy the mandates of Matthew 25, we can do some of it through
> charity, but we cannot make a substantive difference until we change the
> structure of society so that all may enjoy God's abundance.
>
> Readings:  Ezekiel 34: 2-3 <http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=292248538>  Isaiah
> 10:1-3 <http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=292248653>
>
> Eleanor
>
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 4:56 PM, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>> Our supply clergy this morning was from another diocese...a very liberal
>> diocese....but I don't think this is liberal thought.  He taught Adult CE
>> and preached.
>>
>> His premise this morning, among other things was that 'we really cannot
>> change the world.  We do not need to concern ourselves with the world
>> beyond our neighborhood.  Rather than give money to support ministries 
>> like
>> ERD, we should simply walk across the street and meet the need of our
>> neighbor.  (His example was giving money to a particular person in a 3rd
>> world country, rather than my ERD example, but the point is the same.) 
>> He
>> went on to declare that from a theological perspective, we do not need to
>> concern ourselves with politics...or even care about politics because we
>> cannot make a difference or change the world.  It was a one way
>> street...meet the need before you and ignore/don't care about anything
>> beyond.
>>
>> I behaved badly.  He spoke down to us as of we were the Episcopal 
>> bumpkins
>> in SC and I called him on it.  Now I'm having a major shame attack, even
>> though more than a few people thanked me....that has just made it worse
>> because my behavior was so similar to how nack in the mid 2000s, I
>> confronted the the teaching of the ultra conservative priests at St.
>> Paul's.  I'm not sure this makes any sense and I am still upset.
>>
>> So, what think the theological gurus in the pub (all of us) about this
>> theology??
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ginga
>>