Working after Christmas–WWJD?
December 16, 2010Cross posted from Faith In Public Life
Earlier this week Senate majority leader Harry Reid announced that he would forgo an extended holiday break and call Senators back to Washington after Christmas to finish all of their important work before the official end of the session on January 4th.
This announcement was welcome news to all Americans awaiting Congressional action on important items like extension of unemployment benefits, funding our troops, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, passage of the DREAM Act, and ratification of the nuclear START treaty.
But Senators Jim DeMint and Jon Kyl, who have been trying to delay votes on these issues, are upset. Rather than admitting their political reasons for opposing work, they’ve come up with a creative excuse: taking votes in the days around Christmas is “sacreligious” and “disrespectful” to Christians.
Mark Kleiman at The Reality-Based Community makes a good point that these Senators might want to check what their own faith tradition says about this very issue:
I would refer Sen. Kyl to the words of a famous rabbi who was challenged by his more orthodox colleagues for healing the sick on a Saturday: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?
UPDATE: Kyl and DeMint’s comments have caught the eye of national Christian leaders. American Values Network compiled a list today of statements pushing back on these claims:
Arlington, VA–Prominent Christian leaders joined together to decry recent statements by Senator Kyl and Senator DeMint that a vote on New START would be “disrespect[ful]” to Christians and “sacrilegious.” These statements follow a joint press conference last week by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and National Association of Evangelicals calling on the Senate to ratify New START before it recessed–a sentiment that has been echoed by the National Council of Churches and other Christian bodies representing believers from across the theological and denominational spectrum. These leaders argue that Christmas is the perfect justification for the Senate to be working to pass a treaty that is aimed at bringing peace on earth.
“Senator Kyl’s and DeMint’s statements suggesting Christmas is a reason to delay action on a treaty aimed at reducing the threat of nuclear war is a misuse of the Christian holiday. If anything this time of year should be an encouragement for our leaders to work harder for peace on earth in response to God who wills peace for all. Peace is major theme of the Advent season and celebration of Christmas. The National Council of Churches looks forward to being able to celebrate ratification of this treaty to reduce nuclear stockpiles and improve verification. Any delay would be contrary to our commitment to peace on earth.”
Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary, National Council of Churches
“In the season when “Peace on earth…” was declared at the coming of the Prince of Peace, there is no better time to ratify the new START Treaty that will make peace and our national security more certain.”
Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter, evangelical mega church pastor
“I can think of no more appropriate time of year for the Senate to pass a treaty that promotes peace and good will. Surely that is the kind of gift that is worthy to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. For two Senators who have steadfastly opposed this on political grounds to now use Christmas to justify their position is a cynical manipulation of religion in the worst possible way. It is this manipulation of the Christmas season that is truly sacrilegious.”
Rev. Jim Wallis, Founder Sojourners
“The American Catholic bishops have called on the Senate to ratify the New START agreement. To do so now, in this season that for many marks the birth of the Prince of Peace, would be especially poignant. Senators Kyl and DeMint insist that working on New START over the holidays would dishonor people of faith. That’s transparent. Working men and women are at their jobs in this holy season—before Christmas, after Christmas, and for some even on Christmas Day. I’m convinced the Christ Child specially blesses those first responders, military personnel, health care providers, and other emergency workers who spend His birthday in service to others. Senators, truly honor Christians. Stay at your desks until this work to which you have been called is resolved.”
Stephen Schneck, Director, Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies, The Catholic University of America
“Christians can disagree in good faith on the best way to apply our faith in the public arena, but the statements by Senator Kyl and DeMint are the worst examples of faith in politics. They have been working to kill START for weeks. A concern for the faithful isn’t driving their arguments or they would have mentioned faith earlier and Senator DeMint wouldn’t be working to push the debate until Christmas. This is cynical partisan politics masquerading as piety, and our leaders should be above that.”
Eric Sapp, Executive Director, American Values Network
“The attempt by New START opponents to use Christmas for tactical political advantage is profoundly offensive for three reasons. First, this move represents the worst mix of religion and politics. As one who ministers among a rising generation of Christians, I see countless peers walking away from their Evangelical faith because political tactics just like this have sullied the name of Christianity. Our belief motivates us to bring a moral witness to the democratic process — but the cold-blooded use of religion as a political weapon dishonors the Lord Jesus Christ and harms the evangelistic integrity of his church.
Second, the claims made by Treaty opponents are patently unbiblical. The teaching of the New Testament, from Jesus Christ (cf. Mark 2:27) to Paul (cf. Rom 14.5-6), makes clear that the work of righteousness, justice and compassion should never be pre-empted by a legalistic appeal to holidays. And it would be all the more abhorrent if the Prince of Peace’s birth were used to stop a measure to reduce nuclear weapons. Third, those of us who stand within the Just War tradition believe that military service should be exercised as a vocation of peacemaking. The American servicemen and -women deployed abroad will not spend Christmas with their families, nor will they take the day off. Though we wish that all Christians could be with their loved ones this holiday, it should not be too much to ask that Congress not abdicate their duty while so many stand in harm’s way. I hope and pray that all American Christians, especially pastors, will publicly reject any attempt to use our faith for tactical political gain.”
Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, Founder of Two Futures Project, Chairman of Global Task Force on Nuclear Weapons for World Evangelical Alliance
“I think it is more disrespectful to the Prince of Peace to kill a vote on the START Treaty than to vote on that treaty one week after Christmas. Call the session, Mr. Reid. Vote yes, Mr. Kyl and Mr. DeMint, then you can go back home to your families.”
Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee, Co-Founder and Board Chair, New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
Contact: Eric Sapp, American Values Network
esapp@eleisongroup.com
703-863-6403
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