the common good (whatever happened to)

“True democracy focuses on the public interest; it defends the common good and protects its citizens - especially the weak and the vulnerable. We maintain that no democracy can survive without the powerful notions of compassion and public service. The level of wealth inequality in this country has gotten so far out of hand, the quantity of compassion so diminished, that the very future of democracy is at stake”

                                Tavis Smiley

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Whatever happened to the idea of the common good?

Even breathe the concept these days and voices scream “socialism!!!”

as if that were a sin

much as frightened Americans used to scream “Communism”.

There is no question that being there for one another is at the heart

of most world religions,

including the religions verbally claimed (but not behaviorally)

by most Americans.

As Ram Dass once said, “we are all just walking each other home”

The Bible has a few things to say about this as well

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  1 Peter 3:8

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5:14

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  James 3:16

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Luke 6:35

.Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others  Philippians 2:3,4

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  1 Timothy 6:17-19

And then of course there is that description of the early church,

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.  Acts 4:32-35

The most painful thing about what is happening in America today, is the wholesale abandonment by many, especially by those who have political power, but also by many with power within the so called church, of the common good.

A significant and powerful faction in our nation have instead embraced essential selfishness.

America First

Whites First

Christians First

Me first

From this place all that counts, is “me”

My power

My wealth

My comfort

My security

From this place what matters is

Winning

Dominating

Controlling

From this place what doesn’t matter are

Other people

Justice

Equity

Those are all expendable

If I am winning

If I am benefitting

(or think I am)

From this place of essentially selfishness

I don’t have to worry about those immigrants on the border

They are inconvenient, problematic, possibly costly,

And just need to go away

Or be sent away

I win

They lose

That’s OK

But its not OK

It is not OK that people die from lack of health care

It is not OK that people are homeless

It is not OK that children go hungry because of “school lunch debt”

It is not OK that children have to wear bullet proof backpacks

It is not OK that young black men are treated differently by police than young white men

It is not OK the earth is destroyed for profit

It is not OK when we as a nation

When we as individuals

Think only of ourselves

When we encapsulate ourselves

Isolate ourselves

Numb ourselves to others

See win and lose as the only options

For we are all in this together

Our job is to walk each other home

And to make sure that everyone gets home

And that means that we must look past ourselves to others

That we must love others as ourselves

That we must be people who realize that what we have is not

As the book of Acts reminds us

Our own

But a resource to be used for

The common good