What would Jesus cut?
David Cameron claims Jesus invented the 'big society' – but the Christian message has a strong emphasis on social justice
By Savitri Hensman
Coalition politicians have recently surpassed themselves in stirring up controversy. The prime minister's recent claim that his "big society" drive follows Jesus' example has sparked strong reactions.
Many are suspicious of David Cameron's attempts to roll back the state and encourage people to take more responsibility. While few object to the idea of promoting friendly neighbourhoods and caring families and boosting volunteering, many of the projects that support these things have been slashed. Meanwhile public services are facing massive cuts, particularly affecting the most vulnerable, and the gap between rich and poor is widening.
So when it became known that Cameron told a gatehring of Christiazn guests at a reception in 10 Downing Street that Christ was "starting the big society 2,000 years ago" and that "I'm not saying we've invented some great new idea here", many were less than impressed.
Jesus did indeed encourage generosity and care for others. But he was firmly rooted in the Jewish prophetic tradition, with its strong emphasis on social justice. Occasional gifts and helpful acts could not compensate for exploitative and oppressive structures.
The Book of Isaiah warned:
"Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right"
While the Jesus of Luke's Gospel declared:
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh... But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep."
I doubt that this would have gone down well in 10 Downing Street, or that a cabinet of millionaires would have appreciated being told that: "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God".
Jesus reportedly told his listeners that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Now, as then, it is all too easy for the most prosperous to be cut off from the realities confronting those who are less privileged. But is not benefit fraud immoral, and laziness to be deplored? Is it not good for the poor themselves, as well as society, to crack down on these?
The Gospel advice to "Give to the one who begs from you" and "Judge not, that you be not judged", may seem like an invitation to be taken advantage of. But the risks of turning away those who really are in need are serious. And while some take more than they are entitled to, others make do with far less help than they should actually receive, or struggle into work when they are badly ill or in pain, not only because of the pay but also because they want to stay busy and feel useful.
Besides, focusing too much on low-level abuses of the system can mean that large-scale rip-offs and corporate misdeeds slip by unnoticed. And challenging those on the margins to contribute more to the community is most likely to be effective when coming from those engaged at a grassroots level rather than the powerful, whose own actions are often at odds with their words.
Behind the rhetoric of the "big society", libraries, day centres and youth groups are facing closure, and the crackdown on benefit claimants is so harsh that even the dying are being condemned as scroungers. Trying to make out that the coalition government is following in Jesus' footsteps is less than convincing.
There is however one area in which Jesus might well have approved of cuts – in spending on warfare. But successive UK governments have been determined to display their military might, whatever the cost to soldiers and civilians.
"I think Churches, and religious organisations, have a huge amount to bring to the big society," said Cameron. Amid the hype, Christians, other people of faith, agnostics and atheists could perhaps bring a dose of reality.
Read this article, along with reader comments (and the opportunity to make your own) on The Guardian's cif Belief website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/may/26/cameron-big-society-jesus?INTCMP=SRCH
