Disturbing the Poverty

MIAMI (Reuters) – Police in Florida have arrested an activist for feeding the homeless in downtown Orlando.

Eric Montanez, 21, of the charity group Food Not Bombs, was charged with violating a controversial law against feeding large groups of destitute people in the city center, police said on Thursday.

Montanez was filmed by undercover officers on Wednesday as he served “30 unidentified persons food from a large pot utilizing a ladle,” according to an arrest affidavit. The Orlando area is home to Disney World and Universal Studios Florida.

The Orlando law, which is supported by local business owners who say the homeless drive away customers but has been challenged in court by civil rights groups, allows charities to feed more than 25 people at a time within two miles of Orlando city hall only if they have a special permit. They can get two permits a year.

Police collected a vial of the stew Montanez was serving as evidence.

Police spokeswoman Barbara Jones said in an e-mail it was the first time anyone had been arrested under the feeding ban.

Montanez was charged with a misdemeanor.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0517193520070405

 

Some more quotes from Apostles’ Creed

We inoculate the world with a mild form of Christianity so that it will be immune from the real thing. -E. Stanley Jones

Christians have never killed as willingly as when they have been asked to do so for “freedom.” I take it, therefore, that one of the most important challenges facing Christians today is to remember that the democratic state is still a state that would ask us to qualify our loyalty to God in the name of some lesser loyalty. -Stanley Hauerwas

When it comes to the point where the majority decides what constitutes truth, it will not be long before they take to deciding it with their fists. -Søren Kierkegaard

Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. -C. S. Lewis

 

Compare and Contrast

Just think about the context of these passages. Goverment will always say that it is doing good while it takes on authority – even while destoying the people it conquers.

And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

Believer’s Pledge

One thing about Baptists that I like a lot is their idea that each individual can and must come to their own decision about relationship with Jesus. One thing that has grown frustrating to me about Baptists is how an American flag is displayed in nearly every Baptist church in America. So let’s conduct a little thought experiment.

What if America was perfect? What if it was perfectly just, strong, safe, and free? Let’s call this perfect government the kingdom of God. Even with respect to this perfect government shouldn’t we expect Baptists to allow their children to come to their own decision about their allegiance?

If participation in the perfect kingdom of God described by Jesus is only to be accepted by the free choice of the individual, then allegiance to the far less perfect government of America should be voluntary as well. But I still have vivid memories of the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Vacation Bible School when children were told to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

Interestingly, the original pledge (without “under God) was written by a socialist Baptist minister as part of an advertising campaign.  Here’s the Wikipedia page.