Comfortable Jesus

The following is a letter I mailed to my U.S. Representative and my two Senators today. I was reading this article by Jim Wallis and a link in the article took me to a page where I could send this letter. At first glance, the question, "What would Jesus cut?" seemed cliché and in bad taste. But after thinking about it, I realized it was only that way because we never mean it when we say it (or "What would Jesus do?"). We've made it cliché because we haven't been serious. So, I decided to start taking it seriously and I began by mailing this letter. Join in.

As a person of faith, I believe that the moral test of any society is how it treats its poor and most vulnerable. Our federal budget should reflect our best national values and priorities, so in regard to your upcoming budget vote I ask myself, "What would Jesus cut?"

As your constituent, I ask you to oppose any budget proposal that increases military spending while cutting domestic and international programs that benefit the poor, especially children. 

Programs we need to invest in during these tough economic times include:  

1. Critical child health and family nutrition programs

2. Proven work and income supports that lift families out of poverty

3. Support for education, especially in low-income communities

4. International aid that directly and literally save lives 

In Great Britain, Prime Minister Cameron made the choice to delay a costly nuclear submarine program, while also increasing life-saving funding for international aid. The U.S. Congress should follow this example.  

Sincerely,

Cody Lonning

Doing my civic duty