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Originally Posted by Pergamum  SPEAR DANE: Good analysis.
Yes, Sider did tone it down. I have some sympathies towards Sider because I think he had good intentions (soft heart and a soft head perhaps) but each later edition toned down his socialism more and more.
You are right, whether Chilton went off the deep end into preterism or not, this book in question was very well written and really did rebut the socialist practices advocated by Sider.
It is ironic, we have one orthodox person that possibly went into preterism rebutting a socialist who later became a capitalist. Sider's ability to grow and change says a lot about his humbleness (hopefully).
I really do see books about social justice and the poor as lacking in the Reformed Tradition and so it does grieve me a bit that the only book most reformed folks can say they read about these issues was a reaction.
That really is my main contention I am fighting for here: that a truly positive reformed treatment of social justice and the poor be written....and not merely written as a reaction (and written irenically and not in the ascerbic style of Chilton and Gary North) |
Having read both books I still find this issue somewhat disturbing. When I first read Sider's Rich Christians I was unprepared to deal with the issues raised, either biblically, or mentally and emotionally for that matter.
I found myself wondering if I ate anything more than a plain hot dog, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, if I was sinning against people in third world countries, by not trying to do something.
At the same time I had no clear idea how to proceed in an effective manner.
No one should offer service just out of guilt, hence Chilton's book was a solid response to Rich Christians.
Nevertheless several area's of concern which were raised still need to be addressed.
If each one of us were to travel into what we know as "the third world" and were able to stay for awhile it is hard to figure how much different perspective we would have living where we are now,and just returning to life as usual.
Some of the men on the board, have already done this, or are currently doing this in some aspect now as missionary service.
What do you come away with? What are three perspectives that you had before you went,and have they remained the same after you spent time laboring in the world at large.
When we see the feed the children report on TV, it seems to still raise many of the issues that Ron Sider was raising. His politics, and economic's were shown to be flawed,yes.[ pagan idolaters reaping the corruption they have sowed to the flesh] It does seem that His heart was thinking right however.
Ron Sider is like many in the churches today in general. Not having enough biblical foundation, trying to serve the Lord, do so emotionally substituting whatever they "feel" is right, rather than searching the scripture for it's clear teaching. This is what leads to a legal obedience in fundementalist circles.
What made me feel so guilty even though I thought His original Rich Christian book was somewhat over the edge, was when I asked myself what am I doing other than reading His book and being critical of His somewhat flawed arguements. The teaching in Matthew 25 is still there for all of us.
David Chilton has helped to give a more well rounded understanding of these things, yes for sure. But I never have felt a real settled understanding even now on "who is our brother". I do not want to sort of sweep the issue under the rug now .
These very issues also impact our conduct in reference to our eschatology. Postmill writers have much to say about this very thing,more so than the Amill,or pre-mill writers. Do you see this differently?