Per popular
understandings, Darwin posited the theory of evolution in which was the proposition
of the survival of the fittest. This would appear to be true in much of the
animal world. The weak straggler in a herd is often prey for predators. Those
which cannot keep up get left behind. This is illustrated by this joke, Two men were walking through the woods when
a large bear walked out into the clearing no more than 50 feet in front of
them. The first man dropped his backpack and dug out a pair of running shoes,
then began to furiously attempt to lace them up as the bear slowly approached
them. The second man looked at the first, confused, and said, "What are
you doing? Running shoes aren't going to help, you can't outrun that
bear." "I don't need to," said the first man, "I just need
to outrun you." (Jokes2Go.Com)
I wander, even in the
case of the two men in the joke above, if there were not another option. Must
one be sacrificed so the other might survive? In the leading photo to this blog
liberal philosophy/theology is pictured as weakening the strongest so the
weaker members of the herd might keep up. That is so NOT THE CASE. My response
to that photo on Facebook was, in true liberal style, the stronger would
surround the weaker so all might safely make it to their destination. Yes, the
stronger ones might have to travel a bit more slowly; might have to make sure
the weaker ones get to water and food; might have to position themselves
between potential threats the those less able.
One of my professors in
seminary, Dr. Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez, said, “One who truly takes Scripture
seriously will be a social liberal.” How can a Christian read Matthew 25:31-46 and
not care about the poor, disposed, and the weaker of our society? “…, Lord, when did we see you hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help
you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
Scripture says a lot
about caring for the poor, weak and vulnerable, and nothing about making sure
the rich, strong and lofty remain that way at all costs. However, in our
current USA economy the rich get richer and the poor become poorer. The “law of
the jungle,” survival of the fittest, seems at play. How do we adapt to provide
the proper social safety nets so the hungry, thirsty, stranger (refugee),
naked, sick or imprisoned are not left to predators?
Adaptability is the key. How
do we adapt ourselves to the new economic realities so the weakest are not left
behind? In the movie, Wall Street, it was proclaimed “greed is good!” How do we
adapt from a greed based economy to one where the strongest surround and
protect the vulnerable? If all are to survive, we must adapt. It was Darwin,
himself, who promoted adaptability rather than survival of the fittest.
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