The Problem with Liberal Ideology
From Christian Post:
While Samaritan’s Purse has treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients at its field hospital in Central Park, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson demanded that the Christian charity leave the city over its biblical views on homosexuality.
“It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave NYC. This group, led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham, came at a time when our city couldn’t in good conscience turn away any offer of help. That time has passed,” Johnson wrote on Twitter Saturday. “Their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community.”
The openly gay speaker said while he’s aware that the coronavirus battle is far from over and that the healthcare system needs ongoing support, “we can’t continue allowing a group with their track record to remain here when we’re past the point they’re needed … Mount Sinai must sever its relationship with Samaritan’s Purse. Its leader calls the LGBTQ community ‘detestable’ and ‘immoral.’ He says being gay is ‘an affront to God,’ and refers to gay Christians as ‘the enemy.’”
Confirmed by New York Post at https://nypost.com/2020/05/04/corey-johnsons-deranged-slam-of-samaritans-purse-which-only-helped-nyc/
This post isn’t to defend Samaritan’s Purse, which I think does great work, or Franklin Graham personally. The purpose isn’t to discuss the biblical stance on sexuality or marriage, which I believe is clear. What I would like to do here is expose what is wrong with this particular brand of liberal ideology.
First, Johnson claims that the mere presence of Samaritan’s Purse is “an affront to our values of inclusion.” Let me get this straight. In order to be inclusive, New York City needs to exclude Samaritan’s Purse. Humm. Maybe I don’t understand what inclusive means. Going to my trusty Dictionary.com app, I find out that inclusive means “including a great deal, or encompassing everything concerned; comprehensive; enclosing; embracing.” It doesn’t seem too much like he’s interested in including anyone except those who share his values. He doesn’t want to encompass everything or be comprehensive or to embrace others who disagree with his ideology. In fact, he only wants to include those whom he believes to have proper viewpoints in New York City.
Second, Johnson calls Graham “bigoted” and “hate-spewing.” Again, have I somehow missed what these words mean? Let’s consult our Dictionary.com app once again. Bigoted: “utterly intolerant of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.” Interesting. How about hate? — to “feel intense dislike, or extreme aversion or hostility.”
Since we cannot know how Franklin Graham, or anyone else for that matter, feels in his heart, we can only look at his actions to reveal his inner man. According to the article, “The Samaritan’s Purse 68-bed field hospital has treated 315 patients since opening on April 1 adjacent to Mount Sinai Hospital in Central Park’s East Meadow to help meet the needs of local hospitals that are facing an unprecedented wave of sick patients.” Helping the sick doesn’t sound very hateful. Also, Franklin points out that agreement with the Chrisitan faith is not a prerequisite for being treated at the field hospital. In other words, Samaritan’s Purse will treat anyone at their hospital, regardless of their beliefs. Maybe it’s just me, but those actions don’t sound bigoted or hateful.
Rather, Johnson wants Samaritan’s Purse to be kicked out of New York City because of the beliefs held by its leader and staff, not by their actions. Let that sink in for a moment. He wants Samaritan’s Purse removed because of their beliefs, not because of their actions. No claim has been made that Samaritan’s Purse has in fact treated anyone in a discriminatory manner. What was that definition of bigoted again — utterly intolerant of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.
Lastly, let’s take a look at what Johnson wants to do. He says, “we can’t continue allowing a group with their track record to remain here when we’re past the point they’re needed.” Allow me to paraphrase: “We don’t need you anymore, so get out.” The urban dictionary would call this a “user” (a person who uses a friend or acquaintance solely for the purposes of gaining a type of advantage). Vocabulary.com puts it this way, “An exploiter is a user, someone who takes advantage of other people or things for their own gain. Being an exploiter is selfish and unethical.” Enough said.
As you can see, regardless of what is being professed, this type of liberal ideology actually engages in:
- Exclusivity
- Bigotry
- Exploitation
In contrast, regardless of whether or not you agree with Franklin Graham’s words, the actions of Samaritan’s Purse show that they include anyone who has a need; they are tolerant of other belief systems; and they ask for nothing in return. I ask you, who genuinely lives out the values that Johnson professes to be so important?