Maybe you’ve heard of Glenn Beck. He is the host of a talk radio show and Fox News television program. Last month Beck urged his listeners to leave their church if economic or social justice is a part of the church’s mission. Beck said, “I beg you; look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you can find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice---they are code words. Am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”

Beck took these two biblical principles, economic and social justice, and associated them with communism and Nazism. He intentionally attempted to co-opt these biblical mandates by creating an air of fear and suspicion. The pattern Beck continues to use is clear, politicize an issue and polarize the people.

Bob Terry, the editor of Alabama Baptist, wrote an editorial April 8, 2010 entitled “Glenn Beck is Wrong.” In this article Terry writes, “Unfortunately Beck’s knowledge of what the Bible teaches on these topics seems to be as limited as most Americans.” Have we forgotten that the Bible calls all of us to economic and social justice? The care for the poor and oppressed is not socialism; it is the mandate of every person of faith.

Social justice requires that we do more than give to the poor. We are to work together to correct unjust and oppressive conditions that keep people poor. It is easier to be compassionate without concerning ourselves with issues of justice. Yet compassion without justice is nothing more than an act of pity over the plight of someone without addressing the conditions that created the plight.

People of faith could make a difference if we were not divided. I’m not talking about red and blue state division. There is a fracture in the body of Christ that continues to cripple the efforts of Christians to address social and economic justice issues. We allow people who intentionally promote fear and hatred to divide us. No wonder so many people today are afraid and angry.

How long we will allow extremists to fuel the fire of fear and intolerance? Why listen to people whose sole intention is to polarize us? It is time, especially for people of faith, to come to the center and learn to promote peace and justice. We will not agree on every issue but the time is now for people of goodwill to stand together. If we are to be effective in the work of compassion and justice we will have to learn to respect and cooperate with people who may differ from us---even on political issues.

 Beck is right about one thing, social and economic justice are code words. They are code for the work of God that calls us to love our neighbor.

When Glenn Beck and others continue to use fear and division as a primary method to polarize people-----it is time for us to tune them out and turn them off.

 Tiger Woods has publicly confessed of wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness. The commentary provided on his press conference has ranged from harsh to accusations of insincerity. Of course it is impossible to know the motives of others. Only time and actions will reveal the intent and motives of Tiger.

Perhaps the deeper issue for Christians is the matter of forgiveness. I am not talking simply about the forgiveness of Tiger. I am referring to the issue of forgiveness. Christ taught us to forgive. Forgiveness is never easy or simple. All of us have been faced with the issue of forgiveness. It is so much easier to write someone off if they have wronged us. Yet as Christians we are to practice forgiveness because of the grace given us in Christ.

Jesus demonstrated the significance of forgiveness in the way he dealt with the woman caught in the act of adultery. Everyone in the crowd wanted to stone her according to the law of Moses. Jesus responded by saying, "let him who is without sin cast the first stone". One by one the crowd put their stones down and walked away.

The truth is all of us are flawed human beings. No one can claim perfection. I am not defending the wrongdoings of Tiger---I am saying that of all people, Christians should practice forgiveness. We have been forgiven in Christ. Put your stones down and extend a hand of forgiveness to someone who needs it. Who knows, one day you may need someone to forgive you.

Matthew's portrait of Jesus reminds all of us of the importance of compassion. One way to practice compassion is to help those in need. The tragedy in Haiti becomes a way for us to practice compassion. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provides an avenue for us to give. CBF has people on the ground in Haiti and will use the resources sent for food, water and shelter. We can give through our church and designate our gifts to Haiti relief. We will send the money to the CBF and it will find its way to Haiti. Together we can help. Let us practice compassion.