Last week’s issuance of “A Call for Intergenerational Justice: A Christian Proposal on the American Debt Crisis” has occasioned a good bit of discussion on the topic, both here at the PowerBlog and around various other blogs and social media sites.

It has been interesting to see the reaction that ments about the Call have generated. Many have said that I simply misunderstood or misread the document. I have taken the time to reread the document and do some reassessment of the entire debate. Unfortunately this has raised more questions than answers for me thus far.

Gideon Strauss, CEO of the Center for Public Justice, has kindly offered to help us sort out some of these concerns. He’s in Grand Rapids later this week and has generously agreed to a public discussion in an open mic, informal setting we’re calling, “Opposing Views: America’s Debt Crisis and ‘A Call for Intergenerational Justice.'”

Details are below and at the Facebook event page. We plan to record the event and make it available for those who aren’t able to join us. But if you e along and bring your questions.

Opposing Views: America’s Debt Crisis and ‘A Call for Intergenerational Justice’

Open Mic Night @ Derby Station, an evening with Gideon Strauss, Center for Public Justice, and Jordan J. Ballor, Acton Institute

Last week the Center for Public Justice (CPJ) and Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA) issued “A Call for Intergenerational Justice: A Christian Proposal on the American Debt Crisis,” which argues for responsible government action to address the country’s pressing fiscal problems. The Call emphasizes the need to cut spending without touching “effective” social programs: “To reduce our federal debt at the expense of our poorest fellow citizens would be a violation of the biblical teaching that God has a special concern for the poor.” Acton Institute research fellow Jordan Ballor has criticized the Call as demonstrating “very little principle” and consisting mostly of “leaps in logic largely based on unstated assumptions about the role that government should have” in providing social assistance. Join us for a night of vigorous discussion about government debt, federal spending, and how munities should understand the responsibility of social institutions in addressing the problem of poverty.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Derby Station

2237 Wealthy St. SE, East Grand Rapids 49506

6:00 pm Grab a seat & drink

6:30 pm Discussion begins

SEATING IS LIMITED! ARRIVE EARLY!

You can view “A Call for Intergenerational Justice” here.

Responses from Jordan Ballor here and here.