What kind of government was advocated by Jesus Nazarene?  Although radicalism abounds in the red letter text, nowhere is there a more profound statement regarding our earthly existence than the Parable of the Ten Talents in Matthew 25.  In this short passage the Nazarene does more than just explain to us how we are to live on this earth.  He goes much farther.  He also explains to us how we are to govern.  If we can implement his vision of government here in this country, the results will be phenomenal.  It should be our mission, starting today, to bring to life the Nazarene's vision for good government.

Review the story of the ten talents.  Two principles are clear.  First, there is no fairness in this life.  Some people are masters; some are servants.  Some people start with a large measure of gold, others start with much less.  That's just the way it is.  Second, you are only on this earth for a short time, and while you are here you must use all the "talent" at your disposal to the fullest extent.  Please note that Jesus does not just say you should apply your talents, but if you do not, all will be forgiven.  His imagery is very stark: God expects you to apply all your talents all the time or you will be thrown out into the darkness, where you will experience weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

If our duty to God is to live according to the precepts of the Ten Talents, then it is the primary duty of our government to facilitate our fulfillment of our duty to God.  In other words, our government should practice 'ten talents' governance: if any governmental program helps us apply all our talents all the time, that governmental program should continue.  If any governmental program evokes a different response in us, that governmental program (in its current form) is destructive to human beings and should be ended or altered immediately.

Let me give a simple example.  The government operates public colleges and universities.  If you take advantage of that governmental program, the more you apply your talents, the more you will succeed.  However, the federal government also operates the Social Security Disability program.  If you take advantage of that governmental program, you will do everything you can to be a miserable, personal failure: dysfunctional, infirm, incapacitated.  The bigger mess that you are, the more you will succeed in the program.  And in order to continue your eligibility in the program, you must continue your personal failures, and languish in them.  Under no circumstances should you apply yourself or make something of yourself; because if you succeed in personal improvement you will render yourself ineligible for the governmental program.

Of course, the second program above is fostering a populace that is infirm, incapacitated dependent and disabled.  The second program effectively discourages people from following the precepts Jesus articulated in the Parable of the Ten Talents.  Too many governmental programs existing today that seek to help people actually harm them.

A bold new proposal was suggested earlier this year that should be promoted by true followers of Jesus because it is consistent with his message.  In simple terms, that proposal calls for the complete elimination of the current welfare system and replacing it with a $10,000.00 annual federal grant for each and every American (of which $2,500.00 must be spent on health insurance).  This specific plan merits additional discussion and debate.  However, the general concept, of replacing the government's promotion of personal travesty and individual incapacitation with a government that promotes personal opportunity and provides financial empowerment, should be the cornerstone of any progressive political platform.

Either you believe in the red letter profundity of the Nazarene or you don't.  But you cannot embrace his ministry and at the same time advocate for the perpetuation of the current welfare state in America.  Because the welfare state requires people to conduct their lives in a manner that is diametrically opposed to the way the man himself taught people how to live.

As the centerpiece of our platform, let's call for a re-engineering of government to promote the 'ten talents' precepts.  And for progressive Christian proposal number one, lets transform the current "culture of dependency" welfare system into an "individual opportunity and financial empowerment" system.    Encourage people to live the way the Nazarene told them to live, rather than discourage them, as the present system does.  Give people at the very bottom rungs both the means and the encouragement to transform themselves for the better without losing their financial assistance, and they will.

We have no time to waste.  Let's have at it.