Christians and HIV/AIDS

This past week, I have been loosely following some of the stories coming out of the HIV/AIDS conference. The AIDS crisis is so expansive with so many aspects upon which to concentrate, that its easy to get lost. Christians, especially progressive Christians, have largely been silent on the issue of HIV/AIDS, even as it ravages communities throughout the world. Perhaps we view issues of poverty and war as more salient, less complicated because of the personal morality wrapped up on the transmission of HIV/AIDS through sexual contact. Even as more conservative mega-church ministers begin to tackle HIV/AIDS with compassion, we shy away from aggressively addressing the issue. For example, Jim Wallis spends only 3 pages on the issue in God's Politics. Its an issue of such peril and scope that we must address the issues head on.

In order to develop a more Progressive Christian response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, we need to understand the issues better and to develop policies, programs and an ethos within our churches and communities that encompasses prevention, treatment and the ethics of personal responsiblity.

Prevention

Along the lines of prevention, this week's conference we heard about a gel for women that could be used by women where they are oppressed and can not tell a man to use a condom. For men, there are studies being done in Uganda and elsewhere that demonstrate that circumsion cuts HIV infection by about half. The geographic focus has also shifted a bit as Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia are now seeing the fastest HIV infection rate growth in the world. Domestically, there was a call for African-American ministers to become more active and outspoken in stepping up testing and prevention efforts. HIV infection rates are growing at alarming rates within the African American community. Such a leadership role needs to be taken by all progressive faith leaders to become spokespeople for testing and prevention, and call believers to compassion in offering treatment. From a policy perspective, progressive Christians should be calling for more dollars for vaccine research and prevention programs in the United States and throughout the world.

Treatment

For those who contract HIV in the developed world, HIV is not a death sentence. HIV become much like a chronic illness that requires daily medication and monitoring. While treatment has remained relatively the same over the last decade, research progresses. The major ethical dilema facing the globe is getting these expensive treatment drugs into the hands of those infected in the developed world who can't come close to affording the drugs. Currently, there are a million Africans who are receiving treatment, but millions more need the drugs or face certain death. Progressive Christians must be the voice of compassion in not only in convincing the drug companies to make the drugs available, but also build and support programs that ensure effective distribution in developing conuntries where such health infrastructure does not exist.

Ethics of Personal Responsibility

I think a lot of progressive folks don't like to involve themselves in the ethics of personal responsiblity as it relates to AIDS, and often with good reason. Too often, Christians have used AIDS as a way to condemn groups like homosexuals. There's a belief that AIDS is a punishment for sexual sin. We need to move away from such condemnation as AIDS is to great a punishment for any sin. Such condeminations should be unacceptable. Jesus calls us to more than that. He was clear that no one should cast the first stone when it comes to sexual behavior.

But Jesus also doesn't excuse irresonsible or immoral sexual behavior. Progressive Christian leaders should discuss the ethics of personal responibility when it comes to sex and AIDS. As individuals engage in risky behavior, the likelihood for HIV infection increases dramatically. The more sex partners you have, the more exposed you are. If you indulge in intravenous needles for drug use, you are more exposed. If you contract a prostititute or you are a prostitute yourself, you are putting yourself at great risk. We must have an honest dialogue within our communities. None of us has lived perfect lives, but communities of believers can help each other to ensure that we examine our sexual behavior from a basis of personal responsibility.

We all have a duty to solving the AIDS crisis, including getting tested ourselves for HIV. It takes a lot of courage to take that test, but HIV is not a death sentence. For those infected, treatment and new research leads to greater hope for full and healthy lives. Let us, as God's people, recommit to the solving the AIDS crisis in our generation.