"Show me your checkbook and I'll tell you what kind of person you are." That's the challenge I once heard from a passionate country preacher. He knew that our money usually follows our values. Budgets are moral documents.

That's why religious leaders from the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, Reform Judaism, the Episcopal Church, and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops are among those who have been raising objections to many of the key proposals in this year's proposed U.S. budget.

Although the final form of the budget is in a reconciliation process between the House and Senate as I write this column, the general picture seems pretty clear. There are proposed spending cuts that will target the working poor, children and the elderly. And there are proposed tax cuts that will primarily benefit higher income households.

Poverty in America has been rising in numbers and percentages since 2001. Even now in the third year of economic recovery, poverty rates continue to climb. More households are experiencing "food insecurity" -- uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food because of lack of money. Uninsured numbers are at an all time high -- one in every six Americans lacks health insurance.

But things are getting better for the very rich. According to IRS data, after adjusting for inflation, the after-tax household income of the one percent of taxpayers with the highest incomes jumped in 2003 by an average of nearly $49,000 while the bottom 75% fell. Income disparity between the rich and the poor has been growing more exaggerated.

It's pretty predictable what will happen when we cut resources for the poor and decrease taxes for the wealthy. The numbers seem to bear that out. Our budget is a snapshot of what kind of nation we are, a reflection of our values.

More and more religious leaders and denominations are raising the "values" argument. Some are decrying the current budget proposals as immoral.

What would Jesus say?

Jesus spent most of his time and energy among the poor. He addressed the issue of income disparity with a story about the wealthy Lazarus and a poor beggar at his doorstep. The beggar is taken to Abraham's bosom while the wealthy man suffers judgment. All four gospels tell of his feeding the hungry multitudes and of his open table fellowship with sinners and outcasts. His most characteristic activity was healing. And his care for children is manifest in several stories of healing and hospitality. He urged his followers that by caring for "the least of these" they would be caring for him.

There are only two things that Jesus seemed to get riled about -- hypocrisy and the dangers of wealth. His warnings and sharpest language were usually targeting those who acted outwardly pious while neglecting the call of compassion. And he frequently addressed the dangers of riches: "You can't serve God and money."

We see Jesus' values in the ways that he invested his resources. His compassion was so compelling that he inspired great generosity from wealthy companions like Zacchaeus and Joseph of Arimathea.

Back to this century -- a pat-on-the-back goes to Georgia Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss who recently led the Agriculture Committee to save the Food Stamp program from nearly $574 million in spending cuts. He's a leader who heeded the calls from the religious community to enact legislation that is more in keeping with our faith traditions. He's helping to feed the multitudes and to expand compassion.

With a few more committed leaders like Chambliss, we might see a U.S. budget more reflective of Biblical values. Years ago John Kennedy cited Jesus' words from Luke 12:48, "Of those to whom much has been given, much is expected." Jesus' example of right behavior toward our neighbor was the Good Samaritan, who looked at the need of his neighbor and responded with generous compassion. And Jesus' example of wrong behavior toward our neighbor was the wealthy Lazarus, who ignored the plight at his doorstep while enjoying his life of ease. Will our nation's budget look more like the Good Samaritan's checkbook, or Lazarus'?