Editorial: The GOP Doesn't Own Jesus

[RareLubbockDem]

I posted this in another forum a few days ago. Someone suggested it would be better here. It's a really great article--possibly one of the best I've seen in a long time. It was forwarded to all of my holier-than-thou friends. Take a look.

Here's the link: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/9581909.htm

Here's some of it:

"It is time for Christian liberals to respond to the efforts of the Republican Party and all its spokespersons to paint -- with as broad a brush stroke as possible -- all liberals as immoral and anti-religious."

...........

"How can you ignore his teachings on the dangers of wealth and the absolute need for compassion to all, whether you think they deserve it or not? How do you claim to get to Republican economic policies from that life and those teachings? Where in the name of God does your self-righteousness come from?"

Read the article for the whole thing. I look forward to what others think of this point of view.

[DebJ]

1. thanks. I passed it around.

[pacalo]

2. Your article is timely for me. I just sent a response to a Republican

(based on her religious beliefs) friend who forwarded a "Common Sense Has Died" e-mail to me. The point of the e-mail was to chide the Democrats for their attention to citizens' rights. Since my friend & I have had Bush vs. Kerry conversations before, my response was in that vein:

"Common sense flew out the window when non-thinking people accepted George W. Bush as a legitimate president & as a Christian leader.

"The non-thinkers seem satisfied getting all their (mis)information exclusively from Faux News. They don't venture onto other news sites to read about what a crook their money-worshipping "false prophet" is.

"I see a lot of hypocrisy in la-la land. I know a young preacher's wife who has taught her two sons not to answer the phone because it may be a creditor calling for past due payments (when the creditors call, it's usually about long-ignored payments).

"She takes lots of out-of-state church-related trips with her preacher husband at the church's expense. When she was out of town with her husband on one such trip, her mother frantically called everyone she thought could help her daughter get out of a financial bind: The daughter forgot to pay the electrical bill for three months & the electrical company was threatening to cut off their service unless a substantial partial payment could be made. Instead of staying home & sparing some expense that could have gone toward paying her bills, she chose to go to "Silver City" with her husband.

"The congregation has no doubt taken note of this. Lots of back-biting takes place at this church, to the point a meeting was held between its preacher & some of the more outspoken members. Days after the meeting, the preacher found that his cable-tv service had been turned off, supposedly by the most outspoken church member who had been quietly footing the bill.

"To the preacher's credit, his mother-in-law has become a born-again Christian. She talks non-stop about the merits of becoming a Christian to anyone who will listen. And listen, I do. I hear her perceptions of being a Christian, but they don't seem to match mine. I hear about wishes of retribution against perceived enemies, raunchy sexual talk in mixed company, balking at helping people who are in unfortunate situations because she doesn't approve of the circumstances, etc.

"These are all supporters for George W. Bush, who has brainwashed the Christian-right into thinking he's a born-again Christian & that the Republicans have a monopoly on Christianity. Wrong! Read some scriptures here & search your soul for the right answers: http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm#scripture

"George W. Bush needs the Christian-right as his base, so he'll say anything they want to hear. He sends out propaganda to churches, which includes his right-to-life "belief" (those of us who read the news know better), yet he doesn't respect the innocent lives being destroyed in Iraq. And thanks to his love for guns & his NRA base, the AKC rifle will now be available for anyone to buy. Why would anyone want to own one of those? It's not a hunting rifle, it's not for protection for a homeowner -- it's for killing. So much for "right-to-life" double-talk.

"I became interested in learning all I could about George W. Bush when he took the war on terrorism in an unlikely direction: Iraq. The enemy who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11 was in Afghanistan. We're building 14 permanent military bases in Iraq. That tells me a lot about what Mr. Bush's intentions are. I have two sons who are of draft age, & it would destroy me if one of them were forced to serve in this immoral war. I envy those who have the luxury of not having to worry about their grown sons or young daughters. They have no idea what it feels like. No one who has kept up with unfiltered news could vote in good conscience for this president. He's a pretender to the Christians -- he needs that base & he'll say anything they want to hear to keep his job. But I can tell you, he will be held accountable on Judgement Day.

"I pray that you will learn more about this president, but you won't learn anything from the corporate tv media. George W. Bush is their best friend. They all worship money. Read the news on the internet where the news is unfiltered.

I love you. :)"

[RareLubbockDem]

3. Interesting

Quite a letter you wrote.

Also, very interesting link you put in there. I could be there all night doing those quizzes.

[pacalo]

10. I haven't heard back yet from her, but she's not one who uses the

computer much. I'm anxious to hear her comments. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Thanks for including my link! I owe you a scoop of heavenly hash

when we meet up in the afterlife. ;)

[pacalo]

9. You're welcome! I love that site!

I bookmarked it once when you posted it. I remember telling you that I needed that site desperately! When the Iraq war began, I was bombarded with pro-W e-mails for about the first 3 months, and periodically after that.

Thanks for making it easy for me to respond to those misguided e-mails. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Well, it's a work in progress. Periodically

I do more to it. Like this time around I started a blog for it. :)

If you ever have any recommendations, or ideas for scripture that I can add, just drop me a line.

*hugs*

[pacalo]

13. Will do! Thanks again. :)

[havocmom]

4. Good read. Good inspiration to take back the cross for those who believe

just as we all need to take back the flag.

This part resonated with me:

<snip> Christian liberals have been inspired by the life and death of Jesus -- the one, Mr. Thomas, whom you and I "profess" to be the Son of God. That son did not live among the CEOs and the wealthy of his time. He chose to live among the outcasts and the suffering who were looked down upon by people like your friends (and mine). And he tried in everything he said and did to bring justice and peace and to reduce hunger and sickness and marginalization.

<snip> For that, the rich and powerful of his day attacked him as irreligious and immoral and had him killed -- because he threatened their power and influence. Mr. Thomas, Jesus did not die just for our sins; he died because of our sins. Mr. Thomas, you need to read the entire Bible.

Yes the rich & powerful use religion as a tool. Many others use it to justify their own form of madness. More still, to assuage their guilt at their inability to overcome their lesser motivations.

The master taught that we were to love one another. To my inner sight, that was a command to work all our years to try and bring heaven upon the earth; to abolish hunger and real want. We have been given all the necessary components of both heaven and hell. And we have been given free will. The decision is ours to make as individuals and as a people. In our decision lies the root of evil or good.

And I have yet to see any signs that god or God gives a rats ass who wins a football game or a war. I think god/God walked away from such silly bigotries long ago. It is man who has created God in his own image who has the hubris to think god/God gives some sort of stamp of approval to a political party. Some of us see god/God as bigger than that sort of pettiness.

[punpirate]

5. It's not going to change...

... the minds of those who mouth the "libruls are immoral" routine, but for others, it's a reminder of the source, rather than the interpretation.

But, I believe it was Criswell of the First Street Baptist Church in Dallas who gave classes on how to obtain wealth because "God wants us all to be successful." There's a natural arrogance in the belief that one is better than others because of success--and the corporate church of America fosters that view.... *sigh*

Good article, though.

[RareLubbockDem]

6. Good point but

I used this mainly as a way not so much to convince, but to show people WHY i believe the way i do. I'm in Lubbock Texas. You can imagine what it's like around here. This article was like a breath of fresh air. and out of a Texas newspaper no less.

[punpirate]

8. Oh, yes...

... I can imagine... I'm in central Texas about six months of the year.... I know well what changes have been wrought in the evangelical mind by the merging of politics and religion--the politics of personal responsibility have become part of religious doctrine, etc.

And, yes, it's unusual for Lubbock, indeed. :)

Cheers.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tesibria]

14. Broad Strokes are Dangerous

Let's start with what I like:
First, I agree with what I think your overall message is: "It is idolatry to claim that the Republican Party -- or indeed any party -- is the party of Jesus. It is idolatry to try to reduce Jesus to an apologist for any narrow self-interest."

Here are my issues:

1) "It is time for Christian liberals to respond to the efforts of the Republican Party and *all* its spokespersons to paint -- with as broad a brush stroke as possible -- all liberals as immoral and anti-religious."

With this opening statement, you have painted ALL of the Republican Party and EVERY Republican spokesperson with a single brush. You've done the same thing you criticize Cal Thomas for doing. True, some (many?) of the Wright Wing of the Republican Party, and some (most?) of W's spokespersons do paint all liberals as immoral and anti religious. But not all. Far better, and far more persuasive to those you are trying to reach, to refer directly to Cal Thomas (and those who share his views), than to paint so broad a brush. I think it's better to say ""It is time for Christian liberals to respond to the efforts of THOSE IN the Republican Party to paint -- with as broad a brush stroke as possible -- all liberals as immoral and anti-religious."


2) Christian liberals were responsible for public education and land grant colleges to enable the children of farmers, the poor and the working classes to get educations like the children of the privileged. Liberals were responsible for a minimum wage, Social Security, Medicare, workplace safety regulations, civil rights legislation, a progressive income tax, protection of the environment, and governmental resistance to the efforts of the rich and powerful to run the country for their own benefit.

Again, I think you go too far here. Yes, Christian liberals absolutely WERE intstrumental. But -- many who were Christian-but-not-liberal were also involved and instrumental in many of these changes. (Remember, Susan B. Anthony championed women's right to vote in order to be able to abolish alcohol.) I think it's better to say that "Christian liberals have been instrumental in making this society as (imperfectly) humane as it is. Christian liberals, OFTEN ALONGSIDE CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES, were responsible for public education and land grant colleges to enable the children of farmers, the poor and the working classes to get educations like the children of the privileged. ... In short -- It was the CHRISTIANS, often of no particular political persuasion except to advance the kingdom here on earth. It was Christians -- and why do they need another label -- battling for education, health care, and justice for the poor. I believe it still is.


3) "...That son did not live among the CEOs and the wealthy of his time. He chose to live among the outcasts and the suffering who were looked down upon by people like your friends (and mine). And he tried in everything he said and did to bring justice and peace and to reduce hunger and sickness and marginalization. For that, the rich and powerful of his day attacked him as irreligious and immoral and had him killed -- because he threatened their power and influence."

Once again, a bridge too far, a brush to wide. Jesus DID live that way, but at least one of his disciples, many of his converts, and countless of his followers, past and present were very very wealthy, intelligent and powerful.

It was not "the rich and powerful of his day" who attacked him. It was only CERTAIN of those rich and powerful who did so. Others followed him.

Jesus does not distinguish. He loves the rich. He loves the poor. He died for the rich just as much a for the poor. Often the rich are impoverished in a "different" way than the economically poor--and Jesus speaks to that as well.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Welcome to DU. :^)

[Tesibria]

17. thank you :)

i'm luving this community. It's a breath of FRESH air !! O8)

[Cha]

16. You would love the caller on Washington Journal

this morning-c-span-..From Ocala, Florida.

He said he was a Christian and he wanted to say to all the so-called Christians out there.."Jesus wouldn't Kill!".."and down here jeb bush's daughter got 5 days and went into rehab for forging a dr's perscription for oxycotin and Black People would get years for that..

I like to see the Liberal Christians speaking out on the hypocracy of the fundies.

[young_at_heart]

18. "My daughter is voting for Bush because he's very Christian"

I heard this today from an African American woman at the Democratic Headquarters in my city. We all just stared in disbelief. What a sad state of affairs that such a small group of fringe people could take over the government so easily.

[GospelCatalyst]

19. Retaking Jesus : OK then, I'll do it, but lend a hand !

http://renewalnow.mybesthost.com/gospel.html

"Our Testament : In America today, many Christians - seduced by those whose speech incites anger, hatred, and intolerance - have strayed from the teachings of Jesus Christ, ; and many now practice a blasphemy which presumes their political beliefs to embody God's will.That is idolatry, and the Gospel Truth now calls home those who have strayed from Jesus - back to the true spirit of the Gospels and to the love and grace of Christ.

We call Americans back from that idolatry which presumes that humans can know the will of God and in which leaders and political factions the divine grace of His inspiration shines most brightly. We call them back from that rebellion which, like Lucifer's revolt, rebels against God in presuming sure knowledge of God's will and of God's plan ; that is blasphemy, for God's will transcends human understanding - and the Gospel Truth now calls Christians back from this sin, to remind them of their home in Jesus Christ - who offers redemption for all those who repent.

God transcends both human understanding and political divisions, and those who lay claim to own God show a prideful arrogance that offends the teachings of Jesus - who excludes none and extends his loving compassion and forgiveness to all.

And to those who invoke the name of Christ as they speak of hatred, of killing, of anger and intolerance, and of political exclusion - whether of fellow Americans or those who live in other lands - The Gospel Truth brings not peace but a sword : we smite you not with weapons but with the teachings and our love of the Savior. We smite you with righteous, loving anger to call you back from sin.

Our Mission : To broadcast, far and wide, our call to those who have strayed to come back to Jesus : to bring witness and personal testament to each and every American who has fallen away from the teachings of Christ - directly, sincerely and lovingly - of the core teachings of the Gospels. We are warriors of Christ whose message is love : with this we confront those who would twist and pervert God's message.

Our Pledge : to battle those with those who would spread a false faith of hate and fear and so lead good Americans away from God and away from Gospel truth. We pledge to bring the true message of Christ back to America and we pledge to confront those who spread hatred in Jesus' name. We pledge to devote our strength to building an organization of committed Christians who will smite, everywhere, with the truth of the teachings of Jesus those who use Christianity for personal gain. We pledge our lives to work for a true revival which can bring America back again to the Spirit of Christ.

We pledge to pray and work for a renewal of Christ's message in this nation which has fallen deeply into sin.

Join us, and - God willing - we will prevail. We welcome all with open arms. "

[blkeyedszn]

20. Truly... I thank you for this.

I only wish I could state my own thoughts so elequently. There are a few people I know of that need to read this.