Calling Good, Evil and Evil, Good: How 'Christian Liberals' Twist the Words of Jesus to Wage War Against President Trump - Part I
This spring, a group of Christian liberals (yes, apparently “Christian liberal” is a “thing,” not an oxymoron) plans to visit Lynchburg, Virginia, the home of conservative Liberty University, and protest what they consider the “toxic evangelicalism” coming from leaders like Liberty’s president Jerry Falwell and others like him who happen to support President Trump.
The “Red Letter Revival” was announced last week by Christian author and social justice warrior Shane Claiborne via Twitter, and is set to take place April 6-7. According to his website bio, Claiborne “heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living ‘as if Jesus meant the things he said.’”
For a group billed as a Jesus-centered alternative to both the Christian Left AND the Right, the positions taken seem awfully Leftist, and include such gems as “Wherever your power and influence might lie, it is magnified when shared and held by those who are poor, oppressed and looked over by society,” and “Questioning cultural norms is healthy and can lead to wholeness,” among others.
Yeah, Karl Marx would have been totally down with it, his atheism notwithstanding. (Which is another problem, but I’m getting ahead of myself...)
While there are no plans specifically to directly confront Liberty officials, Claiborne seems to have targeted the college’s hometown based on his claim that some Liberty students want the school “to be known for its love for Jesus (rather) than its love for Trump.”
In other words, if you’re a Christian and you support the president and his agenda, you’re somehow not following the Founder of your faith as well as these Birkenstock-clad hippies are, because Red Letters, or something.
Truly, does anyone have a ladder high enough to get these people down from their high horse?
It’s a giant strawman, of course, but one people like this, and other liberals who call themselves “Christians,” construct and use to great effect. Jesus said to turn the other cheek, so it must mean nations and individuals shouldn’t be allowed to protect themselves. Jesus said not to judge, so who are we to say two lesbians shouldn’t be married and “mother” children? Jesus said to love our enemies, so it obviously means capitol punishment is a no-go (as if life in prison would be more merciful... maybe we should just “love” them and let them go free!). Jesus said to give to the poor, so he’d obviously dig Nancy Pelosi’s welfare state (minus the “crumbs” to working people, of course). Jesus said to love your neighbor, so we should give every Muslim in Somalia a one-way ticket to the United States and a house in the ‘burbs, that is if we want to stay on the right side of the Almighty.
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. By selecting the “Red Letter” words, often out of context and usually interpreted out of alignment with the rest of the Bible, liberal Christians (and not just the ones aligned specifically with the group mentioned above) build a theology of sorts around proof-texting and use it as a bludgeon against conservatives and particularly Trump supporters.
To them, rather than the Lord of all Creation, Jesus is a smiling, winking doofus giving you a thumbs-up for your “tolerance,” sort of like Kevin Smith’s “Buddy Christ” statue. To them, rather than pieces of a much larger picture that must be rendered consistent with their context, observable reality, and the rest of the Bible, the recorded words of Jesus Christ are used to justify policy positions that are, for all intents and purposes, from the pit of hell.
Put it this way, “Red Letter Christians,” if your positions are so “Godly,” why do so many non and anti-Christians agree with them too?
From abortion, gay marriage, and immigration to tax policy, gun rights, the death penalty, and even the welfare state, liberals, Christian and otherwise, have somehow managed to convince a significant percentage of Americans that they are on the side of the angels, while conservatives and especially Trump-supporters are flirting with damnation because of their “mean-spirited” policy positions.
Nevermind that our policy positions actually, you know, WORK.
But for them, it’s their way or the highway. In a viral blog post that sums up their view quite well entitled “Following Jesus And Supporting Donald Trump Are Utterly Irreconcilable,” Christian Leftist (again, NOT an oxymoron) Zack Hunt lists Trump shortcomings to support his case that someone can’t support the president and follow Jesus at the same time.
“We must choose a master: either Christ or Trump,” concludes Hunt. “Because we cannot follow Jesus while also supporting someone who, in the most literal sense of the word, is anti-Christ.”
Anti-Christ? Seriously? While we’re bringing up the Bible, how about this…
Isaiah 5:20 reads, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
Not to be judgmental or anything, but if any one group deserves an extra helping of this “woe” from the Almighty, it’s these modern day Pharisees.
This Spring, the “Red Letter Christians” will be in Lynchburg protesting Trump, Falwell Jr., and whatever perceived “mean-spirited” agenda item they happen to be triggered by that day, and they’ll be twisting the words of the Son of God to justify their absurd, unworkable policy positions. https://townhall.com/columnists/scottmorefield/2018/02/12/calling-good-evil-and-evil-good-how-christian-liberals-twist-the-words-of-jesus-to-wage-war-against-president-trump--part-i-n2447693
Tags
Who is online
116 visitors
Not attempting to tweak you but, I never realized that Christiandom was now broken down into differing political wings. It was always my perception that followers of Christ were followers of Christ without any particular distinction.
Now I myself am a non-believer but I would think from everything I have read, that any woe coming down from the almighty would be directed at those having cast the first stones.
By the by Jesus seemed to be a liberal from everything I have read.
I suppose when one believes in manmade mythology and superstition, one can reinvent it anyway one wants.
Sad that in the 21st century folk still believe in mythology, superstition and fairy tales as being reality.
Nice argumentum ad populum, which doesn't change the facts cjcold stated.
Well thank you very much Dr. Sheldon Cooper.
Why do I feel that this 'article/perspective' has Russian fingerprints?
Because your implant is telling you to think that along with the rest of thr drones.
Best you have?
Best I need!
Maybe because she can see Russia from her front porch?
Maybe you should ask Tina Fey that since she was the one that said it originally.
Yeah and Al Gore invented the internet.
"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country’s economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system." - Al Gore
"Al Gore was the first political leader to recognize the importance of the Internet and to promote and support its development. No one person or even small group of persons exclusively “invented” the Internet. It is the result of many years of ongoing collaboration among people in government and the university community. But as the two people who designed the basic architecture and the core protocols that make the Internet work, we would like to acknowledge VP Gore’s contributions as a Congressman, Senator and as Vice President. No other elected official, to our knowledge, has made a greater contribution over a longer period of time." - Internet pioneers Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf (the latter often referred to as the “father of the Internet”) in 2000.
So first, Al Gore never claimed to have "invented the internet", and second, he did in fact take the initiative in his positions as a congressman, Senator and VP, to help pave the way for its creation and has been recognized as such.
Not sure why the right have this false narrative of Al Gore claiming to have "invented the internet" stuck in their craw.
While the meme "I can see Russia from my house" was all Tina Fey and the Saturday Night Live writers, Sarah did actually say “They’re our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." which is what the caricature of her on SNL was based on.
And that is a 100% true and accurate statement
While being 100% true, it was a rather ignorant reply to the question Charles Gibson had asked her about any insight she had gained living so close to Russia in regards to her fitness as Vice President.
Well, to most of us it's obvious that the two comments in question are exactly the same thing ..... a misrepresentation of something each of them said ..... which was my point in the first place bringing up the Gore comment.
I guess it isn't that obvious to everyone.
First off, the vast majority of main-stream Christians are not a part of and do not identify with the hard core far right wing Pauline evangelical fundamentalists of The Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Second, for a generation we have seen the small c christians of the small r republican party, the small g gop, advocate for foreign wars of aggression and for torturing people and for state sponsored executions while arguing against helping the least among us, the poor, the disabled and the disadvantaged, in favor of giving ever more power and privilege to those who are already rich and powerful. The gop has for decades been using the names of God and of Christ to advocate for public policies the historic Jesus Christ would have undoubtedly abhored. The false grace of displayed on-line on social media, the intolerant evangelical fundamentalist branch of the gop, is plainly galling to a growing majority of Christans who resent the way the gop has gone about wearing the cloak of Christ to advocate for political purposes that are clearly at odds with the teaching of Christ and people have been paying attention because ever more are sick and tired of the damn gop vaily abusing the named of God and Christ for their very own very ungodly political purposes. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it. Have a Blessed Day, JBB...
Funny you should say that, as if it's ONLY a one-sided (small "c", Small "r"
) deal:
"Pelosi: ‘ " But I'm optimistic," she said. "I always have been. God is with us on this. Our country is great. We know that greatness springs from the vitality that newcomers bring to our country."
Quick, say something about a democrat!!!!! Pathetic.. LOL
I was quick. You were the one slow on a kneejerk response !
Pathetic !
Did you read the comment I responded to and comprehend what it was about ?
Just say "NO" to stop any more embarrassing moments for yourself !
Hear, hear!!
Christians have been twisting the "Word" for justification since the beginning of time. Having grown up in a Southern Baptist congregation, I recall Sunday School teachers and Pastor sermons using the word to teach how black people came into being as a result of sin, how interracial marriage was forbidden, alcohol forbidden, dancing forbidden, railing on the sin of divorce, gluttony, etc....all of which came from an inerrant text. On a positive note, the church was instructed to care for those in need, widows and orphans were its responsibility and of course sharing the gospel through individual testimony. Yet even that, our family invited a black family to have dinner at our home and promptl visited by the deacons explaining how "we don't do that here"! Should have seen the look on their faces when we brought the same family to church. In retrospect, judgement was blatant and justified.
Fast forward to today...drinking, dancing, divorce, gluttony, interracial marriage, justification for being a superior race, even caring for those less fortunate, the widows and orphans have given way to prosperity gospel and that somehow the grace of God has enabled the discontinuance of sacrificial living. The elevation of Falwell, Olsteen and a host of others, spit on the gospel they proclaim...in my not so humble opinion.
While I detest labels, I'll proudly wear Liberal Christian in the hopes people see the love of Christ that guides my life before they see my shortfallings. Red letter text...a great starting point for those who proclaim Christ as Lord as Savior. If those around us don't see the "Red letters" first, our voice is mute.
My uncle was a Southern Baptist Minister (he has now passed away) and he never spoke this way of any race and had many black members in his church. He would never have turned anyone away...ever. He did have rules for his own family concerning certain music, alcohol, and they had no television in their home. Which is not a bad idea. But, I don't recall the church members being required to stick to any rules. Whenever they would visit all my cousins would want to do is watch TV
.
Yeah, that doesn't sounds like any Baptists i was ever exposed to either.
She must have grown up in one of the most extremists Baptist Congregations in the country
In my formidable years, late 60's early 70's, Okeechobee, Florida segregation was the norm. There were no mixed race congregations in any churches. It literally was a town with railroad tracks separating white people from black people.
Certainly change has come to this town and its churches, yet reiterates my point of what was justified then has just moved on to what is justified today.
It is all in the mishandling and mismanagement of the Good News. Whole organizations have been set up for centuries trying to manage God's gifts, and many, many, coming away with wrong messages, attitudes, and actions. The first Christians learned faith, hope, and charity. One of the most troubling aspect of the Gospel is to listen as a Pastor or scriptural teacher goes beyond the scope of the biblical texts and start affirming matters simply to appease his or her patrons. Then, a generation or several later, . . . the truth of the matter catches up with everyone who received the wrong or partially wrong narrative.
For example: You can and I continue to listen to Christian radio stations talking about families and family life in Heaven, despite the fact Jesus explicitly stated that there is no concept of marriage in Heaven, but all are spirit/s. What those pastors and leaders who share those kinds of messages are doing is emoting. And in the process of doing so, getting themselves and the Message in all kinds of confusing trouble!
It is a big problem for the Church as a body. Though I can certainly see why leaders do try to answer such questions over time in their ministries: The pressure and stress must be astronomical and coming at them from all quadrants as they try to lead men, women, and children with the myriad of circumstances they bring to bear.
Conservative xtians = biblical oxymorons
It is sad to see Christianity and Jesus be used as a tool by either side to promote division and nasty attitudes. Alas! The name-calling. This is what happens when Christians forget themselves and wade out into the base things of politics with everybody else. Townhall ought to be ashamed, but as we can see it is not!
So what is the next gutter the Christian Faith has to endure? Just yesterday I read a conservative Christian on NT actually speaking up in support of a new civil war in the name of Jesus and Righteousness. Blood-letting on a grand scale. Is it any wonder people mock this Faith?
I'm looking forward to participating in next civil war and defending the US Constitution.
Do not speak madness, devangelical! Everything we call good in this country would be a mess. And, finally this nation's enemies which are legion and 'standing at the door' would see blood in the water.
If we were to have another civil war, we all would lose. Any and every outcome would split this land and its people into "territories." The country you know and love would be a fractured mess. Moreover, it would mean that our form of government is not exceptional. We would have failed just like all other world-class societies we read about in dusty old books! Should God's children have a role in the destruction of this land? How does that work if we are called the "peace-makers"? Lastly, the impossible will be staring us in the face—divided nukes! How is that for leaving this nation's kids a legacy?
Christians, all of us believers, have to STOP trying to rule over others. We are not called to do so. In addition, STOP being self-righteous. God is not with the self-righteous!
Thank you.
Since Jesus was a liberal, looks to me like the cons landed on the wrong side. Poor things..
I needed some actual proof... So, I just asked God what to make of this article. She said...
.
All good Christians are liberals, the bad Christians are conservatives.
.
Thank-you, that is all, and it's an absolute fact.
Trump says he is a Christian, so lets examine this for a moment.
1) He has cheated on every single wife he has had.
2) He has bragged about and admitted to sexual assault.
3) He has admitted that he walks in and out of teenage girls dressing rooms, "because he can".
4) His charity has been closed down and is under investigation for.....(wait for it)....fraud... It was used for paying off lawsuits and paying off the AG's of Florida and Texas to drop his "Trump U" fraud case, (trump has admitted to this).
5) He has told black people to stay "out of site" when he is in his casino's.
6) He paid a porn star 160k to not talk....she did anyway.
7) He claimed he donated to charities, when he didn't.
8) He has been accused by 13 different women that he has sexually assaulted them, (then denied it, after he said, "grab them by the pussy!!!"), but denied it and called them all liars, but wants us to believe that every one of Bill Clinton's accusers are telling the truth??? Really? LMAO!!!!
9) He has a wife than enables his disgusting behavior and doesn't speak out about his debauchery.
10) The list goes on and on and on...
But trump, and the FAKE rightist Christians think trump is a "great guy"?
I think we have our answer to who the REAL Christians are....and....
They are NOT conservatives.
When was the last time you saw a conservative vote for increasing welfare, to help the poor?
When was the last time you saw a conservative vote for housing for the poor?
When was the last time you saw a conservative for for healthcare for the poor?
Well....I think I have made my point.
Conservative Christians are the LEAST Christian people there are. They have literally, (and this retarded article proves it), turned Jesus into a political talking point. Problem is that today's conservative Christian would be "cast out" by Jesus if he ever did come back.
They go to church. Get on their knees. Lie their ass off. And then leave whatever faith they have left in them at the church door as they leave and head for the ballot box. Their Christianity, faith and values are all for sale. They are hypocrites and hypocrites are among the people Christ condemned the most. They had all better hope that I am right and there is no Heaven or Hell, because if there are both, they will all be roasting for eternity.
Bingo.. Well said.
They are CINO's. Christian's In Name Only.
I'd LOVE to believe in god and get all that (after I'm dead) and especially that divine justice, but I can't make it. Maybe God ain't ready for me or something but in case they're right and I'm wrong, I put a app in for door greeter in hell, where I'd expect to shake many, many, many surprised CINO hands. I'm not religious so no way I'd make heaven anyway.
Trump's fellow misogynistic Christian authoritarian in the Philippines just said that female rebels should be "shot in the vagina". That must be the True Christian way of grabbing them by the pussy.
As always, you bring so much light and honesty to a discussion. Your wisdom is a breath of fresh air. I must get to bed.. Thanks for being there.
And bill clinton and hillary called his accusers liars, bimbos and trailer trash but wants us to believe the others are telling the truth .
Where is the seeder? Sleeping? Unable to defend yet another completely BS article? Comment deleted for skirting the CoC. jwc2blue
I bid you all farewell... My voice has been silenced.
??? I hope that doesn't mean what it sounds like. You've been one of the few sane voices here.
Evangelicals have forfeited their voice on anything moral as they have traded in their religion for power politics. Soon they will have neither power or religion. They have become the Pharisees that Jesus hated.
Jesus was filled with hate? How many did he hate?
As religions change their tenants, they retain the power...religious evolution