In this era of Christian guilt, it seems that many in the entertainment and political arena are claiming that socialistic policies are congruent with the policies of Jesus Christ. These claims cannot go unchallenged.
On occasion, I will listen to the John Boy and Billy Show during my morning routine. I often switch to another station when self proclaimed, “Curmudgeon at Large” Robert D. Raiford spouts off liberal politics. During one of his lectures he actually said that Jesus would have been a socialist. I wrote a retort, but I never heard it read on the radio. (Note to self: I need to stop changing the channel when he talks!)
President Obama misquoted the Bible a few months back when he said, “We are our brother’s keeper.” Last week during Representative Sanford Bishop’s “victory tour,” he said that before he cast his vote for government run health care, he asked himself, “What would Jesus Do?” That is an interesting question indeed.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, but he does not tell the government to do it. In fact, at no time in the New Testament does Jesus say that it is the responsibility of the government to take from one group of people to give to another. How will the hungry be fed then? The Old and New Testaments talk about these needs being met by the family, the church, and individual charity. This is how Americans have been dealing with these social needs for nearly 200 years, but suddenly we have become dependant on the government to take care of these needs. While the numbers are nearly equal, a Gallup Poll released last week shows that more Americans than not believe that health care coverage should be up to the individual. This is the first time in many years that the majority of Americans have felt this way.
Holier than thou politicians have tried to convince us that they are on the same road with Jesus. Jesus spoke of giving to individual charities in Matthew 6:1-4, but President Obama drew heat for his plan to reduce charitable donations for the wealthy.
While Representative Bishop sits on the hill and ponders what Jesus would do before casting votes, does he really believe that Jesus would be in favor of punishing those without health insurance with a fine and/or jail time? Bishop bragged during his Albany stop that everyone would be covered except illegal aliens. If we are to believe that Jesus would be in favor of health insurance reform, wouldn’t he go all the way and insure all of God’s children? If the answer is no because he cares only about the citizens of this country, wouldn’t he also want to protect the greatest nation in the world from bankruptcy? Would Jesus have presented a 2000 page document for his disciples and given them only 72 hours to read and understand it? Somehow I missed those sermons.
I don’t believe that Jesus would have been a socialist, a conservative, or a libertarian. He was too smart to play with politics. He was God in the flesh who taught us how to live our lives. The 10th Commandment tells us not to covet our neighbor’s belongings. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” This is the Lord that I serve.
I have one more scripture to leave you with. Ecclesiastes 10:2 reads, “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.” So maybe Jesus would have been a conservative after all. Who says that Christians cannot have a sense of humor?
Ummmmmmm because the government was the Romans. The people he was leading a revolution against. Good lord.
Perhaps that is why God put Jesus on earth at that time, to demonstrate self reliance in the face of big government. Thanks for helping me make my point!
Wow. That is twisted. I seem to remember from my Sunday School lessons that he was put on this earth to provide man a path to salvation. Pretty much the only time he talked about government was that part about rendering to Caesar.
Again, you are making my point. I clearly state in my post that, “…at no time in the New Testament does Jesus say that it is the responsibility of the government to take from one group of people to give to another.” You sir are the one that argues that he didn’t embrace the government because it was the Romans. Of course Jesus was put here to give us the path to salvation, but do you think that politicians should hide behind Him when voting for health care reform or big government policies? That is the true debate.
No sir. What I am arguing is that your analogy is like pointing to an elbow and saying apple. It is an absurd comparison with little logical connection.
And do you really want to get into politicians hiding behind Jesus/The Bible/God on issues of governance?
Bishop is trying to claim his vote was decided by what Jesus would do. Therefore, how can it be questioned by us?
Well, let’s just dismantle the entire country to spread the wealth–and associated grief–and just say “this is what Jesus would do”. I am sure in Bishop’s mind Jesus would also support Stimulus, TARP, Cap & Trade, Clunkers, ACORN, et al.
What a great big “crock”. Simply put, Bishop is a socialist and an extreme liberal who does his best–to get relected, nothing else. After all, in his mind Jesus wants him in the House.
Thus, he thinks he can spend a few more years merely pondering his version of “WWJD” and voting accordingly. Well, let him ponder “back on the farm” or wherever he came from. And, “let him eat cake”–on someone elses’ dime for a change. Meanwhile, he can ponder WWBRD–”What Would Bobby Ray Do”–as he lives on his generous retirement check and no expense account.
Uh, Sanford. Make sure you clip the Chic-fil-A coupons in Sunday’s paper and buy Publix’s BOGOs–no use in spreading too much wealth once it is “your money” being spent!
Can’t you hard-heads understand? Congressman Bishop is saying that Jesus wants him to be benevolent and generous with other people’s money.
Liberals are responsible for making sure that we are not allowed to: mention Jesus in our schools, pray before a football game, post the 10 commandments in our courthouses, etc. Now it’s WWJD? What irony. No. It’s hypocrisy.
Let’s see if the funding for abortion makes it back into the bill prior to final passage. Then Sanford Bishop can ask himself WWJD before he votes?
Perfect
Just because someone calls on God or Jesus before doing something bad doesn’t make what they’re doing good.
The Fort Hood shooter, The Inquisition, many, many examples throughout history.
Paraphrasing Shakespeare, the Devil can quote Scripture for his own purposes.