There is much said these days about the rich and poor; Wall Street and who is at fault; the “elites”; “rell” America (this omits New York and California, of course); and then there is the fictitious portrayal of characters like Sarah Palin as being “just one of us”. From people that I have spoken with across America, they have told me that means two things…1) that she is a good Christian woman, mother and wife (gag!); and 2) that she is not one of those Ivy League educated (god forbid) wealthy elitists – rather she is a simple (well, that is partially correct) and humble woman just like them.
Aside from the fact that she drew in a mere 7 million last year on the backs of these “common folk” across America through her book sales (1 million of those sales was using her own purchase power) and her relentless screeching fee of nearly $100,000 per speaking engagement…uh…how is she not one of the rich elite that she slams? When I ask them to explain this, they fly off into their comfort zone and echo the misinformed rhetoric of Queen Esther. Fruitless…
And interestingly enough, none of them perceive a disconnect between their daily existence any of their leaders – O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, Pat Roberston, Billy & Franklin Graham, Pastor Haggee, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Lance Wallnau and the list goes on and on and on.
Really?! Do they READ the Bible?
There was a great article posted the other day on HuffPo by Mike Lux titled, “How Do Christians Become Conservatives? and it is excellent. I echo his words in my head everyday. I am going to paste a couple excerpts here for those of you who haven’t read it yet, but encourage you to follow my link to his full article here…
By Mike Lux @ Huffington Post May 10.2010
“[...]Comment after comment and story after story in the Gospels about Jesus relates to the treatment of the poor, generosity to those in need, mercy to the outcast, and scorn for the wealthy and powerful. And his philosophy is embedded with the central importance of taking care of others, loving others, treating others as you would want to be treated. There is no virtue of selfishness here, there is no “greed is good,” there is no invisible hand of the market or looking out for Number One first. There is nothing about poor people being lazy, nothing about the undeserving poor being leeches on society, nothing about how I pulled myself up by my own bootstraps so everyone else should, too. There is nothing about how in nature, “the lions eat the weak,” and therefore we shouldn’t help the poor because it weakens them. There is nothing about charity or welfare corrupting a person’s spirit.”
This is, as Mike points out very well in his article, a concept that modern day conservative/republican/tea party members resist like a gay relative! As conservatives of different ilks they tend to flock under the protective and retributive umbrella claiming America as a Christian nation and most self-identify as bible-fearin’ Americans.
But, again I ask? DO they read their Bibles? According to biblical stories, one of the only times Jesus lost his temper was when He cleared the Temple of the rich taking from the poor to benefit their own greed. Here is a message from Jesus as told in the Book of James (Jesus’ brother) tailored to the aforementioned millionaires club…
“[...] in James 5: 16, he condemns the rich again starting out: “Now an answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries coming to you… Laborers plowed your fields and you cheated them: listen to the wages you kept back, calling out: realize that the cries of the workers have reached the ears of the Lord.”
I don’t know about you, but if I were frolicking about denouncing others for their position and status while setting up Swiss bank accounts, I might be looking around for that proverbial lightening bolt! Don’t get me wrong, I am all for capitalism with some regulation to stop the runaway greed we have seen erode our country financially, environmentally and integrity-wise since the “great communicator” opened up free markets for his wealthy donors…but I digress.
My point is these people are hypocrites in the truest usage of the word. Frauds. And here comes Palin with a new (ghost)written book, “America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith & Flag”. Cha-CHING!!! (refer back to James 5:16)
Just sayin’…
I was raised Catholic and taugh that I was on this world to serve the less fortunate. Well, that is exactly what I did when I chose to get a BA in Psychology and specialized in Developmental Disabilities because I firmly believed this was my christian calling.
I went to work for a not-for profit Nationwide Lutheran Organization that owns facilities to house developmentally disabled people all over the US and other foreigh countries. According to their mission statement they are there to help disabled people live life with dignity. That is all just a front and a big lie. They just provide babysitting for their clients at the expense of 5,000 dollars a month of tax payers dollar. What a scam!
The so called Intermediate Care Facilities are a place where the people served supposed to get trained to live life with more independence and self-reliance; as a professional my duties were to design and coordinate with other professionals the trainings to teach the clients so they could more active in the community, employable and independent enough to be moved to assisted living facilities which are a lot more cost effective, only 1,500 or tax dollars per month.
I worked very hard with those clients that had the highest potential to be succesful, after 4 years many of my clients were ready to be moved to more independent settings. When I wrote this in my annual reports, I encountered a lot of resistnace from upper management. I was trying what was right by the regulations and the laws of christianity, in exchange I took a lot of abuse and hostility because I was trying to do what is right for the clents I advocated for. The situation got so bad that I was force to falsify documentation in order to keep these clients where they were.
Some of these clients were hopeful to move and live more normal lives, which is the outcome that these programs should achieve.
Living life with dignity is not this christian organization's mission, what they want is to keep recieving the revenues that Medicaid money pays each month based on false documentation. I got sick of it and quit.
I believe people should be made aware of the scam that these organizations are doing in the name of Jesus. They are commiting Medicaid fraud. Is that what christians actions should be about? I really wonder what will happen to them they day of judgement. Will Jesus be happy to hear that the less fortunate where taken advantage of in his name? Not to mention all the abuse and hostility I experienced from my superiors because I believe in their mission and produced the results I was hired for. What a farce and what a waste of much needed tax monies.
PS
I can't stant how conservative Protestant men mock and ridicule liberal women for being "ugly." They don't do it publically, but that's how they think.
So yeah there is a lot of conservative Protestant hypocrisy. But it's not to say that I hate either party. Both have good things about them. I'm proud of being a Protestant (Pentecostal to be exact), while rejecting the hypocritical ways of a lot of them. I believe in progress for people of all color, for women, economic status, and all walks of life (while not in favor of the extreme liberalism of the Democratic Party).
Two great feminists that have terrific things
Nancy Pelosi (Catholic)
Hillary Clinton (Methodist)
While I'm a Protestant, I'll Catholics credit where it's due (while I don't believe in the pagan ways of Catholicism)
Catholics (and Jews, even though they are supported by Republicans) are very much against sexism (even though they are liberal). The first woman in the United States to do many things was Nancy Pelosi. She set the way for Hillary Clinton (who's a Methodist), one of her closest friends.
Many of the feminists of the 1960s were definitely Jews, before Catholics, hence Catholics are only in second place to Jews when it comes to being against sexism.
Pelosi:
was the first woman Speaker of the House in US History.
was the first House Minority whip.
Catholics (I'm Protestant myself) have things that are more Biblical in nature than some of the mainstream conservative, predominantly, WASP Protestants: (1) they are against racism, (2) they are against sexism, which explains why many notable feminists, such as Nancy Pelosi and Kirsten Gillibrand, are Catholic, or Jewish, such as Elana Kagan, (3) they belive in helping the poor, which explains why my most Catholics are (northern) Democrats.
I mean Republicans have no right to judge those people in Hollywood , because Republicans are just as equally bad. And (while I don't condone the vulgarity or violent content) I don't completely blame the gangster rappers and heavy metal musicians for they way they feel about. Republicans are also sexist. Doesn't the Bible say that men and women will be one in the Kingdom of Heaven? And they twist the meaning of "submit to your husbands." What that means is that women should respect their husbands – which husbands are to do too. While they are feminists, Nancy Pelosi (who's Catholic) and Hillary Clinton (who's Methodist) are great women who definitely stand by their men, while at the same time being a voice for women all across the world. If anything, husband and wife are to respect each other with dignity and respect. And both are to be allowed to have a say in what happens. I do agree with Republicans on the issue of homosexuality – that it's a sin, but I DON'T agree with how homosexuals are made to like the most vile sinner. Anyone read, "Judge NOT, that you be not judged" (Matt 7:1)? WE ARE SINNERS DESERVING OF DEATH, the Bible says.
Adam…I apologize. My response to your first comment probably made little sense…I mistakenly thought you were responding to my post that I just finished today. I appreciate your comments!
Coming from a Christians,
I know Conservative Christians are hypocrites. Now I'm not saying that Jesus was a liberal, either. When the true Christians are raptured in Heaven, Christ will do away with both the politcal spectrums. Republicans (and Southern conservative Democrats) are hypocrites. They don't help the poor one bit. They'd rather defend the morality of their kind – rich Protestant Conservatives. And they are racist. Plus they are blind to the spiritually lost. Now I don't condone the homosexuality, sexual explicitness, vulgarity and all of that the modern liberal Democrat party condone, but in a way, you can't completely blame them for feeling that Christians are hypocrites. You can't blame all of those folks in Hollywood for feeling that way either. I feel that way sometimes too.
Now there are good things about liberals. THEY ARE ready to give to the poor, they help the blacks and Latinos (not to be confused with those who choose to live on welfare, because no one like those people).
Ah…and that is assuming there is truly any such thing as the "rapture". And if so…is that "Pre", "Mid" or "Post" tribulation? This speaks directly to what Pastor Bess is addressing. I just had to throw that image of Jesus was a Liberal. There are days when I just have to poke the stick in the lair…humor me
Leah, I love your work. I would like to draw your attention to an Assemblies of God connection here in Australia called "Hillsong" The Hillsong church is growing and expanding – fast, very fast! Their leader and founder, a New Zealander( who came to Australia with his father who is a paedophile who was kicked out of the Salvation Army for his crimes) is called Brian Houston. Tonight Channel 7's 'Sunday Night' program did a very good story about him and his church. This is the link to the storyhttp://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunday-night/ . I hope you get a chance to look them up if you don't already know about them.
While a member of a fundamentalist church I took quite a few trips to NY around Port Auth.and gave Soap, toothpaste,shaveing gear and sometimes clothing! I had a feeling the Pastor did'nt think much of the effort and in time it was clear they were more interested in working inward.Their outreach consisted of creating converts and bringing in more money.Also a strict adherance to their way of doing things.Those that did'nt tithe got the cold shoulder and not very many friends.It's apparent they are'nt interested in anything but drones and sheeple people,and trust me they have an abundance of both.Whats worse you get sucked in before you realise whats happening to you.
It has always amazed me that the so called Christians so rely on the old Testament.
For their brimstone and hell fire, the Old Testament is great. And for condemning others, and dealing out punishment.
But didn't Jesus come and teachings are in the new Testament?
SO why do they praise him, preach about him and then use the Old Testament?
Why ? Because they cannot live up to the teachings of Christ. They feel themselves oh so holy but really they are no better then those Jesus condemned.
They are exactly what Jesus condemned!
Also, "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people…a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face…which say, 'Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.' These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day." Isaiah 65.2a,3a,5 KJV
I have been astounded by the lack of Christian compassion for those less fortunate by the "far right". As a "fallen" Catholic, who is doomed to hell by "the Church", for marrying a divorced man 37 years ago. I feel that my lapsed religious upbringing has given me a better attitude about tolerance & understanding, perhaps because I am on the "outside" of the Church. I don't donate to a church, but I give to the local food bank, buy gifts for the less fortunate via the Xmas tree, donate time building a small neighborhood park, and give my neighbors a hand when I can, no matter what their beliefs.
A person can't help loving the one they love, change the color of their skin, adopt a different ethnic background or erase their religious upbringing, yet to openly hate people for something they have no control over is just wrong.
That is not mainstream Christianity…it is a warped version and they need to stop asking \”What Would Jesus Do?\”Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
Leah, I'm curious which Bible is "twisted, edited and added to". I'd hate to find out I'm studying from that!
"In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up." 2 Peter 2:3. The "prosperity gospel" is made up out of whole cloth! I have to wonder where it came from. It certainly wasn't Jesus.
Scofield and NIVSent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
The prosperity gospels – were those written and popularized by the Big Tent, traveling evangelicals.
My husband remembers one coming to his small rural town. The preacher rolled into town in his white Cadillac convertible, wearing his pinkie rings, his golden watch and cross. He stayed at the home of the richest member of the sponsoring church. At the revival, he preached that the congregants should donate to the glory of God, should prove that they believed by opening their purses and wallets and showering the needy with money because he (the preacher) would know how best to have it serve the needy (him).
Oh, yeah – prosperity – for the preacher. He had no qualms about whipping up these people, taking what little money they had, and then leaving them behind with no proof of where that money was going (unless they saw that Cadillac and accessories). Sarah strikes me like that.
Unfortunately, she not only preaches wealth, she spread hate and division.
She is going to do her first fee-free speech in NC for the NRA. Oh, yeah, she'll do anything for the gun industry. It could be the lure of the crowd because over 70,000 are forecast to be in town for this convention. Sarah does love her spotlight.
Yet, somehow, it seems appropriate that she would chose to do something free for an organization that wants everyone armed and dangerous rather than do something free for the disabled and helpless. That fits Sarah. That's the Sarah we've all come to know and loathe.
I read Mike's post yesterday. It was excellent & captured exactly the thoughts I've had since a child starting with what I saw in my church, and it was moderate Presbyterian. In that case it wasn't about the message being preached, it was the attitudes of the so-called "leadership" which, to me, seemed extremely Unchristian – holier than thou. These "leaders" were the first to condemn and slander anyone and everyone.
Sarah has been criticized many times for never mentioning Jesus when the whole Xristian cult throws his name about regularly. Can't get to heaven unless you go through him etc.. She obviously doesn't agree with or practice any of the values he preached. If Jesus came back to earth today, she'd be the first in line to crucify him again as a socialist, marxist, communist along with all her fundie pals. "There are none so blind as those who will not see." Sorry, I probably didn't get the quote entirely right, but you get the idea.
Thanks Leah for all you're doing to shine the light on these frauds.
You are spot on! But these people use a Bible that has been twisted, edited and added to since 1909. They truly do not understand how they have been…and ARE…manipulated. It is sad.
But while sad…they are frightening in their zombie-like understanding of the Christian faith. Their lack of scriptural knowledge and willingness to be warrior's of God for the Christian Dominionist Zionist Movement threatens us all…including them.
Reagan was so unsure that it prompted his whole Star Wars idea to build a virtual dome over America so that IF the Rapture didn't really happen, and the onset of Armageddon was triggered, we would be safe from incoming nuclear weapons!!
It really IS unbelievable!
They all follow the prosperity gospels. If you are rich, god loves you lots. If you are poor, you are at fault and have provoked god's anger. Stupid yes, but that's how they think (if you can call what they pass as thought processes thinking….)
The New Agers of the 1990's had a version of this: poor people are poor because the have bad Karma.