Seriously. What would Jesus do?

In the discussion of the busy body idiots and their anti-peace sign crusade, a lot of people, myself included, observed that the HOA president and his supporters seemed like right wing whack jobs. This lead others, myself included, to comment on how many right wing whack jobs are also Christianist whack jobs, and there was much piling on.

A lone voice spoke up, and said,

um, may I just quietly say that this HOA president who started this whole mess is not representative of ANY Christians that I know, myself included? My husband and I were just as outraged by that HOA president's reaction to a rather tasteful peace-symbol wreath as everyone else here. And speaking of acceptance, it would be nice if people in general would stop lumping all Christians in with the ultra-right-wing Pat Robertson types out there. Most Christians I know just wish to coexist peacefully with our neighbors, regardless of their differing beliefs.

I have thought a lot about this statement since I read it, because I'm recently guilty of lumping all Christians in with the ultra-right-wing Pat Robertson types out there, but I haven't always been that way. I've always made a concerted effort to truly live and let live, and respect how and what other people who want to worship, but since the rise of the people we call Christianists (those Dominionists who want to force everyone into their narrow and intolerent view of morality, by force if necessary,) I've just gotten religion fatigue. I'd like to think that I'm tolerant and patient and open-minded, but the truth is, I'm so fed up with people trying to make laws and decisions for me and my family that are none of their business, and I'm so fed up with being told that I'm a bad person because I don't subscribe to the same exact narrow views they have, whenever I hear "Christian" or "religion" or "morality" or "values", I just shut down.

This morning, I read this:

The president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America has declined the job, saying the organization wouldn't let him expand its agenda beyond opposing abortion and gay marriage.

The Rev. Joel Hunter, who was scheduled to take over the socially conservative group in January from Roberta Combs, said he had hoped to focus on issues such as poverty and the environment.

"These are issues that Jesus would want us to care about," said Hunter, a senior pastor at Northland Church in Longwood, Fla.

Hunter announced his decision not to take the job during an organization board meeting Nov. 21. A statement issued by the group said Hunter left because of "differences in philosophy and vision." Hunter said he was not asked to leave.

"They pretty much said, 'These issues are fine, but they're not our issues, that's not our base,"' Hunter said.

   

As recently as two months ago, that would have outraged me, but today, it just made me sad, probably because I'm relaxed a little bit since the election, and the Dominionists won't have a such a grip on Congress.

I realize that the Christian Coalition is really a political group (a huge problem for our country in and of itself) but if I were a Christian, I would be profoundly upset that this huge organization, with such a loud voice at the table and such a significant presence in public life, is declaring that stopping gay marriage and telling women whether or not they can make a deeply personal decision are more important issues -- and more specifically more important Christian issues -- than helping the people among us who have the least and need the most. Even though I'm not religious now, I went to a parochial school, and the way I understood the teachings of Christ, tolerance, charity, and compassion were pretty high up there on his list of ways to be a good person. That's another reason I am so tired of hearing from self-described religious folks that even though I work diligently to live my life according to those principles, I'm a bad person because I believe same-sex couples should be entitled to everything that the rest of us have, and I don't drop to my knees and declare my fealty to George W. Bush.

I sincerely hope that the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, The Family Research Council, and the rest of those organizations don't speak for the majority of Christians any more than that homeowner's association president does, and I sincerely hope that a lot of Christians will read that article and repudiate what their so-called leaders are suggesting.

Is stopping two people who love each other from getting married really more important than feeding and clothing a family who need help, especially during Winter? What would Jesus do?

Comments

[barbq1]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For many of my family who are "practicing Christians" this comes directly to the point. Jesus, for many, was teaching people of a new way to love their neighbor. A really new way of looking at peace on the planet and now some idiots think "peace sign=hippie=devil"
Ugh. Thank you for pointing out that many Christians practice what they preach.

[merindab]

I do count myself as a Christian, and I am just as fed up by the hypocrisy and the narrow mindedness. I want the freedom to practice my religion as I please and I think that right should extend to everyone, even if I disagree with them.

The hypocrisy just makes everyone look bad. I'm imperfect but I strive very hard to not be a hypocrite.

[CHV]

The core problem with the Christian Coalition is that they have truly been politically co-opted by the far-right elements of the Republican Party. And like the latter's leadership (Karl Rove), they are now keenly interested in hot-button social issues that will galvanize their ranks, and frankly, keep the sheep distracted and in line.

Although many Christians indeed care deeply about helping the poor, and burgeoning environmental issues (i.e. global warming), the sad truth is that in the eyes of political groups like the CC (which should pay taxes), these issues simply aren't "sexy" enough.

Instead, wailing about the evils of gay marriage and abortion are more effective at stirring the pot, and perpetuating the myth that Christians and their "traditional" beliefs are under mass assault (I believe the keyword is "persecuted") in America.

This is simply another method of staging an endless war. It's also a PR sham.

[darla8855]

Same as saying all Muslims are terrorists. It's all about having a health perspective.

[CHV]

Forgive me, I'm getting a little cranked up the more I think of this issue - particularly the pious, right-wing Republicans who beat a drum of small government, while advocating state expansive powers on how a woman can govern her own body, and who can get married or not.

I've said it a million times: self-righteous Republicans with a Bible in one hand and a flag in the other, DO want big government.

They just want it on their own terms.

Okay...rage fading...heartbeat slowing...

[Squirrelgnome]

This reminds me a lot of my favorite bumper sticker

"God is not a Republican.
Nor is he a Democrat."

Separation of church and state is probably a fool's dream. But it's a good one. Too often religious views interfere with advancement in government and science.

I am a Christian. I hope and pray that America will make a better decision in 2008 than it did in 2004.

[Myshtuff]

Good thing I'm jewish.. HAHA!!! But seriously though WIl I see what you are saying and some people just think they know what they are talking about and they think they can speak for everyone else. Those people are idiots.

[Voodoo]

To answer your rhetoical question... Jesus just may take gallons of water, turn it into wine, drink it all and cry himself to sleep.

Frankly, I'm deeply spiritual, but it's in heathenry... needless to say I get a lot of flack about how immoral I am from the Christianists. Becuase I don't subscribe to Judeo-Christian morality. I've come to just ignore them.

You on the other hand, speak very well, thanks for the sane voice. Just do a comparison on the bible sometimes between the number of references to the poor, and the number of references to homosexuality and see which it more important to their god :). Knowledge is fun.

V

[Steve Hughes]

The last line from one post: What would Jesus do?

The first line of the next post: Destroy all humans.

Sometimes reading is fun.

[Manda]

I'll admit, even though my best is Christian (and gay!), I get into the habit of lumping all of the Christians that I meet into the extreme right wing category. Happily, I'm trying to break myself of the habit but I'm glad that there are other people out there that are admitting the mistake of generalizing and placing a mistaken label where there doesn't need to be one.

I'd love to talk about the issue of homosexual marriage in America but, seeing as I'm not American, I'm not fully aware of the issues (aside from the fact that Bush is a Christianist...).

Thank you for pointing this out and, as always, providing the voice of reason and sanity.

[Rhettro]

I'm an agnostic raised in the Christian tradition. It would be great if practicing Christians focused on Christ's core issues of tolerance, peace and forgiveness. I believe the majority do exactly that, but there is a vocal minority that wants political power.

[Farkyl]

Wil, I think you´re 100% right to ask what JC would do. Being a Christian myself (uh, kind of...) I strongly believe he´d kick some of those guys in the nuts. Hard.

From a european point of view (in my case a German one)
those clergyman- / politician- hybrids you got in the US... Well, they freak me out.

It´s kind of frightening to see how much influence those guys have on your country. "God´s own country", good and well, but isn´t there a thing called secularization? And isn´t it a very good thing to have? At least I thought so...

Watching these things is a bit like seeing your 240 lbs, heavily armed, best friend getting under the influence of some kind of drug or sect. Seeing him becoming
- step by step- a bit more unpredictable and irrational.

Just another perspective.

Wil, keep up the great work and take care,

Farkyl

[Adrienne]

Good perspective. Thanks for making me think about it. Maybe it's just because the really loud Christians are the crazies and the nice, normal, live-good-lives types are too busy to run about and beat others over the head with their beliefs.
Signed,
Fellow-(former)Lumper-of-Christians

[(The Original) Mary Sue]

Jesus would say, "Get your lazy asses off the Interwebs and DO something, me-damnit!"

Or, at least that's what my priest says He'd say.

[darthsnugglebunny]

Amen, Wil! I get so tired of people assuming that just because I'm a practicing (and believing!) Catholic that I automatically hate homosexuals and think that any other faith is the work of Satan. When Jesus said "Love thy neighbor," he didn't qualify it in any way, he meant everyone, no exceptions (and none of that love the sinner, hate the sin bollocks). The right wing nutters don't speak for all of us.

[alicein1derland]

I am also a Christian, Wil, and I totally agree with you. I have been so discouraged and disheartened by the religious right and their claims to be the voice of all Christians. I have always thought that the definition of Christian was to be "Christ like", and I don't believe they resemble Him very often.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" means we should not be telling others how to live.... but to love them unconditionally. It's not always easy.... not everyone is lovable.... but you keep trying. And just because you are a Christian does not mean you are superior to others, have a license to be disdainful of their life choices or direct anyone in the correct behaviors. I think that humility is a key element in living a Christian life because it keeps your heart vulnerable and open. Christ like.

[BonzoGal]

The Christian Coalition wasn't "co-opted" by the reactionary right- they were founded by them back in the 80s. They've always been a political group, and they've always been hardcore conservative neo-cons with a strong "morality based" agenda.

As a staunch advocate and supporter of separation of church and state, I say let's pull a "Clockwork Orange" on those who hide behind religion to push their agendas on anybody else, and make 'em watch "Life of Brain" until their faces implode. ("I don't know what makes your face implode, But that's the way the movie ends.")

[Kathleen]

Nice post Wil, but I certainly did not see your previous post as lumping all Christians together.

I wish that more Christians who disagreed with Dobson, Christian Coalition, the right wing Chrsitians etc. would speak up more. We all "wish to coexist peacefully with our neighbors" but they are making it damn hard for lots of us.

[VeronicaRobinson]

As someone who has a gay sister, two if you count her girlfriend and I do so that would make TWO gay sisters, I am conflicted on...everything to do with being gay. I do not support the gay way of life and I don't support same sex marriages. Has this conversation ever come up when talking to my sister's? Absolutely not. Why? Frankly, it's not an important factor in our relationship. Not to me, not to them.

Having yelled at you in the past about lumping Christian's together, I hesitate to say anything at all but thank God you stopped doing that because as hurtful as it was to you to read things about nut-job's calling themselves "Christians" demanding that you do it their way or you'll go straight to hell, it was equally as hurtful for you to post about it, putting us all in the same catagory.

Jesus said lots of things and He would do and has done a lot more but most of all, Jesus gave us free will with the hope that we would live an awesome life and be happy.

What would Jesus do is a question only you have the answer to, love.

[Danco]

My wife and I are Christians and we hate the religious right. I support abortion, believe in evolution and know that homosexuality is no more a sin than heterosexuality.

I'm really disappointed that the Christian coalition was/is more concerned with two dudes kissing than someone starving. Then again, what else can you expect from people who would corrupt religion for their own personal gain? If you want to know what Jesus would do, there's a story about how he treated that kind of person. Let's just say that he wasn't terribly polite to them.

[mirkrim]

Wil, the problem is that when you really get down to it, Christians are people, and they're just as plagued by human fallacy as any other group.

We have it in government - political leaders who don't truly represent the common people. It's the same in Christianity. All it takes is a few hypocrites and chumps, and everyone suffers from the shockwave of sterotyping.

Human fallacy.

[EdwoodCA]

I've gotta say... the Christians posting here are awesome. Seriously.

I wish the powerful, [er, scratch that] power-hungry Christian leaders were anything like each of you.

/Not a fan of organized religions. At all.

[starshine_diva]

Want to hear something funny?

In the by-election for Repentigny riding in Quebec, a Bloc Quebecois candidate, Raymond Gravel, won.

The twist? He used to be a male prostitute, then he became a priest.

Yes. Loads of fun!
Read about it here and here

Enjoy!!

[mrfrodothefluffy]

Gotta agree with you about the Christianists. They are always saying that everyone else is trying to corrupt their values.....Well, why then is one of the five free channels on tv in Richmond Virginia a Christianist channel? Seems more like they are forcing their beliefs on everyone else! Just this morning I was channel flipping and the "Christian" channel was featuring a discussion about why Allah is satanic. ...I mean... I don't even have words for that. ...and I know that isn't how the majority of Christians feel about Islam. But, regular sane Christians don't have a channel on basic cable, the Christianists do.

[robespierrette]

". . .the way I understood the teachings of Christ, tolerance, charity, and compassion were pretty high up there on his list. . ."

Yes indeed. And here's the chapter and verse for you: (Corinthians 1:13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Doesn't really mention getting teh hate on, does it?