Things like this happening in real life are why I think some conservatives are legitimately, sincerely, deeply stupid. And a little cruel.
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/08/1192663920/southern-baptist-convention-donald-trump-christianity
It was the result of having multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting the Sermon on the Mount, parenthetically, in their preaching — “turn the other cheek” — [and] to have someone come up after to say, “Where did you get those liberal talking points?” And what was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, “I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ,” the response would not be, “I apologize.” The response would be, “Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak.” And when we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis.
I don’t know what can be done about this. Humans are tribal and facts can’t beat that.
It is definitely telling that when conservatism has come at odds with Christianity, so many Christians have chosen to abandon Christianity instead of abandoning conservatism.
Depends on the flavour of conservativism. In some ways Christianity is pretty conservative (Like sexual abd gender dynamics: Women cannot be in ecclesial authority over men, sex is between a married man and a woman, remarriage isn’t allowed, divorce is frowned upon) but can also be pretty socialist (You shouldn’t be rich, give money to the poor, the Church should be collectively helping each other, literally forgive everyone and give all you have to the poor).
Although, the fact that nobody seems to be able to follow this perfectly illustrates the entire point on why Jesus had to die. I don’t see how people don’t realise this.
I don’t mean to imply that Christianity is progressive. But how a person reacts when politics is at odds with their religious beliefs is illuminating. Do their political beliefs follow from sincerely held religious beliefs? Or do they contort their religion in service of their political beliefs? For much of the religious right, it’s clearly the latter.
It is absolutely not about Christ’s message anymore. This is specifically about only hearing what they want to hear, not to challenge them to be better. That is how they consume social media: only that which supports their current thoughts is paid attention to.
More so than ever, Christianity will be used as a political tool to oppress, and stray further from the original religion.
At the risk of being a little spicy, I feel like a lot of christianity has been about hearing what people want to hear for a long time. All the stuff that boils down to “do whatever you want, you’ll be forgiven” is nonsense. Prosperity gospel is garbage.
If you think you are a good christian but you are not helping the poor, you are fucking fool.
Luke 18
18A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ a ”
21“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Luke 10
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
All of these so-called christians who refuse to aid other people are fools, cowards, and failures.
Of course, the bible has a lot of strange and inscrutable stuff, too. Like the parable of the talents is a weird one. I just get really mad at people who say they’re christian but are selfish
Christianity isn’t about doing what you want- it’s about how Christ needed to die because we cannot follow these rules. I think someone who thinks they are a “good Christian” is already making the mistake in thinking that.
Luke 18:19
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Growing up in a Christian household and being around people who pfeached5and believed in the prosperity gospel, my impression has always been that they think they are too poor to help people so if god wants them to help others then it will make them prosperous.
I mean they’ve always been subversive, and the upper echelons of organized religion have, largely, been hypocritical since the year dot.
nottheonion
Obligatory “this isn’t even satire” observation
That aside, of course Republicans were offended by an actual Christian. They hate the bible. Donald Trump Jr. literally said out loud with his mouth that following its teachings has “gotten us nothing.”
But hey, he was only talking about that one woke verse, and obviously God doesn’t want us taking everything Jesus said seriously!
Republicans are offended by everything.
Why is this perfectly accurate headline in an Onion community?
