As Christianity’s Holy Week begins marking the final week of Jesus’ life as presented in the Bible, the State Department under Marco Rubio recently instructed all of its employees to report coworkers for ”anti-Christian bias.”
It baffles the mind how many so-called Christians have perverted the teachings of Christ and think THEY are the sanctimonious ones. Evil has won them over.
Jesus also got pissed! He flipped the tables of the sellers in the temple. If there is this Jesus/God he knows what's in their hearts. They will literally have Hell to pay.
I have struggled to understand, make sense of, the disconnect in the MAGA mindset. But trying to apply logic to illogical thinking just doesn’t work. I am no longer comfortable with calling myself a Christian because the word has been corrupted. I now just think of myself as a Jesus follower. I am comforted to know that there are still many of us. And many who follow the “way” by other names and traditions.
It's interesting to isolate one of Jesus' teachings at a time to look at when it's time to decide who does and who doesn't quality as one of his genuine followers. Take the parable of the Good Samaritan, for example. Be kind, concerned and generous to suffering fellow travelers even if they come from a designated 'out group' Jesus suggested. Who among current MAGA Republicans could claim to be anything of the sort? They reject those who aren't like them, are cutting off medical aid and food to tens of millions of their FELLOW CITIZENS, are unkindly exposing us to great dangers and financial loss associated with their stripping us of national security experts and seemingly nonsensical tariff policies, etc. If Donald Trump & Co. had found someone who spoke any language other than English lying wounded by the road they would have scooped him up and sent him to a hellhole of a prison in El Salvador.
Actually, the Parable of the Good Samaritan is even more radical than that: it's not that the one wounded on the side of the road is from a designated "out group," it's that the one who stops to help is. The Samaritan is the designated outcast from the point of view of the in-group -- after two "in-group" people pass by the wounded one. It's not just that you should stop to help "the despised Other" - it's that the despised Other can turn out to be more moral (loving, kind, just) than you are. The function of a parable is to subvert assumptions, to make us say "Wait a minute, what??" That's what this parable does.
Yeah, I knew that! (Haha.) But the message remains whether it's the Samaritan who pays for the room and care of the Jew, or vice versa. So it's about recognizing and honoring you innate obligation to your 'brother,' no matter his color or country of origin or political party or personal views of Donald Trump!
Yes.... To the question "Who is my neighbor?" this parable (i.e., Jesus) posits "everyone." But the answer to the concluding question of the parable "Who proved TO BE a neighbor?" points to the real radicalness of it: the one here who proved to be the most compassionate is the outcast himself, the one the hearers of the story would NOT have surmised. That's one step further than "be kind to everyone."
To get the full implication of this parable, we could re-tell it in our current societal terms: the one wounded on the road is a White MAGA American, the two that pass by without helping are White MAGA Americans, and the one who does stop to serve compassionately is a brown-skinned migrant. Assumptions subverted.
Yep. I was writing a comment, as is my habit, meant to be as direct and simple as I could make it. But you are clearly a person adept at the kind of contemplative reading and interpretation of scripture that creates greater and deeper and ultimately more useful understandings. I am taking away from this that I really would be best advised to take time enough to delve deeper. Thanks for taking time to remind me!
John, your words today truly resonated in my heart. Earlier this morning I attended my Episcopal Church where the Passion Gospel was read. As I listened to the story - one I've heard dozens of times - I couldn't help but think: Oh my God - this condemnation of all Jesus did is happening today. If Jesus were physically here now, he would be driven out or arrested and surely deported! It saddens me deeply; and as this Holy Week unfolds, I know I'll feel closer to this story than I have in many years.
John, your letter today sums it up very well. Holy Week and Easter evidently don't mean the same to them as it does to those of us who follow Christ's words and His teachings.
For eons, religion has been co-opted by power to control people, and MAGA "Christian" Nationalists are just one of the latest iterations. The only remedy is to see through what they are doing, and counteract with with action: helping others as much as possible, and banding together against it.
My tears have taken over. I’ve been crying all morning about the cruelty of all these men. How can I bear 4 more years without becoming numb to the horrors? My
rage has turned to sorrow and I’m fighting giving up entirely. This world is so fucking cruel.
This world can be extremely and especially cruel. I don't have an answer, but I recognize that's the way it goes at times. Yet, there is always a ray of hope to cling to. Hang in there.
Another powerful posting that could possibly change the minds of some conservative Christians - if only they would read it and be willing to have their thoughts and beliefs challenged.
That's a tough one. I've read that we must try to "meet people where they are." Everyone is different in their level of understanding, education, and life experiences. I agree that's true.
Yet, minds made up over years and years are nearly impossible to move.
I read an article that describes what's actually occurring with this administration. I share that same article with a family member and they don't believe it's true. They say that isn't what's happening at all.
I have begun to divide Christianity into pre-Constantine and post-Constantine. Before Constantine, Christianity was a small but growing religion devoted to love, community, equality, compassion and even a willingness to die for one's beliefs. After Constantine it was tempted by power and wealth. And after the fall of the Roman Empire, when the church became a powerful unifying force in Europe, and when patriarchy and hierarchy transformed it, everything changed. We got the Crusades, the Inquisition, and wars of religion. Fast forward to today and add to this America's focus on individualism and scapegoating of "others" and the American church has totally lost the plot.
Trump’s Administration is attempting to reintroduce an American form of the Spanish Inquisition. Complete with a form of Religious police. That’s the Project 2025 JD Vance wrote the forward for while Russ Vought (Dir. OMB) wrote most of the rest. It’s why Speaker Johnson is pushing to get “the cruelty is the point” budget past.
The poor, sick, elderly, homeless, pregnant, hungry children will be FORCED to go through “Christian” approved sources for their needs.
It’s why they let Elon dismantle the Federal Government by gaslighting people and brainwashing them to believe that the Federal Government is the “deep state” and these people are representatives of God.
How’s that working???
Look crazy don’t they?
Economy is a mess isn’t it?
Looks like the Republicans are making a profit on the market??
Now the President is threatening to send US Citizens to El Salvador?
This FALSE President can’t even pick up a phone and tell the Salvadoran President to send the guy back we made a mistake??
THIS ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IT HAS THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE
CHRISTIANITY
WHEN THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT WHEN THEY WERE WRONG??
Way do think that I am not afraid to post this?
Because I have already actually passed through the VEIL and been sent back with the instructions to FIGHT
It baffles the mind how many so-called Christians have perverted the teachings of Christ and think THEY are the sanctimonious ones. Evil has won them over.
They worship a petty, vengeful g-d created by them in their own flawed image.
Excellent take on this!
Jesus must be weeping.😢
Jesus also got pissed! He flipped the tables of the sellers in the temple. If there is this Jesus/God he knows what's in their hearts. They will literally have Hell to pay.
I have struggled to understand, make sense of, the disconnect in the MAGA mindset. But trying to apply logic to illogical thinking just doesn’t work. I am no longer comfortable with calling myself a Christian because the word has been corrupted. I now just think of myself as a Jesus follower. I am comforted to know that there are still many of us. And many who follow the “way” by other names and traditions.
I made the exact same decision as you! I am not a Christian, I am a Jesus follower!
I often say exactly the same thing—that I’m not a christian, but a follower of Jesus’ teachings.
Same. The word Christian means something quite different from little Christ these days.
I too call myself as a Jesus follower of his way - not the New Apostolic Reformation way that undergirds Trumpism.
I am with you 100%. I, too, have decided against calling myself a Christian, but Jesus follower is perfect.
I try to say something on the order of "I'm Christian, but not THAT kind."
It's interesting to isolate one of Jesus' teachings at a time to look at when it's time to decide who does and who doesn't quality as one of his genuine followers. Take the parable of the Good Samaritan, for example. Be kind, concerned and generous to suffering fellow travelers even if they come from a designated 'out group' Jesus suggested. Who among current MAGA Republicans could claim to be anything of the sort? They reject those who aren't like them, are cutting off medical aid and food to tens of millions of their FELLOW CITIZENS, are unkindly exposing us to great dangers and financial loss associated with their stripping us of national security experts and seemingly nonsensical tariff policies, etc. If Donald Trump & Co. had found someone who spoke any language other than English lying wounded by the road they would have scooped him up and sent him to a hellhole of a prison in El Salvador.
Actually, the Parable of the Good Samaritan is even more radical than that: it's not that the one wounded on the side of the road is from a designated "out group," it's that the one who stops to help is. The Samaritan is the designated outcast from the point of view of the in-group -- after two "in-group" people pass by the wounded one. It's not just that you should stop to help "the despised Other" - it's that the despised Other can turn out to be more moral (loving, kind, just) than you are. The function of a parable is to subvert assumptions, to make us say "Wait a minute, what??" That's what this parable does.
Yes indeed, MAGA is crucifying Jesus every day.
Yeah, I knew that! (Haha.) But the message remains whether it's the Samaritan who pays for the room and care of the Jew, or vice versa. So it's about recognizing and honoring you innate obligation to your 'brother,' no matter his color or country of origin or political party or personal views of Donald Trump!
Yes.... To the question "Who is my neighbor?" this parable (i.e., Jesus) posits "everyone." But the answer to the concluding question of the parable "Who proved TO BE a neighbor?" points to the real radicalness of it: the one here who proved to be the most compassionate is the outcast himself, the one the hearers of the story would NOT have surmised. That's one step further than "be kind to everyone."
To get the full implication of this parable, we could re-tell it in our current societal terms: the one wounded on the road is a White MAGA American, the two that pass by without helping are White MAGA Americans, and the one who does stop to serve compassionately is a brown-skinned migrant. Assumptions subverted.
Yep. I was writing a comment, as is my habit, meant to be as direct and simple as I could make it. But you are clearly a person adept at the kind of contemplative reading and interpretation of scripture that creates greater and deeper and ultimately more useful understandings. I am taking away from this that I really would be best advised to take time enough to delve deeper. Thanks for taking time to remind me!
John, your words today truly resonated in my heart. Earlier this morning I attended my Episcopal Church where the Passion Gospel was read. As I listened to the story - one I've heard dozens of times - I couldn't help but think: Oh my God - this condemnation of all Jesus did is happening today. If Jesus were physically here now, he would be driven out or arrested and surely deported! It saddens me deeply; and as this Holy Week unfolds, I know I'll feel closer to this story than I have in many years.
John, your letter today sums it up very well. Holy Week and Easter evidently don't mean the same to them as it does to those of us who follow Christ's words and His teachings.
Thank you.
For eons, religion has been co-opted by power to control people, and MAGA "Christian" Nationalists are just one of the latest iterations. The only remedy is to see through what they are doing, and counteract with with action: helping others as much as possible, and banding together against it.
Jesus would be in a prison in El Salvador by now.
If not killed.
They are the Pharisees
My tears have taken over. I’ve been crying all morning about the cruelty of all these men. How can I bear 4 more years without becoming numb to the horrors? My
rage has turned to sorrow and I’m fighting giving up entirely. This world is so fucking cruel.
This world can be extremely and especially cruel. I don't have an answer, but I recognize that's the way it goes at times. Yet, there is always a ray of hope to cling to. Hang in there.
Please don't give up. You are not alone. We, with God's help, and our like-minded brothers and sisters WILL get thru this.💙🙏🫂
Jesus tossed the money handlers and profiteers out of the temple for a reason. That apparently escapes most Sunday sermons.
You are correct— but thankfully in my church this morning, our pastor spoke about exactly that. His message was entitled “Jesus the protestor.”
Reminds me of the book : Jesus Acted Up
I'm looking that book up right now!! Thank you!!
LOVE THIS!!! 💙
Another powerful posting that could possibly change the minds of some conservative Christians - if only they would read it and be willing to have their thoughts and beliefs challenged.
That's a tough one. I've read that we must try to "meet people where they are." Everyone is different in their level of understanding, education, and life experiences. I agree that's true.
Yet, minds made up over years and years are nearly impossible to move.
I read an article that describes what's actually occurring with this administration. I share that same article with a family member and they don't believe it's true. They say that isn't what's happening at all.
I don't know how you penetrate that barrier.
I have begun to divide Christianity into pre-Constantine and post-Constantine. Before Constantine, Christianity was a small but growing religion devoted to love, community, equality, compassion and even a willingness to die for one's beliefs. After Constantine it was tempted by power and wealth. And after the fall of the Roman Empire, when the church became a powerful unifying force in Europe, and when patriarchy and hierarchy transformed it, everything changed. We got the Crusades, the Inquisition, and wars of religion. Fast forward to today and add to this America's focus on individualism and scapegoating of "others" and the American church has totally lost the plot.
Trump’s Administration is attempting to reintroduce an American form of the Spanish Inquisition. Complete with a form of Religious police. That’s the Project 2025 JD Vance wrote the forward for while Russ Vought (Dir. OMB) wrote most of the rest. It’s why Speaker Johnson is pushing to get “the cruelty is the point” budget past.
The poor, sick, elderly, homeless, pregnant, hungry children will be FORCED to go through “Christian” approved sources for their needs.
It’s why they let Elon dismantle the Federal Government by gaslighting people and brainwashing them to believe that the Federal Government is the “deep state” and these people are representatives of God.
How’s that working???
Look crazy don’t they?
Economy is a mess isn’t it?
Looks like the Republicans are making a profit on the market??
Now the President is threatening to send US Citizens to El Salvador?
This FALSE President can’t even pick up a phone and tell the Salvadoran President to send the guy back we made a mistake??
THIS ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IT HAS THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE
CHRISTIANITY
WHEN THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT WHEN THEY WERE WRONG??
Way do think that I am not afraid to post this?
Because I have already actually passed through the VEIL and been sent back with the instructions to FIGHT
They, by all accounts, are saying "give us Barabus". 💔
Exactly - that is the part MAGA is playing and Fox News/NewsMax etc are inciting the crowd.
I ask myself this every day? WWJD certainly none of this.. it is heartbreaking. I am truly sickened by all of it.😔
Father don’t forgive them, for they know what they do. They would not listen to me.