What
Would Jesus Do?
Kerry
Tomasi
January 10, 2004
first published in thepeoplesvoice.org
I
was never a big fan of George W. Bush. In fact,
I wasn't even a tiny wee-bit of a fan.
And
it wasn't just his costumed "dress-up" appearances
at photo-op events - smirking and strutting
about - that bothered me so. I understand that
certain people have no choice but to resort
to such things in order to project a confident
facade. And as devastating as his radical right
wing agenda is for our country, even this was
not my primary aversion. No, to me the most
odious aspect of G.W. was the assertion that
he was "chosen by God" to do these radical things,
and is therefore simply 'doing the Lords' work'.
It's
hard for me to express how skeptical I am when
I hear something like this. After all, this
is the kind of thing people like Osama bin Laden
and Hitler have been known to declare. Suffice
it to say, I didn?t buy it. As a bit of a Bible
buff, my first reaction was to recall Jesus'
admonition in Matthew 7:15 to - "Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." I was
certain that this passage summed up the entire
'chosen one' assertion in a nutshell.
But
being a fair-minded guy, I decided to do a little
New Testament research - kind of a "What Would
Jesus Do" type of thing - and see if there might
actually be a biblical basis for any of G.W.'s
policies and actions; one that would justify
the unwavering support Bible believing Christians
give this man and his party. Here's what I found
(I invite you to dust off that King James Version
and follow along):
Regarding
his outfits and staged photo-ops: "And adorn
thineselves with an outwardly appearance of
righteousness and cleanliness; for that which
appears so, shall truly be so." - Matthew 23:27-28
Regarding
his outfits and staged photo-ops: "And adorn
thineselves with an outwardly appearance of
righteousness and cleanliness; for that which
appears so, shall truly be so." - Matthew 23:27-28
And
his multimillion dollar fund-raisers: "When
thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not the
poor, the lame, the blind; but bid thy friends
and brethren and rich neighbors to come unto
thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be
rewarded: and he that humbleth himself shall
be debased." - Luke 14:11-14 "And bid thine
rich friends and neighbors to render unto Caesar
that which pleaseth Caesar, and Caesar will
render unto them those things they desire of
him." - Luke 20:25
And
his public displays of piety: "And when thou
prayest be not like those hypocrites who pray
in silence behind closed doors, ex! pecting
to be rewarded openly. For the Lord your God
will not hear their prayers. But pray loudly
and openly on the street corners and in the
public square, so to be seen of men." - Matthew
6:5-7
And
his warmongering: "But I say unto you, hate
your enemies, and curse them that curse you.
Thou shalt hunt them down one by one and kill
them for righteousness' sake. And turn not the
other cheek; for thou art either with us or
against us." - Matthew 5:39-44
And
his Robin Hood-in-reverse "take from the poor,
give to the rich" economic policies: "And Jesus
said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and
accumulate great wealth and store up great treasures
on earth; for it is easier for a rich man to
enter heaven, than for a poor man leading a
camel to pass thru the eye of a needle." - Matthew
19:21-24
Well,
there you have it. Could it be any clearer?
Needless
to say, I for one feel foolish for ever doubting.
