Holy Crap: Jesus Wants You To Hate Edition
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who is a helluva guy, committed Dallas to taking in 1,400 refugees from Syria. Almost all of Dallas’ ministers of faith joined hands with the mayor and rejoiced that Dallas could help war-torn people.
However, Rev. Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas (and Fox News contributor) wants to keep refugees out of this country. To do that, he had to re-write the Bible.
“Most people assume the Christian response is to allow immigrants and refugees’ unconditional entrance into this country, and I think they think that because they confuse Jesus with the Statue of Liberty — give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses. But in fact the real historical Jesus did urge compassion for those in need, but he also said, ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.’ In other words, support government with your taxes because they have a legitimate function like protecting citizens. Those of us who believe in the sanctity of life believe that sanctity serves to not only to protect the unborn but to protect the born from terrorist attacks. That’s a Christian value as well.”
Notice that seamless joining he made of church and state? And, Syrians don’t get sanctity of life. You know, because they are like … foreign.
I dunno, when Sweet Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, I think he said “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.”
But I guess the big one that stands out is St. Luke’s telling of the parable Jesus spoke especially for Robert Jeffress. The Good Samaritan pretty well says that this preacher man is full of caca del toro.
Jeffress goes on to compare Syrian refugees to Planned Parenthood selling body parts and then semi-endorses Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. You can watch it here.
I think the guy needs to go to Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school.
>I think the guy needs to go to Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school.
And we know they won’t turn him away – You know….Tax Collectors, Sinners, and the Idiot Misguided.
1Robert Jeffress has some fine circular logic there. Maybe he should blend the 1st and 2nd Amendments the same way he did church and state. Indeed, Bob, assert your right to take your circular logic to the circular firing squad of your choice.
Christmas, that time of year every snacilbupeR rushes out to be the first to kick the crutch out from Tiny Tim.
2Well, in my bible, protecting the sanctity of life means that Republicans should not hold Any elective office where they have to deal with people!
The government should be protecting me from ‘those kind of people’ you know, the Trumps and Cruz’s of the world.
3They are very hazardous to people’s health.
Selective KKKristianity rears its ugly head again. Kudos to
4Mayor Rawlings for showing true compassion.
Given the fundamentalist’s use of the Old Testament as their go-to source of Christian? values, one has to ask how the good Reverend missed God’s admonition to the Jews to welcome the stranger because God brought the Israelites out of Egypt.
5The Antichrist anyone?
6No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says. He is always convinced that it says what he means. — George Bernard Shaw
And I’m sure there’s something about the devil quoting scripture to serve his own ends, which applies to this hypocrite even more than to me.
7Whoops, found another apt quotation in my Snark & Ammo collection:
[He] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, sir, is not in Nature.
8— Samuel Johnson
I don’t think Robert should have so publicly admitted he failed New Testament exegesis. And, also too, I think he has confused Republican Supply Side Jesus with Jesus of Nazareth. Perhaps he hasn’t been taking his meds?
9I am ask often by these fundamentalist “Do you know Jesus?”. My question is, Does Jesus know you?
10Rhea: Wonderful quotes. Thank you.
Cole: One of them asked me: Have you accepted Jesus as your savior? I said: Nope. I chose God. Sorry. The expression on their face was priceless.
11If they are going to use the pulpit to try and affect policy, it’s time to tax them.
12Jeffress, take your bible and stuff it. A tough choice, but a necessary decision, no refugees until we take care of our homeless citizens.
13I think it’s time for the Bible thumpers to stop beating on the cover and open it up.
“Depart from me, accursed; for I was hungry and you fed me not… I was a stranger and you welcomed me not…”
14re: Rev. Robert Jeffress
15six words for Rev Jeffress: “Don’t you think he looks tired?”
@Bob:
“Given the fundamentalist’s use of the Old Testament as their go-to source of Christian? values, one has to ask how the good Reverend missed God’s admonition to the Jews to welcome the stranger because God brought the Israelites out of Egypt.”
They ignore that, just like the other parts of Leviticus that doesn’t fight their current view or practice. Pass the shrimp!
16I’m impressed he thinks government has a legitimate function.
17Well, I always thought that Xtians were supposed to be following the NEW Testament; you know, the one that Jesus is supposed to have been sent to save us from the OLD Testament of Fear, Hatred, and Ignorance.
Sure am glad I don’t subscribe to the Rev. Jeffress’ point of view.
And yes, Tax the entire Congregation.
18A poem I would like Jeffress to read, even if he would not understand it: Hope the link is OK – I’m not good with links.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Thurman
“The Work of Christmas”
When the song of the angels is stilled,
19when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
I clicked on your link to Matthew 5-7 because I didn’t recall that the “give me your tired” quote was from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It was said in spirit, but the quote comes, as I found in Wikipedia, from Emma Lazarus’ poem “The Colossus.” Lazarus’ family had lived in America since the Revolutionary War. Her 1883 poem was inspired by the influx of destitute Jews from Europe who were fleeing the pogroms. Certainly apt given present circumstances in Iraq and Syria.
On the other hand, Jesus did mention Jeffress in Matthew 7, 15: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
20Micr you are right, he does look tired. I wonder what is wrong with him.
21I have heard that man’s name before and not in a good way. Does he have a colorful past or even a black and white one?
22Isn’t this Jeffress the guy who was running around in 2012 telling everyone who would listen that Mitt Romney wasn’t a Christian because he’s a Mormon?
Sounds like a hell of a guy.
23Do you suppose it has ever occurred to this guy that the Bible he claims to admire so much was written in Syria and nearby parts of the world?
And that the Jesus he quotes was born and raised in that ‘Hood?
24Ellie, good poem. Also saw this by Thurman just below that:
“The measure of a man’s estimate of your strength is the kind of weapons he feels that he must use in order to hold you fast in a prescribed place.” – explaining Jim Crow laws to his daughters.
25it might be appropriate to alert this snake oil salesman Jeffress to the lesson learned in Genesis 14 … it describes what happens to an entire city when they turn away strangers.
26A hypocritical leader of hypocrite followers. When all of them pass from this life, they can take up new residence in Dante’s Malebolge, Bolgia Six.
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