Sold Out. Souled Out. Hollowed Out.
From my perspective, Evangelical Christianity has been sold out to power and politics, or maybe “souled out” is a better term.
Hollowed out also comes to mind quite often.
What I see is a form of
Christianity that has traded
Christianity that has traded
righteousness for power,
character for politics,
the hard, dirty work of compassion for the easy way,
the essential issues at the core of Christianity for distraction issues that are nonessential, fringe issues.
― Christopher Hitchens
Immigration, homosexuality, and abortion as political weapons
It is of great concern to me that these political issues seem to have emerged for political convenience and power which included mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Bible. Could it be that the Bible has secretly lost its authority, inspiration, and inerrancy in order for it to be so freely weaponized for political gain? And the absurdity of it is that it is the "Evangelical Christians" that are trying to hang on to their precious inspiration and inerrancy while at the same time weaponizing the sacred book for the sake of their precious politics. They are going to have to prioritize soon because the rest of us are catching on and they are losing their integrity and credibility.
No one can serve two masters.
"Following Jesus is not a respectable religion, and I suspect it was never meant to be. It is a call to truth, justice and liberation for those oppressed, excluded and disempowered."
Diarmuid O'Murchu
Source: Catching Up With Jesus
FOLLOWING THE EASY WAY
Originally, Christianity was never meant to be the easy way. Then it became seduced with power by becoming an arm of empire (which has been for most of its history). Currently, it has again been hoodwinked and hijacked by the power of empire.It is so interesting how easy it has been to forsake the essentials of Christianity for the sake of politics, money, and power.
Essentials are those basic, central characteristics expressed in words and actions and reactions that prove a person is a Christian:
- Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- Loving God and Neighbor, which includes our enemy, the alien, the stranger, and all of those that are different from us... unconditionally.
- Do to others only what you would want done to you.
there is no faith,
there is no love,
there is no Christianity.
"Faith without works is dead." (James 2:14-26)
"Anyone who does not love does not know God,
"Faith without works is dead." (James 2:14-26)
"Anyone who does not love does not know God,
because God is love." (1 John 4:8)
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)
It is so much easier to focus on nonrelational, impersonal, political, nonessentials that were not emphasized by Jesus, the Bible, and 2000 years of Christianity. I see this as yet another prime example of worshiping the gods of comfort, security, and certainty or a compartmentalized religion that has no demands except possibly on Sundays, holidays, and voting day to do one's duty.
Behold, a new American sanitized, sterilized, pasteurized, homogenized Jesus emerges creating the easy way, a pipeline to heaven, where right belief expressed in fear and hate rather than right living is the fruit of the spirit. A nice imaginary Jesus has been created for our own convenience in America. Christians no longer have to "love their neighbor" or be a "friend of sinners" or care for the "least of these" because it is too hard and inconvenient and dirty. Behold a new story in the heads of well meaning Christians, as they sit in their easy chairs and padded pews. No wonder the gullible are gobbling it up.
These nonessential issues are safe and easy; issues where nothing needs to be done, no one can touch your heart, and you can't touch others, allowing us to escape the hard work of compassion, avoid the pain of empathy, and not get one’s hands dirty; secure and safe in one’s bubble. All that needs to be done is to rail in judgement or hate against people on social media (our self-made echo chamber), sign petitions, and donate money; nothing personal, nothing face to face, no compassion needed, no relationships necessary. Those that are affected as victims by these issues are unavailable to one’s touch, words, and actions; arms length, safe and easy. No care, no compassion, no service except lip service from a distance.
These nonessential issues are safe and easy; issues where nothing needs to be done, no one can touch your heart, and you can't touch others, allowing us to escape the hard work of compassion, avoid the pain of empathy, and not get one’s hands dirty; secure and safe in one’s bubble. All that needs to be done is to rail in judgement or hate against people on social media (our self-made echo chamber), sign petitions, and donate money; nothing personal, nothing face to face, no compassion needed, no relationships necessary. Those that are affected as victims by these issues are unavailable to one’s touch, words, and actions; arms length, safe and easy. No care, no compassion, no service except lip service from a distance.
Christianity in America has sectioned itself off and segregated itself from those that Jesus said he came for; the outcasts and despised, the poor and downtrodden, the week and the weary, the lowly and forgotten, the unseen and unheard; THE SICK NOT THE HEALTHY. A friend of mine told me a story that she was in an adult Sunday school class and they had started a new topic, studying what the Bible says about the poor. When it was discussion time, they all turned to reach other and said, I don't know anyone that is poor, do you? The answer was"no" all the way around the room. Following what Jesus said and did or what the Bible says to do no longer matters. Just vote from the safe, secure, comfortable bubble. Incidentally, I have noticed a very distinct growth of the War on the Poor and Advocates for the Rich over subsequent years. I think they ceased to study the "poor" in the bible. It is easier.
Vote for nonessential, unbiblical issues like anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, xenophobia, and homophobia.
American Christians don't even know what the bible says about their own issues (?? just keep reading).
Primarily, I see that we have gutted (hollowed out) the real work of Christianity for the non-issues or anti-issues of abortion, immigration, and LGBTQIA equality. Currently it seems that Christianity is defined more by what it stands against than what it stands for. Rather than pro-life, it is anti-abortion. And may I suggest that those in power do not care about those issues? These issues are simply tools of manipulation to get a vote and maintain their base of support. Sometimes they end up being against the needs of the people unless there is multiple perspectives making those decisions. Here is an unfortunate example that is bad for both pro-life and pro-choice advocates.
Recently, a high court decision banned employers from being forced to provide birth control under the Affordable Care Act. Rather than being thought through, this seemed to be more of an anti-Obama move; and he isn't even president anymore! But that made it a victory, albeit thoughtless and mindless. If this would have been thought through for the sake of politics, anyone could see that if women use less birth control, then they will have more unwanted pregnancies; which in turn will almost guarantee more abortions. So this action of the administration works counterproductive to the goal of no abortions. Not very wise.
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.”
― Audre Lorde
“There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.”
― Audre Lorde
True Pro Life = Advocating for Life
The belief that all life is sacred and deserves to be protected. One who is truly pro-life will oppose capital punishment, war, poverty, and all forms of physical or mental torture, domestic abuse, police brutality, and gun control. Such a person will see abortion as a tragedy for all involved, not a "reproductive right" to be celebrated - and will work to end abortion, not by force or intimidation, but by working to change the social and economic conditions that lead people to be so desperate as to have no choice but abortion.
It seems quite hypocritical that people might think that because a person identifies as pro-life, they would support such atrocities as capital punishment, pre-emptive war, racism, or violence against women.
The institution of Christianity was birthed in 313 AD in the womb of the power of empire and sustains itself in that same power as an arm of empire; progressively merging religion with the power and authority of politics as the power and authority of religion is trumped, stifled, and rendered meaningless. This struggle between revival and empire has continued for 2000 years. That's why America was founded. The founders fled the tyranny of religion in England so that they could be free to worship or not worship, believe or not believe in America. Check out the latest statistics of those that are religious and those that are no longer religious (the nones) in America and throughout the world. https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
Recently I was checking some statistics about American Christianity. In 2015, the country was 75% professing Christians. By 2019, it dropped to 65%. You may say, only 10% during Trump's presidency? And I say, yes, over 30,000,000 people have left Christianity in America. Not just the church, but these are people that can decidedly no longer identify as Christian. Who can blame them?
Following are the main three nonessential, fringe issues that Christianity has sold itself out to along with the misinterpreted scriptures that are being used as propaganda. These are fringe in the bible, in Jesus’ teachings, and in Christianity for 2000 years. But these are issues that powerful political players have been manipulating into the evangelical mainstream, not for the sake of these issues being important but for the sake of getting a vote.
Keep in mind that in the bible, when there is something that is clearly against the Law of God, then there is always a commandment stating that. But there are no commandments stating:
1. Thou shalt build a wall to keep out the immigrants and the refugees. Fear them!
2. Thou shalt discriminate against homosexuals that are law abiding citizens. Fear them!
3. Thou shalt not commit abortion. Abortion is murder!
Following are the main three nonessential, fringe issues that Christianity has sold itself out to along with the misinterpreted scriptures that are being used as propaganda. These are fringe in the bible, in Jesus’ teachings, and in Christianity for 2000 years. But these are issues that powerful political players have been manipulating into the evangelical mainstream, not for the sake of these issues being important but for the sake of getting a vote.
Immigration, Homosexuality, and Abortion
A Biblical and History Perspective
1. Thou shalt build a wall to keep out the immigrants and the refugees. Fear them!
2. Thou shalt discriminate against homosexuals that are law abiding citizens. Fear them!
3. Thou shalt not commit abortion. Abortion is murder!
The Bible says the exact opposite of these three things, for those that might still care to follow it. See the Bible study below for details.
Also, keep in mind that in Jeremiah 23, it is made clear that no one is to use the word of God to prove a point. We cannot say "thus says the Lord" and then use it for political purposes unless this is truly a command of God. Jeremiah 23 takes is a step further and states that if you do use your position and authority as a leader, then that makes you a false prophet. And the punishment for false prophecy is stoning to death. By the way, a prophecy is not primarily foretelling the future like most think. A Prophecy is forthtelling, speaking the truth, both to power and to the people, often purposefully inciting insurrection. So we must all beware of what we call truth. Too often we state our opinions as if they were the truth. Might this be false prophecy? Yes, according to Jeremiah 23 and Deuteronomy 18:15-20: “The Lord your God will raise up for a prophet like me…I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak them everything that I command…But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods or presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak – that prophet shall die.” Just in case Christians take their bible seriously anymore.
Immigration
“When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
(The Holy Bible -- Leviticus 19:34)
(The Holy Bible -- Leviticus 19:34)
“…Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs… "
(The Message – I Thessalonians 5:13-15)
I begin with Immigration because, in my experience, this is the most recent and most politicized perversion of the nationalist Christian religion, straight out contradicting the teachings of the bible. Those in power have used our fears against us quite deftly. I am appalled at how easily this was done. We all have some dis-ease around difference. This is something we are socialized and conditioned to do. We naturally fear that which we do not understand. Unless we make the effort to get to know those that are different, we’ll believe anything that stokes our fears of difference. Immigrants and refugees are very vulnerable, just like orphans and widows in biblical times, and perhaps the easiest targets due to differences in culture, race, and often religion.
So fear of the stranger (xenophobia) was easy propaganda, especially with so much money behind it from powerful political operatives by repeatedly using inflammatory language like the “infestation” or “invasion” of the aliens “pouring” over our borders; the murderers, the drug dealers, killers, predators, animals, and all of the “bad people.” Just like any brainwashing, this propaganda stoked fear with lies primarily to manipulate getting the vote of those that think they are better than the “least of these” and still call themselves Christians. Inflammatory language like this is nothing more than another form of violence and bullying.
For more on the dark past of inflammatory language, see
https://livingwithopenhands2.blogspot.com/2020/04/labeling-categorizing-and-eliminating.html
https://livingwithopenhands2.blogspot.com/2019/12/words-matter.html
Keep in mind that Trump is not the source. He is simply the mouth piece for the money powered interests and the fears of common people; a player in a system of deceit. He is a symptom of our society's sickness. "Do not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
I begin with Immigration because, in my experience, this is the most recent and most politicized perversion of the nationalist Christian religion, straight out contradicting the teachings of the bible. Those in power have used our fears against us quite deftly. I am appalled at how easily this was done. We all have some dis-ease around difference. This is something we are socialized and conditioned to do. We naturally fear that which we do not understand. Unless we make the effort to get to know those that are different, we’ll believe anything that stokes our fears of difference. Immigrants and refugees are very vulnerable, just like orphans and widows in biblical times, and perhaps the easiest targets due to differences in culture, race, and often religion.
So fear of the stranger (xenophobia) was easy propaganda, especially with so much money behind it from powerful political operatives by repeatedly using inflammatory language like the “infestation” or “invasion” of the aliens “pouring” over our borders; the murderers, the drug dealers, killers, predators, animals, and all of the “bad people.” Just like any brainwashing, this propaganda stoked fear with lies primarily to manipulate getting the vote of those that think they are better than the “least of these” and still call themselves Christians. Inflammatory language like this is nothing more than another form of violence and bullying.
For more on the dark past of inflammatory language, see
https://livingwithopenhands2.blogspot.com/2020/04/labeling-categorizing-and-eliminating.html
https://livingwithopenhands2.blogspot.com/2019/12/words-matter.html
I also begin with Immigration because for those that have ever read the bible, they know how important these people are. The bible takes a totally opposite view of immigrants and refugees from what many Trump-supporting Evangelicals are taking. Homosexuality was never a command to follow and was not even a word during biblical times (see below). Abortion is not addressed with any conclusiveness in the Bible either. Rather life begins with breath at birth. And yet they have been the rallying points that the powerful have used to get the votes of glossy eyed Christians caught in the headlights, afraid of getting run over.
If the two references above are not enough, there are 57 more at the end of this post. I give thanks to a friend of mine for posting these. This is part of his blog documenting his amazing journey to photograph the immigrant caravan that was migrating toward America because of the violence and fear of death in their home countries. Yes, this is that caravan of “stone cold criminals” as falsely accused by the highest office in our land of an "invasion". Please check out this very moving story and all of the amazing pictures. He truly is a hero! And so are these people fleeing for their lives. https://davidrbanta.com/
It blows my mind that Christians participate in this prejudice against the people that are clearly the most dear to the heart of God, according to the Bible: the poor and downtrodden, the battered and bruised, the shattered and shocked, the torn and tattered; the weathered, worn, and weary; the scared, scarred, and scattered. It seems to me that there is now a war on the poor and downtrodden, the orphans and the widows, the refugees and the aliens. I think of it as an anti-Christ movement. What else could it be???My only conclusion is that the Christianity in which I was raised as an evangelical is gone in America and that the America of our founding fathers is also gone… or almost...
leaving me embarrassed, ashamed, and so very sad ...
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is not an issue in the Bible because it wasn’t an issue in that culture. The verses that are misinterpreted in the bible for political purposes primarily are references to sexual violence and perversion of all sorts and not monogamous, committed relationships. AND it continued to not be an issue for Christianity throughout history until it was politicized over the past 50 years; verses and words sloppily and hastily interpreted from the bible to prove their political point. Here are the main bible verses that Christians misuse without really examining them:Genesis 19: "God sends two angels disguised as men into the City of Sodom where the men of Sodom threatened to rape them.” This is referring not to homosexuality but to sexual perversion and violence through gang rape. That is what the original Hebrew word means. There was no word for homosexual in those times.
Here is the real point of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, according to the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 16:49: "Now, this was the sin of your sister, Sodom. She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned, they did not help the poor and needy." In other words, everyone using this story as evidence of the sin of homosexuality, might be missing the point entirely.
When God calls homosexuality an abomination.
(Leviticus 18:22) (Leviticus 20:13)
We've all heard that Leviticus is where the Bible straight-up says that homosexual behavior is an abomination even though there is no word for homosexuality. And yes, it seems to me that that since it is even further back than the new testament when the term didn't exist. It then says that homosexuals should receive the death penalty (!!!). It also says the same thing about eating pork or shellfish, charging interest on loans, and a whole bunch of other restrictions that were a part of the Old Testament Law Code. But for Christians, the Old Testament doesn't (dare I say "shouldn't?") settle any issue because Romans 10:4 says that Christ is the end of the law. Which is probably why most Christians today eat meat, use credit cards, wear makeup, and support equality for women. Because, as Hebrews 8:13 says, the old law is obsolete and aging.
And now, the New Testament:
When people turn away from God.
(Romans 1:26-27)
"Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones; in the same way, men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."
This is where Vines Expository Dictionary of the Bible really digs in on the cultural context angle. In Biblical times, same-sex behavior was primarily seen as happening between adult men and adolescent boys (masters and servants — yikes), via prostitution, and by men who were married to women. In all of those cases, we can see why it would have been viewed as sinful, excessive, lustful, and against God's law. But he makes no mention of love, commitment, faithfulness, or the type of same-sex relationships that are at question in the debate around marriage. (By the way, Paul also says that men having long hair is "unnatural" and that women shouldn't speak in church, so it's clear Paul himself may have had some issues of his own.)
Uses of the Greek works "Malakoi" and "Arsenokoitai"
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10) (1 Timothy 1:10)
Malakoi: effeminate, soft. Mostly refers to soft clothing. Of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. Fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite -- effeminate, soft. Catamite = a young boy kept for sexual practices.
Arsenokoitai: male prostitutes. In 1611 when the Bible was translated into English, there was no word for homosexuality. So the King James Version (the only english bible at that time) translated it as abusers of themselves with mankind. It is only in later translations, after it became an English word, that homosexuals was used. In the Greek language of the New Testament, there was no word for homosexual either. Most biblical language scholars think that Paul made this word up. Unfortunately he did not define it for us, leaving us wondering.
These words are included in the New Testament's lists of people who will not inherit God's kingdom. And there has been much debate over their original meaning. (Translating ancient words is hard) Some believe them to mean homosexuality and sodomy, whereas others have said that the closest modern translation would be "dirty old men."
Here's how Vines Expository Bible Dictionary (in the article below) explains it:
Many modern translators have rendered these terms as sweeping statements about gay people, but the concept of sexual orientation didn't even exist in the ancient world. Yes, Paul did not take a positive view of same-sex relations (nor did he support women speaking in church...), but the context he was writing in is worlds apart from gay people in committed, monogamous relationships. The Bible never addresses the issues of sexual orientation or same-sex marriage, so there's no reason why faithful Christians can't support their gay brothers and sisters and every reason that they should, i.e. unconditional love, the core mark of the believer.
From: https://www.upworthy.com/homosexuality-in-the-bible-here-s-what-six-passages-say-and-how-to-interpret-them (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) (1 Timothy 1:10)
Malakoi: effeminate, soft. Mostly refers to soft clothing. Of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. Fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite -- effeminate, soft. Catamite = a young boy kept for sexual practices.
Arsenokoitai: male prostitutes. In 1611 when the Bible was translated into English, there was no word for homosexuality. So the King James Version (the only english bible at that time) translated it as abusers of themselves with mankind. It is only in later translations, after it became an English word, that homosexuals was used. In the Greek language of the New Testament, there was no word for homosexual either. Most biblical language scholars think that Paul made this word up. Unfortunately he did not define it for us, leaving us wondering.
These words are included in the New Testament's lists of people who will not inherit God's kingdom. And there has been much debate over their original meaning. (Translating ancient words is hard) Some believe them to mean homosexuality and sodomy, whereas others have said that the closest modern translation would be "dirty old men."
Here's how Vines Expository Bible Dictionary (in the article below) explains it:
Many modern translators have rendered these terms as sweeping statements about gay people, but the concept of sexual orientation didn't even exist in the ancient world. Yes, Paul did not take a positive view of same-sex relations (nor did he support women speaking in church...), but the context he was writing in is worlds apart from gay people in committed, monogamous relationships. The Bible never addresses the issues of sexual orientation or same-sex marriage, so there's no reason why faithful Christians can't support their gay brothers and sisters and every reason that they should, i.e. unconditional love, the core mark of the believer.
Also, see this article written by four pastors and theologians: What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality.
"Homosexual" was not part of any English translation of the Bible until 1946. And there is no word for it in biblical times. So it could never have been a "Christian issue" since it was not in the bible. See
Has "Homosexual" Always Been in the Bible? https://um-insight.net/perspectives/has-%E2%80%9Chomosexual%E2%80%9D-always-been-in-the-bible/
1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture. A Documentary. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10389180/
Is homosexuality natural, ever? Check these out:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2004/07/homosexual-animals-debate/
http://www.yalescientific.org/2012/03/do-animals-exhibit-homosexuality/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/1500-animal-species-practice-homosexuality.aspx
I do remember when I was in bible college in the late 70s completing my degree in religion, Greek, and Bible, there was a growing debate about when life begins. The original belief was obvious, life begins when the child is born and takes a first breath. At that time and for the previous 1950 years, bible scholars never questioned this. It was a no-brainer and could be found many times in the Bible.
Also see: What the Bible says about homosexuality | Kristin Saylor & Jim O'Hanlon | TEDxEdgemontSchool
Is homosexuality natural, ever? Check these out:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2004/07/homosexual-animals-debate/
http://www.yalescientific.org/2012/03/do-animals-exhibit-homosexuality/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/1500-animal-species-practice-homosexuality.aspx
Abortion
In the Bible, there is one related theme throughout. “Breath” is correlated to life and death. Once there is breath, there is life. When there is no breath, there is no life. The breath of God brings life into existence, nurtures life, and without it life ends. The word “breath” refers both to the Divine breath and the human breath. See the end of this post for 42 references of breath and life in the Bible.*I do remember when I was in bible college in the late 70s completing my degree in religion, Greek, and Bible, there was a growing debate about when life begins. The original belief was obvious, life begins when the child is born and takes a first breath. At that time and for the previous 1950 years, bible scholars never questioned this. It was a no-brainer and could be found many times in the Bible.
When the Roe decision was handed down, W. A. Criswell, the Southern Baptist Convention’s former president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas—also one of the most famous fundamentalists of the 20th century—was pleased: 'I have always felt that it was only after a child was born and had a life separate from its mother that it became an individual person,' he said, 'and it has always, therefore, seemed to me that what is best for the mother and for the future should be allowed.'
"Although a few evangelical voices, including Christianity Today magazine, mildly criticized the ruling, the overwhelming response was silence, even approval. Baptists, in particular, applauded the decision as an appropriate articulation of the division between church and state, between personal morality and state regulation of individual behavior. 'Religious liberty, human equality and justice are advanced by the Supreme Court abortion decision,' wrote W. Barry Garrett of Baptist Press.
I can attest to the fact that my bible / religion professors at the fundamentalist bible college that I went to all agreed with this assessment. Life at conception was unheard of in the 70s. In those classes, I studied the great theologians of fundamentalism and never did this issue come up. But now, one of those ones considered great at that time, John MacArthur, recently stood up in support of Trump by saying to no Christian can vote democrat due to the abortion and homosexual issues. What a hypocrite! It is no wonder that the herd or the flock is mindless following men using their previously established reputations as leaders, knowing full well this history of how these issues developed, without daring to tell the truth like W.A Criswell mentioned above.
I also found it interesting and puzzling that there was such opposition to that idea by people trying to change when life begins. Whenever such strong messages are put forth, we must learn to read between the lines or look beyond the words to the motivation. I was very naive and hadn't honed my skeptic skills of discernment at that time. So I just accepted all of the political propaganda coming straight from the powerful as true. Like most of us, I never bothered to study it out myself. This fundamentalist movement became known as the Moral Majority and then morphed into Right to Life veiling political motivation with religion all the way to the highest echelons of power and all the way to the bank. Eventually the Tea Party came out as a purely political group with this new "Christian" agenda. Today, it is such an integral part of society that this nationalist American version of Christianity has even been able to elect presidents. Even though I was always taught that Christianity is the narrow way because that's what Jesus taught. And our Founding Fathers made it clear in the Constitution that in order to have freedom of Religion we must also be free from Religion or there would be no freedom at all. Separation of church and state was critical in order to maintain the sovereignty and purity of both. Today we see the corruption of both.
Case in point: that matters little in the face of empire and power. What power wants, power gets. For centuries, Christianity has succumbed to these political forces. Actually, that is how Christianity grew, on the back of the Roman Empire; power cleverly disguised, homogenized, and domesticized as religion.
Here's some more of the backstory of this movement. Abortion has only been an issue in Christianity for the last 50 years (out of 2000 years). I remember in my lifetime how I hardly ever heard about it except for the back alley tragedies. Often this issue was compared to prohibition. Eventually, alcohol was no longer prohibited because in the bigger picture, it was more destructive for people to be running and drinking unregulated alcohol. During the 70s and the 80s I kept hearing more and more about abortion but I often wondered why anyone thought that “prohibiting" it would not have a similar result as alcohol. Sure enough, once made legal, there were no more back alley abortions with all of the health risks and deaths disappearing as a result. Funny thing though, abortion was always joined at the hip with politics. It was used as the primary and original tool to join politics with religion.
“In November of 1968, Christianity Today devoted an entire issue to debating the subject, including an article written by conservative biblical scholar Bruce Waltke (Dallas Seminary) who argues that the Bible gives no clear answer on the matter.
“In that article, Waltke explains that “in the absence of any biblical text forbidding abortion,” we are forced to look at the literature of nearby cultures at the time of the Old Testament to compare their laws with those of the people of Israel. He notes that while neighboring Assyria exacted punishment for performing abortions, no such prohibition existed among the ancient Hebrews.
“The fact that God did not set forth a similar law becomes even more significant when one realizes that in sexual matters the Mosaic Code is normally more extensive and more severe than other codes.
“In Assyrian law, when a fight between two people resulted in a miscarriage, a life was demanded in return for a life. But no such reckoning was present in the Old Testament. If the mother’s life was lost, that would be a much more serious offense. But the termination of the pregnancy itself would only incur a fine, since an unborn child wasn’t yet considered a separate person from the mother (see Exodus 21:22-25).
Psalm 139 is often used to refer to abortion and “life” in the womb.
“For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
But notice that this says nothing about when life begins. It is talking about the omniscience of God and the care he gives us even as we are formed and come into being. The context of the verses around it show this. (see Psalm 139:7-16)
One more passage about abortion in the Bible must be noted. In Numbers 5 we are told there are circumstances under which Yahweh actually instructed his people to perform an abortion. If a man suspected his wife of having slept with another man, he could take her to a priest, who would give her “bitter water” to drink and then perform a curse over her in order to induce a miscarriage. Whether or not this ritual ever accomplished its purpose is difficult to say, since the only ingredients spelled out in the text are water, dirt, and ink (and of course “a curse”). But the intent of the punishment is clear: For her alleged infidelity, the pregnancy should be terminated.
As it turns out, this is all the Bible has to say about abortion. I must say, it’s not at all what I expected to find when I first set out to discover what it says. It’s not at all what people around me think the Bible says about abortion. I've actually trusted these renowned bible scholars to not politicize these issues with heretical misuse of the bible.
So how did abortion become the flagship, single-issue for many voters under the name of Christianity when the only mention in the bible clearly does not forbid it or call it murder??? Here are some more details.
Back in the 70s, the “Moral Majority” was a political idea floating around looking for an issue to rally a block of voters under the Republican Party purely for political gain but in the name of Christianity. This is a voting block that the political operatives could not resist.
Randall Balmer explains how Paul Weyrich, founder of both the Heritage Foundation and ALEC, initially struggled to find a unifying issue around which he could piece together a coalition of both Protestants and Catholics, who traditionally were at odds with one another on numerous issues, into a single monolithic political force.
…this hypothetical “moral majority” needed a catalyst—a standard around which to rally. For nearly two decades, Weyrich, by his own account, had been trying out different issues, hoping one might pique evangelical interest: pornography, prayer in schools, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, even abortion. “I was trying to get these people interested in those issues and I utterly failed,” Weyrich recalled at a conference.
Weyrich at that time tapped Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell to head up his new “Moral Majority” movement. Falwell’s associate, Ed Dobson, would later corroborate Balmer’s reasoning for the formation of this new political entity:
"The Religious New Right did not start because of a concern about abortion,” Dobson said. “I sat in the non-smoke-filled back room with the Moral Majority, and I frankly do not remember abortion ever being mentioned as a reason why we ought to do something.”
These details along with much more of this history and biblical references can be found at the link below. It is of great concern that these issues seem to have emerged for political convenience which included self-induced heresies such as willful mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Bible. Could it be that the Bible has secretly lost its authority, inspiration, and inerrancy in order for the Bible to be so freely weaponized for political gain. And the absurdity of it is that it is the "Evangelical Christians" that are trying to hang on their precious inspiration and inerrancy while at the same time weaponizing the sacred book for the sake of their precious politics. Apparently, heresy is not too great a price to pay.
When the Biblical View for Evangelicals was that Life Begins at Birth. https://rewire.news/religion-dispatches/2019/09/27/when-the-biblical-view-for-evangelicals-was-that-life-begins-at-birth/
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Gen 7:15
And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
Gen 7:22
All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
2Sa 22:16
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
1Ki 17:17
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
Click here for more: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=breath&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
Considering the variations of meaning for breath (wind, spirit) mentioned above, I think the emphasis on “breath” includes that there is a “spirit” that enters the person, giving life. Often “wind” in the Bible is a metaphor for the spirit. (John 3:8 and Acts 2:2). In my mind, spirit and soul are very similar with spirit being more often connected to God and soul more often relating to people.
Also see:
The Real Origins of the Religious Right
By Randall Balmer
They’ll tell you it was abortion. Sorry, the historical record’s clear: It was segregation.
* "breath"
occurs 42 times in 42 verses in the KJV.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Gen 7:15
And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
Gen 7:22
All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
2Sa 22:16
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
1Ki 17:17
And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
Click here for more: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=breath&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1
More on Life and “Breath”: when life begins.
Ezekiel 37:4-10 New International Version (NIV)
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
Footnotes:
Considering the variations of meaning for breath (wind, spirit) mentioned above, I think the emphasis on “breath” includes that there is a “spirit” that enters the person, giving life. Often “wind” in the Bible is a metaphor for the spirit. (John 3:8 and Acts 2:2). In my mind, spirit and soul are very similar with spirit being more often connected to God and soul more often relating to people.
It has been a very interesting perspective to watch Christianity evolve in my life time. But based on my Bible studies throughout college and beyond, it had always been clear to me that individual morality must remain with the individual. They could then choose whether to seek moral and spiritual guidance from religion or elsewhere. But when it comes down to it, we each are responsible and accountable for our own actions and beliefs, values and politics. The government must stay out of the affairs of religion and of individuals. Lest we forget, our Founding Fathers left England for freedom, primarily for freedom of religion and for freedom from religion. They knew that religion would erode politics just as surely as that mix of politics and religion would erode democracy.
Genesis 3:22-24 – Adam and Eve are forced out of the Garden.
Genesis 7 and 8 – Noah builds an ark and takes refuge from the food.
Genesis 12:1 – The call of Abram: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
Genesis 12:10 – “Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.”
Genesis 19 – Lot takes his family and flees Sodom.
Genesis 23 – Abraham is a stranger and an alien in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 46:1-7 – Jacob moves his family to Egypt to escape the famine and reunite with Joseph.
Genesis 47: 1-6 – Joseph brings his brothers to Pharaoh and they are welcomed and given jobs.
Exodus 1:8-14 – Joseph’s generation is gone, and the Egyptians oppress the Israelites. “Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor.”
Exodus 1:15-2:10 – Pharaoh orders all the Hebrew boy babies to be killed, but Moses is hidden and is saved by Pharaoh’s daughter.
Exodus 12:37-39 – The Israelites were driven out of Egypt so fast they had no time to make provisions and had to bake unleavened cakes of bread.
Exodus 12:49 and Leviticus 24:22 – “There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.”
Exodus 22:21 – Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”
Leviticus 19:9-10 and 23:22 – Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not strip your vineyards bare…leave them for the poor and the alien.”
Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22 – When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 24:23 – Moses receives God’s law: “With me you are but aliens and tenants.” Numbers 9:14 and 15:15-16 – “…you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native.”
Numbers 35 and Joshua 20 – The Lord instructs Moses to give cities of refuge to the Levites so that when the Israelites must flee into Canaan they may have cities of refuge given to them.
Deuteronomy 1:16 – “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien.”
Deuteronomy 6:10-13 – The people of Israel are made aware that the land had come to them as a gift from God and they were to remember that they were once aliens.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 – “For the Lord your God…loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-13 – Tithing was begun, in part, for resident aliens.
Deuteronomy 24:14 – “You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land…”
Deuteronomy 24:17-18 – “You shall not deprive a resident alien…of justice.”
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – Leave sheaf, olives, grapes for the alien.
Deuteronomy 26:5 – A wandering Aramean was my ancestor…
Deuteronomy 27:19 – “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien…of justice.”
I Chronicles 22:1-2 – Aliens were important in building the temple.
I Chronicles 29:14-15 – David praises God: “We are aliens and transients before you…”
II Chronicles 2:17-18 – Solomon took a census of all the aliens and assigned them work.
Psalm 105 – Remembering their sojourn: “When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people…”
Psalm 137:1-6 – “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept…How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”
Psalm 146:9 – “The Lord watches over the strangers…”
Ecclesiastes 4:1 – “Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them.”
Isaiah 16:4 – Be a refuge to the outcasts of Moab.
Jeremiah 7:5-7 – “If you do not oppress the alien…then I will dwell with you in this place…”
Jeremiah 22:3-5 – Do no wrong or violence to the alien.
Ezekiel 47:21-22 – The aliens shall be to you as citizens, and shall also be allotted an inheritance.
Zechariah 7:8-10 – Do no oppress the alien.
Malachi 3:5 – The messenger will bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien.
Matthew 2:13-15 – Jesus and parents flee Herod’s search for the child.
Matthew 5:10-11 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted.”
Matthew 25:31-46 – “…I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Luke 3:11 – “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none…”
Luke 4:16-21 – “…Bring good news to the poor…release to the captives…sight to the blind…let the oppressed go free.”
Romans 12:13 – “Mark of the true Christian: “…Extend hospitality to strangers…”
II Corinthians 8:13-15 – “It is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need…”
Ephesians 2:11-22 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.”
Hebrews 11 – “By faith Abraham…set out for a place…not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 13:1-2 – “…show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels…”
James 2:5 – “Has not God chosen the poor in the world…”
James 2:14-17 – “What good is it…if you say you have faith but do not have works?”
I John 3:18 – “…Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
I John 4:7-21 – “ ‘Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God…’ We love because God first loved us.”
This video is a nice summary of what I've been trying to express in this post:
** Strangers in a Strange Land
What does the Bible say about immigrants, refugees, aliens, strangers, the outcasts?The following passages from the Bible refer to immigrants and refugees.
All quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version:
All quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version:
Genesis 3:22-24 – Adam and Eve are forced out of the Garden.
Genesis 7 and 8 – Noah builds an ark and takes refuge from the food.
Genesis 12:1 – The call of Abram: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
Genesis 12:10 – “Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.”
Genesis 19 – Lot takes his family and flees Sodom.
Genesis 23 – Abraham is a stranger and an alien in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 46:1-7 – Jacob moves his family to Egypt to escape the famine and reunite with Joseph.
Genesis 47: 1-6 – Joseph brings his brothers to Pharaoh and they are welcomed and given jobs.
Exodus 1:8-14 – Joseph’s generation is gone, and the Egyptians oppress the Israelites. “Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor.”
Exodus 1:15-2:10 – Pharaoh orders all the Hebrew boy babies to be killed, but Moses is hidden and is saved by Pharaoh’s daughter.
Exodus 12:37-39 – The Israelites were driven out of Egypt so fast they had no time to make provisions and had to bake unleavened cakes of bread.
Exodus 12:49 and Leviticus 24:22 – “There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.”
Exodus 22:21 – Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”
Leviticus 19:9-10 and 23:22 – Moses gives God’s law: “You shall not strip your vineyards bare…leave them for the poor and the alien.”
Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22 – When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 24:23 – Moses receives God’s law: “With me you are but aliens and tenants.” Numbers 9:14 and 15:15-16 – “…you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native.”
Numbers 35 and Joshua 20 – The Lord instructs Moses to give cities of refuge to the Levites so that when the Israelites must flee into Canaan they may have cities of refuge given to them.
Deuteronomy 1:16 – “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien.”
Deuteronomy 6:10-13 – The people of Israel are made aware that the land had come to them as a gift from God and they were to remember that they were once aliens.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 – “For the Lord your God…loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-13 – Tithing was begun, in part, for resident aliens.
Deuteronomy 24:14 – “You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land…”
Deuteronomy 24:17-18 – “You shall not deprive a resident alien…of justice.”
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – Leave sheaf, olives, grapes for the alien.
Deuteronomy 26:5 – A wandering Aramean was my ancestor…
Deuteronomy 27:19 – “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien…of justice.”
I Chronicles 22:1-2 – Aliens were important in building the temple.
I Chronicles 29:14-15 – David praises God: “We are aliens and transients before you…”
II Chronicles 2:17-18 – Solomon took a census of all the aliens and assigned them work.
Psalm 105 – Remembering their sojourn: “When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people…”
Psalm 137:1-6 – “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept…How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”
Psalm 146:9 – “The Lord watches over the strangers…”
Ecclesiastes 4:1 – “Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them.”
Isaiah 16:4 – Be a refuge to the outcasts of Moab.
Jeremiah 7:5-7 – “If you do not oppress the alien…then I will dwell with you in this place…”
Jeremiah 22:3-5 – Do no wrong or violence to the alien.
Ezekiel 47:21-22 – The aliens shall be to you as citizens, and shall also be allotted an inheritance.
Zechariah 7:8-10 – Do no oppress the alien.
Malachi 3:5 – The messenger will bear witness against those who thrust aside the alien.
Matthew 2:13-15 – Jesus and parents flee Herod’s search for the child.
Matthew 5:10-11 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted.”
Matthew 25:31-46 – “…I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Luke 3:11 – “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none…”
Luke 4:16-21 – “…Bring good news to the poor…release to the captives…sight to the blind…let the oppressed go free.”
Romans 12:13 – “Mark of the true Christian: “…Extend hospitality to strangers…”
II Corinthians 8:13-15 – “It is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need…”
Ephesians 2:11-22 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.”
Hebrews 11 – “By faith Abraham…set out for a place…not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 13:1-2 – “…show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels…”
James 2:5 – “Has not God chosen the poor in the world…”
James 2:14-17 – “What good is it…if you say you have faith but do not have works?”
I John 3:18 – “…Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
I John 4:7-21 – “ ‘Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God…’ We love because God first loved us.”
This video is a nice summary of what I've been trying to express in this post:
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/videos/549035905672278/
I helped start the Moral Majority. Trump is the opposite of what we wanted.
The Real Origins of the Religious Right
They’ll tell you it was abortion. Sorry, the historical record’s clear: It was pro-segregation. When that didn't hold true then the right had to politicize Abortion and eventually Homosexuality; both of which are not biblically supported to take a stand against. As stated above, Homosexuality was not even in the bible until the mid 1900s. And abortion began at birth according to evangelicals up until about the same time that that these issues were politicized. So not only has Christianity been twisted from taking a stand for to standing against all of these issues that are not even the real issues of Christianity. Shameful...
Also this:
Intriguing analysis. The author considers the likelihood that "white Christian tribalism and a very American sort of heresy, not a commitment to scripture and tradition, has kept evangelical churches thriving all these years."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/opinion/sunday/trump-evangelical-crisis.html
Intriguing analysis. The author considers the likelihood that "white Christian tribalism and a very American sort of heresy, not a commitment to scripture and tradition, has kept evangelical churches thriving all these years."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/opinion/sunday/trump-evangelical-crisis.html
False God - Why the Christian right worships Donald Trump
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10221469946763775&id=1403961775
Why America's Christian Foundation is a Myth
Based on:
Why America's Christian Foundation is a Myth
Based on:
- A new book by attorney Andrew Seidel, 'The Founding Myth: Why Christian nationalism Is Un-American', takes on the myth of America's Christian founding.
- Christian nationalism is the belief that the United States was founded as a Christian nation on Christian principles, and that the nation has strayed from that original foundation.
- Judeo-Christian principles are fundamentally opposed to the principles on which America was built, argues Seidel.
What Is Christian Nationalism?
The Privilege of Denial
Pandemic and Racism are revealing American Christianity's true colors.
"But racism is similar to the pandemic in another primary way — both are spread, in large part, by willful ignorance.
And it takes an extraordinary level of privilege (and effort) to stay ignorant of both realities.
In either case, you can only deny the truth if you’ve never had to suffer from it.
At the heart of both issues lies a common factor: a failure of empathy; and a refusal to witness a struggle we have never had to experience for ourselves. It indicates an ability to craft one’s own narrative in order to preserve the level of comfort to which we’ve become accustomed. In order to stop the spread of disease, we have to give up some personal freedoms."
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