Today is one of those rare days I am going to talk about my faith, its not that I am ashamed of my faith because I am not but generally its just not something I write about here at this blog. However with each passing week of this election season, I find myself getting madder and madder because of all the things I hear about that are being done supposedly “In the name of Jesus”.
Seems that its rather popular to be hateful in the name if Jesus. Yet anyone who has done more than regurgitate half truths spoken to them by some nut-job preacher might realize that hating in the name of Jesus is not biblical at all.
Since the nomination of Sarah Palin as the VP candidate on the Republican ticket, bits and pieces have trickled out about her faith, a faith that supposedly guides her, a faith that had a certain preacher by the name of Muthee praying for her success. A faith that has certain folks likening Sarah to the biblical Esther, problem is that there is a serious disconnect between Mizz Palin’s actions and her faith. Now she might very well have accepted Jesus as her Lord and savior but apparently her knowledge of the man she professes as her savior is lacking.
Lets break out our bibles kids, presumably folks who follow the faith tradition of Sarah and her ilk tend to view the bible literally, which means they feel that all of the bible is God inspired and what it says is what it means. If that is the case then, lets look at what Jesus himself says in Matthew 22:34-39, in this passage Jesus is being questioned by the Pharisees, an expert in the laws asks Jesus the following question. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Verse 37 onward Jesus replies ” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Lets think about that, out of Jesus own mouth we are commanded to love each other, if we are commanded to love each other in the Christian faith then speaking words that inspire hate, might run counter to that commandment. In the book of 1John 4: 7-21, the whole passage there also speaks of love verse 16 says ” God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” I only presented a snippet but feel free to look up the whole passage as it speaks strongly on the issue of love.
No kids, once again we can see a clear disconnect between Palin and her supporters when we hear words like kill him and off with his head when referencing Barack Obama. Of course then there is the issue of pastors who are praying for Obama’s defeat, now I admit I can’t supply the name of the pastor I saw a few nights ago but in paraphrasing, this guy was real clear that his God was the only God and no one else’s mattered and that if God is good, he will make sure that McCain and Palin win and yeah he appeared to be asking that in Jesus name.
Um, dang… ya’ll some bold folks, but last time I checked claiming Jesus and praying in his name does not ensure good things aka what you want will happen at all. See, I learned that almost 5 years ago when my Mom died. See, it was my will that she live and get well. Turns out that was not the master plan, in fact as Christians we often don’t get what we want because God is not our personal genie we rub to get our way.
Once again looking at scripture in John 16:33 Jesus states “ I have told you these thing, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I have always read that passage to mean, and excuse my french here but shit happens, buts its all good because Jesus is in charge. Yet that does not mean I am going to get my way. Again looking at our bible if we turn to Isaiah 55: 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Seems to me God himself and again this is for the biblical literalist is saying he doesn’t think the way our human minds work.
Yet many of us are so bold and ignorant to presume we know God’s mind, now if you are like me and realize that you need God in your life, I sure as hell don’t want my savior to be quite like me. I like the idea that he is a smidge smarter than me and he is in charge. Otherwise if he thought like me, maybe I should throw my faith out the window.
No, and this is the biblical interpretation according to Black Girl, but hate in the name of God is not biblical in fact if one feels they are waging a holy war against Barack Obama, they might want to sit the fuck down and make sure its not Satan leading them down that path.
Its one thing to want to win or to see your candidate win, but when it crosses that line where we are praying and riling people to hate, you better heed John’s words and check them spirits you got being broad-casted into your mind because the hate we are starting to see festering crosses that line and is not Godly.
In closing I will reference Matthew 7: 21-23 ” Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive put demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Reading that passage it seems clear to me that Jesus himself is letting folks know don’t use my name for wrong and think its right because I know the deal.
So to all the folks out there who think threats of death are cool because you find Obama’s policies distasteful and feel he is wicked, I say you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Stay tuned tomorrow, Sarah Palin is bringing the hate express to Maine for a morning rally, so I hope to have something insightful to share.
