| Name |
Views and Comments | Date |
| erszebet |
Come the new millenium, the villiage idiot will commeth forth and be acclaimed the leader. |
1/25/2006 |
| Beelzebub |
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
After the horrible and traumatic experience of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center on September 11th, many Americans have seemed to derive comfort in the thought that our President is a man of faith. As a person quite serious about the issue of faith, I ask myself, what kind of Christian IS George Bush? I look for answers to this question by what I’m able to find in the newspapers and online, including of course this article, "Bush Says God Chose Him to Lead This Nation" and frankly what I find has left me anything but comforted. Let me share with you some of what I have discovered about this so called "Christian" man, George Walker Bush, and let’s make some comparison with his words and actions, in light of the Christian faith-
During the 2000 Campaign he is said to have named Jesus Christ as his 'favorite philosopher', he jumps at every opportunity to "wear his Christianity on his sleeve" as the son of our 41st President Ronald Reagan Jr. said of him. Never in history has a President made such a show of his religion. When a California federal appeals court found that including the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said President Bush believes the ruling is "ridiculous." (CNN.com, June 27, 2002) and in spite of his secular role in a country with a plurality of religions, by proclamation of Governor George W. Bush, June 10th, 2000 was 'Jesus Day' in Texas. (Snopes.com)
Let’s look now at Matthew 7:15-23, Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’(NKJV) This passage most obviously refers to those who claim to be Christian or men of faith. But this passage says that if you look for their fruit you will see that these men are actually false prophets. They are not of God. He does not know them. What happens when one compares the words of Christ to the words and actions of this "man of faith" President George Walker Bush?
On the subject of prayer, George Bush ends each speech with "May God continue to Bless America", and the article "Bush Says God Chose Him to Lead His Nation" leaves little doubt in our mind that Bush believes he is on a "direct mission from God".
(Matthew 6:4-6) And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
On the subject of forgiveness, Bush has made it clear where he stands, whether it is the criminal on death row, or Bin Laden. He often makes it clear that he is running out of patience for this enemy or another. When asked if he planned to set an ultimatum for Saddam Hussein’s compliance, George Bush suggested that it would be pointless, "like extending another, another, another last chance." (CBS News, 2/18/2003).
(Matthew 18:22) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
On the subject of mercy, in an interview with Talk magazine, Bush imitated Karla Faye Tucker's appeal for him to spare her life by pursing his lips, squinting his eyes, and in a squeaky voice mocking her said, "Please don't kill me." (Wayne Madsen, CounterPunch.org)
On the subject of good and evil, President Bush constantly refers to Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil". He repeatedly points to this so-called struggle between good and evil, always casting the actions of the United States as "good" "...there's power, wonder-working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people." (State of the Union Address, 2003)
Compare this to the words in the book of Matthew: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good–except God alone."
His position on Capitol Punishment seems to be in stark contradiction to his stance on abortion or his supposed Christian faith. While Governor of Texas, Bush presided over a record setting 152 executions...The Washington Post's Richard Cohen reported in October 2000 that one of the execution chamber's "tie-down team" members, Fred Allen, had to prepare so many people for lethal injections during 2000, he quit his job in disgust. (Wayne Madsen, CounterPunch.org)
In the book of John we read: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
What else did Jesus have to say about execution?
Matthew 5:21-22: Jesus is recorded as saying: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment..." This passage discusses one person murdering -- and even being angry with -- another person. It does not appear to impact on the state execution of a convicted criminal. Presumably, Jesus approved of state executions, because he upheld the validity of the Mosaic law: not even one minor point was to be ignored. For example, he is recorded as having said in:
Matthew 5:18-19: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Luke 16:17: "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Matthew 5:38-39: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." This might be interpreted as denying the right of the state to punish murder with execution. However, it seems to apply to the relationship between two people, rather than between the state and a convicted criminal.Luke 16:17: "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."
How much does this great "man of faith" know about his religion? It’s not unusual to find him misquoting scripture, and on the rare occasion he gets it right he takes it completely out of context. For example:
"To whom much has been given, much is owed." –George W. Bush, July 20, 2004.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040720-7.html
Misquoting from the Book of Luke: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required."
He doesn’t seem to know his scripture, and when he does quote from it he seems to make it sound like it means he should get more than he already has. It is written that even the Devil can quote Scripture; it’s certainly not a stretch that he can misquote Scripture too! If Bush has a little extra time the next time he’s on one of his many vacations, he should take a look at just what that Scripture really says.
"And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
Again our Commander in Chief misquotes scripture. "Ye shall know them
by their words" instead of the correct ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits"
But let’s take a look at both his words and his works. What has he done since taking office?
• 5/2003 George W. Bush blocked human rights cases from reaching U.S. courts.
• 2/2003 George W. Bush cut all federal housing subsidies.
• 2/2003 George W. Bush cut aid to the poor in his budget.
• 1/2003 George W. Bush proposed yet more tax cuts for the rich.
• 12/2002 George W. Bush killed the rule allowing new parents to collect unemployment.
• 9/2002 George W. Bush proposed a reduction in Medicare payments.
• 4/2002 George W. Bush considered eliminating requirements for testing children for lead.
• 4/2001 George W. Bush cut health programs for uninsured.
Does this sound like the work of a Christian to you? Let me share with you from the book of Matthew:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
|
8/27/2004 |
| AcidElixir |
I don't think it's a form of socail control, I beleive in my faith, and I don't preach dogma, nor does it control me, although I do have a set of beliefs. I would say Bush's delusion lies not with himself being controlled, but with trying to control others. He's delirious and dangerous, however, if it lies with his religion, then why arn't all Christians acting like he is? Chances are, you will there are many who actually disagree with his policies and his decision to invade Iraq. Basically what I am trying to say is, it's not his religion, the guy is just a total loon. |
11/28/2003 |
| Daphne |
I wish I could come up with some pithy remark, but "yuck" is all that comes to mind.
Propaganda is propaganda; Christinaity is an institution that was literally born after the collaspe of the Roman empire, ignore me, curse me, just take some ancient history. Don't repeat your (insert title here)'s dogma without thought. "God" did not intend your head to be merely a hat rack......
While various religions claim their views as "truth", they are forms of social control.
Mr. Bush's adherance to his belief system is just that, adherance. |
11/9/2003 | |
