Posted by Sir Four at 2:27pm Feb 9 '05A very important passage, Matthew 25:41-45:
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'"
We should think long and hard about this passage and ask ourselves, are we doing what Jesus wanted? Are we helping to feed and clothe the poor? Are we seeing to it that the sick receive care? Are we welcoming of strangers?
I'm going to turn this political here. We have between 40 and 45 million people in America who lack health insurance. In this past election, the Democrats pledged to get more people covered by allowing the poor to have access to a government health plan. The Republicans opposed this idea. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "I was sick and you did not look after me."
We have in America millions of families who have a hard time putting food on their tables. We have assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and others to help the poor afford food for their families. Democrats put these programs in place and Democrats continue to support them. Republicans continue to cut programs that give assistance to the poor, while at the same time cutting taxes for the rich. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink."
We have many immigrants in America, both legal and illegal. Democrats generally support measures to welcome these people to our society and provide them with assistance, as they are usually very poor. Republicans oppose doing that and want to make changes that will make life especially difficult for those who crossed the border illegally. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "I was a stranger and you did not invite me in."
Why did so many self-identifying Christians vote for Republicans? Because Republican politicians got people all stirred up over gay marriage and abortion. However, no one has been able to quote me the passage where Jesus says anything about homosexuality or abortion. Jesus was, however, very clear about helping the poor, about not serving the interests of the rich, about tending to the "least among us." Why are those things of little interest to Christians when they go to vote? It seems to me that Democratic values are more in tune with Christian values, if we are comparing the parties. It seems Republicans like to talk a lot about Jesus, but have forgotten all of his teachings. Why does this not seem to bother Christians as they cast their ballots for Republicans?
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least among you, you did not do for me.'"
We should think long and hard about this passage and ask ourselves, are we doing what Jesus wanted? Are we helping to feed and clothe the poor? Are we seeing to it that the sick receive care? Are we welcoming of strangers?
I'm going to turn this political here. We have between 40 and 45 million people in America who lack health insurance. In this past election, the Democrats pledged to get more people covered by allowing the poor to have access to a government health plan. The Republicans opposed this idea. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "I was sick and you did not look after me."
We have in America millions of families who have a hard time putting food on their tables. We have assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and others to help the poor afford food for their families. Democrats put these programs in place and Democrats continue to support them. Republicans continue to cut programs that give assistance to the poor, while at the same time cutting taxes for the rich. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink."
We have many immigrants in America, both legal and illegal. Democrats generally support measures to welcome these people to our society and provide them with assistance, as they are usually very poor. Republicans oppose doing that and want to make changes that will make life especially difficult for those who crossed the border illegally. Yet a majority of self-identifying Christians voted for Republicans. "Depart from me, you who are cursed" ... "I was a stranger and you did not invite me in."
Why did so many self-identifying Christians vote for Republicans? Because Republican politicians got people all stirred up over gay marriage and abortion. However, no one has been able to quote me the passage where Jesus says anything about homosexuality or abortion. Jesus was, however, very clear about helping the poor, about not serving the interests of the rich, about tending to the "least among us." Why are those things of little interest to Christians when they go to vote? It seems to me that Democratic values are more in tune with Christian values, if we are comparing the parties. It seems Republicans like to talk a lot about Jesus, but have forgotten all of his teachings. Why does this not seem to bother Christians as they cast their ballots for Republicans?