To some who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up at heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."As a little exercise, I substituted names of people associated with the Christian Right for the word "Pharisee" in the above reading (with appropriate gender modifications). Sarah Palin, Franklin Graham, Michele Bachmann, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, and Rick Santorum are just a few examples. I was amazed at how accurately this parable describes the Christian Right. They are the Neo-Pharisees of the 21st century. They have chosen the self-righteous hubris of the Pharisee instead of the humility of the tax collector.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Neo-Pharisees
We went to church last night and I was struck by the Ash Wednesday gospel reading, from Luke 18:
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Dear Sir, I woke this morning with the need to understand the time of Jesus , better. So I googled, Jesus and the Pharisees. I read on a site explaining how Jesus rebuked the pharisees and the scribes at dinner. After I finished I was amazed at my understanding of the religious right and how they are simply the pharisees in disguise! (and the reincarnated plantation owners). That led me to your site which I promptly joined. I always knew there were leftist pastors out there, that truly understand what the religious right is really all about. The right wing over-zealots hiding behind and using Jesus, to incite people to riot against the best interests of themselves and others. I work for the Postal Service , since 1990, and I have seen and felt the onslaught of greed and power hurting the workers, I have tried many times in the past to tell my co-workers what they are really about, but they just thought I was deranged . Now they ARE believing the truth after many pay cuts and working harder and harder for it. But sadly, they still support the very politicians, who are allowing this and even escalating this. I cannot open their eyes to the truth of our own Idaho politicians. I have known since 1981, with Reagan as prsident, that we will endure another civil war in this country and that I can do nothing to help stop it. I also know that the will of the people could change this, that this gov shutdown has opened some eyes. But the confederacy and pharisees will always continue to seek that civil war. Now I know that GOD will protect us from this event, and I have no fear. I am thankful to the Lord, for helping me to find your blog, dear sir, to allow me to vent with like minded minded spirits!! Kathie Gatfield
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