Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Christian Hubris

The Governor of Alabama (the state that claimed American law is based on the 10 Commandments, not English Common Law) who announced that citizens who do not believe that Jesus is their savior are not his "brothers" is an ignorant jerk.
Christians don't like the story of the good Samaritan. It dissolves the differences that divide us (like religion, race, riches) and makes us confront our own prejudices. No wonder they don't teach it very often.
In case you forgot the story, from the book of Luke, chapter 10:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'.”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denariic]">[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Support for the governor seems to rely on the following:

“While [Jesus] was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50 NKJV).

I guess I'm missing something because I don't read the words "accept me as your savior" here. He does mention doing "the will of My Father in Heaven..."

I'm not smart enough to decide who is and who isn't doing the will of God the Father, but apparently some idiot in Alabama has it figured out. He should remember: Judge not lest ye be judged. (Matt. 7:1)

It seems like if Christians can't proclaim themselves superior to others they wouldn't bother being Christians.