One of the most irritating aspects of today’s Republican Party is their insistence that their political party is the one Jesus would choose if he came to America today. It’s not just irritating because it seems ignorant of the intent of the Constitution, which is to ignore religious tenets, in favor of a secular legal structure, but also because their actions seem ignorant of what Jesus actually tried to teach them.
Consider how Republicans treat the poor. Here are some examples of what Jesus Christ, the namesake of Christian religions, said about the poor, and what he taught his followers about how they should be treated.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4:16-19 )
That’s pretty cut-and-dried. Christ came here to encourage his followers to help the poor, those who are oppressed and those who are sick or infirmed. Why would Republicans think Jesus would be cool with cutting the hell out of welfare and Food Stamps, and repeatedly voting to kill Medicare and the ACA? How do you think he would feel to know that “the Party that uses Jesus’ name to cut off debate” refuses to give them access to the Medicaid they’ve paid for with their tax money? Reading the above do you think he’d be happy to know they’d cut off their unemployment insurance, especially after knowing they’d paid for it with their hard-earned tax money for years?
It would seem that doing all of that would go against his stated purpose for coming here to begin with. And who are we supposed to believe when it comes to telling you what Jesus wanted from his followers? Jesus himself, according to the Bible, or a bunch of rich guys who seem perfectly happy screwing the poor every chance they get?
For those Republicans who think Jesus wanted the rich to become even richer, how about these?
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)
There is no way the Republican agenda, which very clearly favors the extremely rich, and puts down the poor as a bunch of lazy bums, comports with Jesus’ requirement that his followers give up everything and dedicate themselves to helping the poor. Can you imagine a modern-day Republican giving up everything? Can you imagine them giving up the money the Koch brothers and other rich Republicans throw at them, in order to gain a better chance to get into Heaven?
Yeah, I can’t imagine it, either.
In addition, look at how modern-day Republicans talk about money and taxes. The rich usually get all of the tax breaks the GOP champions, and they treat taxes paid by working people as far less important as those paid by the rich. Have you ever noticed, for example, that Republicans only reduce rates on income taxes, corporate taxes and estate taxes, but never recommend reductions in payroll taxes? Consider the swiftness with which they approved a permanent extension to the Research and Development tax credit. It was almost as quick as when they killed the unemployment extension.
Jesus clearly said that a poor person giving a small amount to support the poor has done more than the billionaire who gives millions of dollars. Yet, we now have a “Christian” Republican Party that advocates for a “flat tax” that is based on the proposition that a 20% tax paid by a CEO who makes $20 million per year is exactly the same as a 20% tax paid by a family trying to get by on $50,000 per year, despite the fact that the former has $16 million to learn to live on, while the latter has $40,000.
And what about this one?
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. (Luke 16:19-25)
In the Bible these Republicans claim to have read and believe in so absolutely, Jesus said those who place their own physical comfort ahead of doing the right thing for those who are unfortunate are in for a world of hurt when they meet their demise. Yet, consider what Republicans do when they’re in office. They not only favor the very rich, they actually assist the rich in making the poor even poorer.
And finally (for now), what part of the following reminds you of a modern-day Republican?
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:34-36)
Think about it. Modern day Republicans cut the hell out of welfare and Food Stamps, which means they’re not exactly feeding anyone. In fact, they’re actually taking food away They prefer to whittle down the Clean Water Act and vote down measures designed to prevent oil spills from polluting water supplies, so it’s hard to think of them as giving anyone “something to drink.” Consider their stance on immigration, and ask yourself if they’re welcoming anyone. They refuse to raise the minimum wage, so that poor folks can afford to clothe themselves and their children. And given their 51 votes (so far) to kill Obamacare, their repeated attempts to kill Medicare, and red states’ refusal to accept the funds earmarked to expand Medicaid, they sure as hell can’t claim they care for the sick. And really, given how many people we lock up every year, and the fervor with which Republicans pass mandatory sentencing and three strikes laws, it’s really difficult to imagine a modern-day Republican visiting a prisoner, except perhaps one of their own.
When you look at the requirements Jesus Christ set up for his followers according to the Bible Republicans claim to have read, it’s difficult to imagine that Jesus would consider the modern-day GOP “the party of Jesus.” In fact, given their tendency to do virtually the opposite of what Jesus supposedly instructed of his followers, they may want to be careful when they condemn others for doing things they don’t like.