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#Post#: 14398--------------------------------------------------
The Least of These
By: Kerry Date: March 27, 2017, 6:41 pm
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I seldom leave comments on news stories, but this one motivated
me to comment.
HTML https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-least-of-these-meals-on-wheels-the-trump-budget-and-the-struggle-over-matthew-2540-160022794.html<br
/>
It’s one of the best-known passages in the New Testament, even —
or especially — among people who don’t usually read the Bible.
And by last week, the conservative commentator and radio host
Erick Erickson was getting tired of having it quoted to him:
Matthew 25:40 (“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of
mine, you did for me.’), an evocative and stirring call to
charity and compassion.
The sainted Mother Teresa herself was fond of quoting the verse
to explain why she devoted her life to serving the poor. Even
before the inauguration, a progressive faith group was promoting
what it called the Matthew 25 Movement, seeking online signers
to a pledge “to protect and defend vulnerable people in the name
of Jesus.” In early March, when House Speaker Paul Ryan
described the repeal of Obamacare as “an act of mercy,” Rep.
Joseph Kennedy III, D-Mass., retorted that Matthew “reminds us
that we are judged not by how we treat the powerful, but by how
we care for the least among us.”
Throughout American history, momentous events (the Civil War,
the civil rights movement) have had Biblical passages associated
with them. The leading candidate for the Trump era so far seems
to be the one whose alleged misinterpretation irked Erickson,
the former editor in chief of RedState who now runs another
conservative news site, The Resurgent.
And so when Erickson defended President Trump’s draft budget,
specifically including cuts to programs that fund Meals on
Wheels, Twitterdom responded with a deluge of tweets on the
theme of his heartlessness in general and ignorance of Scripture
specifically. Erickson responded by denouncing what he regarded
as the secular-humanist tendency to quote Scripture only when it
suits a progressive agenda (“If you don’t support Meals on
Wheels, you’re not a good Christian, according to people who
aren’t Christians and don’t believe in Jesus.”), and then
delving into textual analysis, tweeting, “In Matt 25, when Jesus
talks about caring for ‘the least of these,’ he isn’t talking
about the poor in general, but fellow Christians.”
It is interesting to see how people interpret the Bible. Some
interpret it charitably and some selfishly. Even when we take
context into account, we may be left making a decision of the
heart: Should I be loving or selfish?
“The prevailing wisdom in the early, renaissance, and
reformation church era from Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant
writers was that the ‘least of these’ refers to Christians,
particularly ministers and those sharing the gospel.”
Erickson cited an influential 2015 blog post by Denny Burk, a
professor of biblical studies at Boyce College. Burk’s article
was prompted by a “Leadership Summit on Overcoming Poverty” at
Georgetown University, at which, he wrote, “I think every
speaker on the panel — including President Obama — used the
phrase ‘least of these’ to refer to our fellow citizens who live
in poverty and who need help.”
Burk thinks that’s a misreading of the passage. As with any
difficult biblical verse, you have to read it in context, he
wrote. “In Matthew 18, Jesus refers to his disciples three times
as “little ones” (vv. 6, 10, 14) with a term closely related to
“the least of these” in Matthew 25:40, 46. So when Jesus talks
about feeding, clothing, and caring for the “least of these” in
Matthew 25:40, he’s talking about his disciples.”
Oh yes, Jesus means we should give stuff to ministers! Can you
believe this?
I find it interesting too that this take on things would make
ministers the least of God's children. Well, maybe he has a
point there since Jesus also said, "whosoever shall exalt
himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall
be exalted."
My comment:
Who is my brother? If we believe Genesis, Eve is the mother of
all living. That makes all her children my brothers.
#Post#: 14400--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Least of These
By: HOLLAND Date: March 27, 2017, 8:19 pm
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^^^Well said, Kerry.
After reading this, I was, also, reminded of the Parable of the
Good Samaritan.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan(NIV)
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 denarii 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.”
That parable would also have to be taken in consideration of the
interpretation of Matthew 25:40. To have mercy on others in
their time of need is required of the law and of Jesus in that
passage. The interpretations of Erickson and Burk have no
biblical merit whatsoever.
This defense of Trump's draft budget, being defended in this
way, is part of the heritage of Trump and his many lies and
distortions . . .
#Post#: 14402--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Least of These
By: Kerry Date: March 27, 2017, 10:11 pm
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[quote author=HOLLAND link=topic=1193.msg14400#msg14400
date=1490663977]
That parable would also have to be taken in consideration of the
interpretation of Matthew 25:40. To have mercy on others in
their time of need is required of the law and of Jesus in that
passage. The interpretations of Erickson and Burk have no
biblical merit whatsoever.[/quote]They seem to have conveniently
forgotten that story about the Good Samaritan. It may be worth
noting too that the priestly class doesn't come off that good in
that story.
Erickson seems to be of two minds about it. (Oh, ye double
minded.) From Townhall
HTML https://townhall.com/columnists/erickerickson/2017/03/17/the-hue-and-cry-is-tiring-n2300067:
Meals on Wheels and other programs targeted for elimination are
good programs that benefit people in need. But there is no
evidence that such programs cannot be responsibly handled by
non-profits and local communities. Christians, in fact, are
admonished throughout the Bible to take care of widows, orphans,
refugees and the poor. Thanks to an ever-expanding federal
government, many Christians have abdicated personal
responsibility for that care to the federal government. Churches
were given a way out of needing strong social programs because
the government took them over.
As a result, people became less dependent on local churches and
their local community in general. Whether cause or correlation,
there is no real dispute that as American society becomes
increasingly secular, families break down, vitriol in the public
square increases and society destabilizes.
If he can see this, why doesn't he advocate churches start
taking more action to help the needy? Start doing the church's
work and stop trying to gain influence by cozying up with
politicians.
The way he phrases things make it look to me as if he believes
people should be more "dependent" on the churches. That would
give the clergy more power.
[quote]This defense of Trump's draft budget, being defended in
this way, is part of the heritage of Trump and his many lies and
distortions . . .[/quote]It may be a good thing eventually since
this kind of thing exposes the wolves as wolves. Few people are
attracted by this kind of right-wing religious teaching.
#Post#: 14407--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Least of These
By: HOLLAND Date: March 28, 2017, 8:30 am
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^^^It is interesting, Kerry, that the 'gun-toting' supposed
Christians of this type highly resent to be called 'sheep' and
that 'wolves' are actually preferred. As you've pointed out the
spiritual fruits are missing among them. I find these kinds of
religious professions fascinating. They have nothing to do with
religious belief per se. They only exist to color and disguise
a political ideology and to gain adherents, possibly, among
evangelical Christians.
All of this is so obvious to anyone. But, I suppose, it has to
do with drawing those who are inclined to political deception
and self-deception, the love of the lie; and, political
deception must lead, eventually to spiritual deception in all of
its forms . . .
#Post#: 14441--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Least of These
By: Kerry Date: March 31, 2017, 6:20 am
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[quote author=HOLLAND link=topic=1193.msg14407#msg14407
date=1490707815]
^^^It is interesting, Kerry, that the 'gun-toting' supposed
Christians of this type highly resent to be called 'sheep' and
that 'wolves' are actually preferred. As you've pointed out the
spiritual fruits are missing among them. I find these kinds of
religious professions fascinating. They have nothing to do with
religious belief per se. They only exist to color and disguise
a political ideology and to gain adherents, possibly, among
evangelical Christians.
All of this is so obvious to anyone. But, I suppose, it has to
do with drawing those who are inclined to political deception
and self-deception, the love of the lie; and, political
deception must lead, eventually to spiritual deception in all of
its forms . . .
[/quote]I think their day is done pretty much. Their hypocrisy
and self-serving are being exposed. They can bewail the end of
Christianity all they want. I am not going to weep over it. I
think it's a good thing if this sort of religious leader loses
followers.
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