Y’all…….I know that many of you are as appalled, disgusted, mortified, and, dare I say, angry, as I am as a result of a few of the things that have occurred/been posted and said by a few of the “leaders” of our country here in recent months. 

What’s bothered me even more by all of this is the reaction of far too many folks who have spoken out, at worst, in support of all of this, or at best, endeavored to excuse it;  ones who profess to follow the tenants of Christianity and who profess to love our Lord, far too many of whom are clergy. 

Sadly, however, this is nothing new. Think of the “Christians and Clergy” who were in favor of slavery during the Civil War period.  Think of those who supported Hitler.  Think of those who were involved in opposing the Civil Rights Movement. 

Going even further back, Jesus himself commented on these things.  In the gospel reading appointed for today, the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus says:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.  But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.  But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him,  because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”  Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”  John 10:1-10

In a nutshell, public readings of the Bible, well advertised “prayer meetings”, the selling of politically branded Bibles, and religious leaders stumping for and in support of the current political powers have nothing, NOTHING to do with being a Christian or following Jesus.  In fact, Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:15 to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous.”

“Ravenous.”  Hungry.  For power.  Money.  Influence. 

As I have said, and will continue to say, if whatever is being preached, whatever is being taught, whatever is being said, does not echo the very teachings of Jesus, then it is anathema, antiCHRISTian, and flat out wrong.  Don’t do it, don’t believe it, don’t live it.

And yes, there will be those who say, “But what about…the exception is…..what if…..”  And I say to you, no, Jesus says to them, “I am the way, the truth, the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.  No ‘if’s, ands, or buts.”  (OK, so Jesus didn’t say, “No ifs, ands, or buts”—that was my momma talkin’ there, but still…)

Whatever we believe does not reflect the teachings of Jesus, cannot be done in love, i

f one’s politics, beliefs, actions, thoughts, and way of life deny the least, the lost, the forgotten, if one’s religion opposes acceptance and practicing radical love, if one does not welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and work towards that oft used “and justice for all” thing, then one is not, cannot, will not, be a follower of Jesus.  If

Period.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Amen.