Ha - Right-wing website argues Jesus didn't want to help the poor at all [View all]

[sharedvalues]

Last edited Sun Apr 2, 2017, 08:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Fitting the GOP ideology of hurting the poor and helping the very rich, even Christian websites have been bent to this propaganda:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/march-web-only/what-you-probably-dont-know-about-least-of-these.html

"The second possibility is the most common: “the least of these” are the poor and needy. The imagery is straightforward, memorable, and powerful. Who are the most marginalized in society other than the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, and imprisoned? This option has some scholarly support and no doubt echoes the consistent biblical call to justice (take Deut. 15, for example). As Mother Teresa said of the poor, “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

It’s easy to see why this passage is so championed by justice-minded Christians. Linking our eternal destiny to caring for the powerless puts the strongest possible motivation behind such a call. Many fundraising campaigns have relied on this powerful image to solicit funds for the poor.


However, this option runs into the same problems that the first one does. For one, it doesn’t adequately account for the meaning of “brothers of mine.” Also, caring for the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, and imprisoned isn’t taught elsewhere in the New Testament as the measuring stick for salvation. Can we really affirm that what ultimately matters is caring for the poor? [Ed: No, according to rest of article.]
"

Restating these paragraphs:
"Even though Mother Teresa said Christians should help the poor, dedicated her life to it, and was sainted -- GOP Christians don't have to worry about that! Just be selfish, and I'll reinterpret the NT for you."