By Randa Morris
Dear
Conservatives and right wing Christians:
I really want to learn more about Jesus, can you help me?
I’ve been studying my Bible, but I’m having a difficult time understanding a few of the concepts. I’ve composed a list of ten questions, in hopes that someone can help me answer them.
1.
Where in the Bible does Jesus say that everyone should arm themselves? I
thought he said to put down your weapons? (Mathew 26:52) Did that only apply to
swords and not guns,? If so that’s good, since no-one really carries a sword
anymore.
2.
Where in the Bible does it say that we should “Give freely asking nothing in
return, but only to rich people and not ever to the poor?”
I’m trying to
understand why it’s good to give hundreds of billions of dollars to
corporations, without any stipulations (like that they have to create jobs or
even invest the money that they’re freely given in the country they got it
from), while at the same it’s bad to give a child a free lunch at school
without forcing him to sweep the floors and take out the trash.
From what I
know, the worst sin we could commit would be to give a poor man food or cash
assistance, without first demanding that he do community service, attend
classes, pee in a cup and do any number of other things to prove he’s worthy of
our ‘great generosity’.
I’m just looking for a Biblical reference that will
help me understand why we should give to the rich, asking nothing in return,
but demand a full accounting and recompense from the poor.
3.
While we are on the subject of trickle-down economics, here’s another question
I have. How does the trickle-down theory fit in with Proverbs 22:16? It says:
“He
who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will
only come to poverty.”
I
realize that trickle-down theory is the backbone of ‘Christian economics.’ I am
just trying to understand how that theory works with this Bible verse, which
clearly says that giving to the rich leads to poverty.
4.
Here’s another one I really need help with. Where in the Bible does it say that
only good people who do not sin can get in to heaven? I thought it said that
everyone sins (Romans 3:23) and no-one is good (Mark 10:18). I also read that:“It is by grace ye are saved, not of works, lest any man boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)And aren’t those who try to get to heaven by following the law under a curse?“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,” (Galatians 3:10).
The
passage goes on to say that no-one is justified by the law. This has me really
confused since everyone knows that good people live sinless lives and bad
people live sinful lives and only good people who follow all of the
commandments of the law can get into heaven.
5.
Where in the Bible does Jesus say that government is evil? I read that people
who hate government are false teachers whose ‘damnation slumbereth not” (2
Timothy Chapter 2). Also, it says they are like dogs who eat their own vomit.
Should I just leave my Bible at home when I go to today’s tea party rally?
6.
I’m trying to find the passages where Jesus said to reject and refuse to help
all people that are different from you (different race, religion, country of
origin etc…) I thought Jesus said to greet the foreigner at the gate? Also, I
don’t know what to think about this part where he says if you welcome only your
own people, you’re no better than sinners and pagans? (Mathew 5:47)
7.
I also have had a hard time finding the parts where Jesus said it’s OK to kill
people if you judge them to be bad. Didn’t He say that Christians are supposed
to love their enemies and do good to people – even to people who ‘abuse’ them?
(Mathew 5:44) I also read that Jesus said that Christians should not fight back
against an evil person, and that if anyone hits you on one cheek, you should
turn to them the other cheek also. (Luke chapter 6:29-31) What I can’t find is
the part where Jesus said to kill bad people. Please help.
8.
Where in the Bible did Jesus say that rich people are good and blessed? Is
there a place where it says that the more money a person has, the more valuable
they are to God? I can only find verses where Jesus condemns the rich, like
this passage, where he said:
“Woe to you who are rich for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.” (Luke 6:24-26)
I know that
Jesus has a special place in his heart for the Koch brothers, but this passage
really doesn’t make it seem that way. Maybe I’m reading it wrong?
9.
Can you help me understand Galatians 3:8? It says:“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This
can’t be right. I mean it sounds as if race, gender, national origin etc…
doesn’t matter at all to God. Everyone knows that’s not true. Race, class, and
gender are designed by God to be the moral fabric of our entire society,
right? It’s like the Bible is teaching anti-christian ideas, and attacking the
very foundation of “God’s natural order.” This verse sounds like it was written
by Feminazi’s. Please explain.
10.
Can you please help me find the parts of the Bible where it says Christians are
supposed to rule the world or take over the government? This really confuses me
because there’s that part where Jesus says that the rulers of the Gentiles
‘Lord it over people.” And then he tells his followers not to do that. He says
Christians are supposed to humble themselves, and that:
“whoever is greatest should be a servant and whoever wants to be first should become a slave.” (Mathew 20:26)
A
slave? Jesus could not possibly have been serious about that. It’s a well
established fact that Christians are going to rule the world (according to
Michelle Bachmann, Ted Cruz, Rick Perry and many other right wing leaders).
We
know Christians are not supposed to serve all those people who are so far below
themselves, especially not sinners. The problem is that, try as I might,
I can’t find the verse that says that Christians are going to rule the earth.
*Also,
please direct me to the verse that says Christians are going to have all of the
money on earth. That’s the one I really want to see before I decide if I want
to be saved.
I have a
lot of other questions, like where’s the verse that says Christians are
supposed to pray in public? (I can only find the one about not praying on the
street corner like hypocrites and only praying in secret so that God will
reward you openly). What about rejoicing when people persecute you? Do you
think that verse is a typo?
No-one could possibly rejoice under the kind of
persecution Christians are enduring in the United States, what with the
homosexual agenda and the anti-christ Obama running our country, torturing us
by trying to make us pay taxes. And that reminds me, what about when the
Pharisees sent their disciples to ask Jesus if it is lawful to pay taxes and
Jesus said “Render under Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s?” It sounds like
Jesus was telling people to pay their taxes…
But I will
save these questions for another time. I don’t want to overwhelm you with my
questions. So glad that the Christian right has such Godly role models and oh
so sincere Christian leaders, who can explain all of these things to soul
searchers like myself.
With
guidance from people like yourselves, I just can’t understand why more people
aren’t receptive to the Christian religion.
Author Randa
Morris has been a freelance writer for over ten years. She is an active
political blogger and administrator for several social media activism groups.