CNN Commentary: What would Jesus really do?

[LadyTevar]

I was going to put this in the Christian Usergroup: Knights Astrum Clades, but I felt it should be seen by everyone.

Commentary: What would Jesus really do?

By Roland Martin
CNN Contributor

Editor's note: Roland Martin is a CNN contributor and talk-show host on WVON-AM in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith."

NEW YORK (CNN) -- When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant caring about only two issues,­ abortion and homosexuality?

Ask the nonreligious what being a Christian today means, and based on what we see and read, it's a good bet they will say that followers of Jesus Christ are preoccupied with those two points.

Poverty? Whatever. Homelessness? An afterthought. A widening gap between the have and have-nots? Immaterial. Divorce? The divorce rate of Christians mirrors the national average, so that's no big deal.

The point is that being a Christian should be about more than abortion and homosexuality, and it's high time that those not considered a part of the religious right expose the hypocrisy of our brothers and sisters in Christianity and take back the faith. And those on the left who believe they have a "get out of sin free" card must not be allowed to justify their actions.

Many people believe we are engaged in a holy war. And we are. But it's not with Muslims. The real war -- ­ the silent war ­-- is being engaged among Christians, and that's what we must set our sights on.

As we celebrate Holy Week, our focus is on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But aren't we also to recommit ourselves to live more like Jesus? Did Jesus spend his time focusing on all that he didn't like, or did Jesus raise the consciousness of the people to understand love, compassion and teach them about following the will of God?

As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister, it's troubling to listen to "Christian radio" and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.

In fact, I've grown tired of people who pimp God. That's right; we have a litany of individuals today who are holy, holy, holy, sing hallelujah, talk about how they love the Lord, but when it's time to walk the walk, somehow the spirit evaporates.

A couple of years ago I took exception to an e-mail blast from the Concerned Women for America. The group was angry that Democrats were blocking certain judges put up for the federal bench by President Bush. It called on Americans to fight Democrats who wanted to keep Christians off the bench.

So I called and sent an e-mail asking, "So, where were you when President Clinton appointed Christian judges to the bench? Were they truly behind Christian judges, or Republican Christian judges?

Surprise, surprise. There was never a response.

An African-American pastor I know in the Midwest was asked by a group of mostly white clergy to march in an anti-abortion rally. He was fine with that, but then asked the clergy if they would work with him to fight crack houses in predominantly black neighborhoods.

"That's really your problem," he was told.

They saw abortion as a moral imperative, but not a community ravaged by crack.

If abortion and gay marriage are part of the Christian agenda, I have no issue with that. Those are moral issues that should be of importance to people of the faith, but the agenda should be much, much broader.

I'm looking for the day when Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, James Kennedy, Rod Parsley, " Patriot Pastors" and Rick Warren will sit at the same table as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia Hale, Eddie L. Long, James Meek, Fred Price, Emmanuel Cleaver and Floyd Flake to establish a call to arms on racism, AIDS, police brutality, a national health care policy, our sorry education system.

If they all say they love and worship one God, one Jesus, let's see them rally their members behind one agenda.

I stand here today not as a Republican or a liberal. And don't bother calling me a Democrat or a conservative. I am a man,­ an African-American man ­who has professed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that's to whom I bow down.

If you concur, it's time to stop allowing a chosen few to speak for the masses. Quit letting them define the agenda.

So put on the full armor of God because we have work to do.

[Wicked Pilot]

I'm looking for the day when Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, James Kennedy, Rod Parsley, " Patriot Pastors" and Rick Warren will sit at the same table as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia Hale, Eddie L. Long, James Meek, Fred Price, Emmanuel Cleaver and Floyd Flake to establish a call to arms on racism, AIDS, police brutality, a national health care policy, our sorry education system.

Good luck with that.

[Darth Raptor]

You'll have to forgive me for not being impressed by what basically amounts to "abortion and homosexuality are bad, but we can consider other issues too!"

[LadyTevar]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

[Darth Raptor]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

It's a patently bad idea, what he's proposing: Effectively giving a shot in the arm to the credibility of Nazis like Robertson, Falwell and Dobson. By pointing out that they don't care about ANYTHING ELSE, he could have exposed them as the racist, classist, posers they are. He wants to forge an unholy alliance with them, not sever them from the Church like the malignant tumors they are.

[Wicked Pilot]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

One item of which has zero reference in the Bible, and thus should by all extent not be a Christian issue to begin with.

[SAMAS]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

It's a patently bad idea, what he's proposing: Effectively giving a shot in the arm to the credibility of Nazis like Robertson, Falwell and Dobson. By pointing out that they don't care about ANYTHING ELSE, he could have exposed them as the racist, classist, posers they are. He wants to forge an unholy alliance with them, not sever them from the Church like the malignant tumors they are.

I saw it more as him asking them "Why not put that kind of energy towards something important instead?"

[Howedar]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

It's a patently bad idea, what he's proposing: Effectively giving a shot in the arm to the credibility of Nazis like Robertson, Falwell and Dobson. By pointing out that they don't care about ANYTHING ELSE, he could have exposed them as the racist, classist, posers they are. He wants to forge an unholy alliance with them, not sever them from the Church like the malignant tumors they are.

Pragmatically speaking, if such acts got good works out of such slime, would it be a bad thing?

[darthbob88]

His point is more that certain elements within the Christian Community have focused so much on two items, they've forgotten what we're really supposed to be doing.

It's a patently bad idea, what he's proposing: Effectively giving a shot in the arm to the credibility of Nazis like Robertson, Falwell and Dobson. By pointing out that they don't care about ANYTHING ELSE, he could have exposed them as the racist, classist, posers they are. He wants to forge an unholy alliance with them, not sever them from the Church like the malignant tumors they are.

Pragmatically speaking, if such acts got good works out of such slime, would it be a bad thing?

Speaking from my own ignorance here. While the works would be good, it seems likely that these morons would use their good deeds to lend credence to their more idiotic views. As in, "I saved this kitten, so there is nothing wrong with suggesting that we send Jews to death camps". Of course, I could very easily be wrong.

[Darth Raptor]

Pragmatically speaking, if such acts got good works out of such slime, would it be a bad thing?

No, of course not. The problem is, they won't do anything about black poverty and crime because they're racists. They won't do anything about poverty in general because they're virulently classist. If they do offer "help", it will be a meaningless, token gesture to make themselves look good and hoist themselves dangerously further into the mainstream. Either that or a Trojan Horse to further their Dominionist agenda.

Sure, if you can make Nazis work for you, more power to you. If you're smart enough to control them. But moderate and liberal Christians have yet to demonstrate that level of organization or political savvy. I just think it would be far less dangerous and better for Christianity (and the rest of us) in the long run if these types were relegated to the lunatic fringe. Like the Phelps Clan. Although I guess even they would make good non-profit lawyers.

[Ritterin Sophia]

This won't help Christianity in my eyes, my primary problem with Christianity (and the other two Abrahamic Religions) isn't just that these people commit these acts of hate in the name of their religion, it's that the Bible (Torah/Koran) actually supports their views.

[Darth Raptor]

This won't help Christianity in my eyes, my primary problem with Christianity (and the other two Abrahamic Religions) isn't just that these people commit these acts of hate in the name of their religion, it's that the Bible (Torah/Koran) actually supports their views.

Fortunately, Christians have already proven more than willing to disregard the parts of the Bible they don't like. All we have to do is get them to not like the parts we don't like.

[Ritterin Sophia]

This won't help Christianity in my eyes, my primary problem with Christianity (and the other two Abrahamic Religions) isn't just that these people commit these acts of hate in the name of their religion, it's that the Bible (Torah/Koran) actually supports their views.

Fortunately, Christians have already proven more than willing to disregard the parts of the Bible they don't like. All we have to do is get them to not like the parts we don't like.

Here's what I don't get, can't they just edit out the parts they don't like? Not only would they not have to mentally do it themselves, but they could save resources on the printing costs.

[wolveraptor]

Wait, is he gay?

As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister

I am a man,­ an African-American man

Sheesh, you'd think he's have spent more time on the issue of gay rights.

[AniThyng]

Wait, is he gay?

As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister

I am a man,­ an African-American man

Sheesh, you'd think he's have spent more time on the issue of gay rights.

Don't some denominations allow female ministers...?

[Master of Cards]

Wait, is he gay?

As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister

I am a man,­ an African-American man

Sheesh, you'd think he's have spent more time on the issue of gay rights.

Don't some denominations allow female ministers...?

Lesiban Ministers some do, and one branch has a lesiban bishop.

[darthbob88]

Wait, is he gay?

As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister

I am a man,­ an African-American man

Sheesh, you'd think he's have spent more time on the issue of gay rights.

Don't some denominations allow female ministers...?

At my Lutheran church, the first pastor I can remember is a woman. Both preachers after that were men, though.

[Elaro]

This guy sounds like pretty much every Catholic that's ever taught me anything about Christianity. "Give to the poor, do good, yada, yada, yada". Say what you want about Quebec, but they're very liberal christians (at least in Montreal.)

[Darth Wong]

You know, I actually thought Christians were pretty nice folk when I knew only liberal Christians. It was the intolerant fundies who turned me against the religion. Good luck to this guy trying to "take back" Christianity from the neo-Nazis.

[Junghalli]

Excellent point. You would think a loving God would like it more if you directed your energy to helping the poor and downtrodden rather than bitching about people with lifestyles you disapprove of.

[Darth Wong]

There are people in this world who care about others, and people who don't. Christians have always tried to delude themselves into believing that Jesus makes uncaring people into caring people, but he doesn't. The truth is, an uncaring person thinks morality is all about identifying the bad people and then punishing them, and when such a person finds Jesus, he just becomes an intolerant fundie.

[Ritterin Sophia]

Excellent point. You would think a loving God would like it more if you directed your energy to helping the poor and downtrodden rather than bitching about people with lifestyles you disapprove of.

I have to ask, why would an all loving and forgiving God create a place where you are punished for all eternity, regardless of the severity of your crimes in the first place?

[Darth Wong]

Excellent point. You would think a loving God would like it more if you directed your energy to helping the poor and downtrodden rather than bitching about people with lifestyles you disapprove of.

I have to ask, why would an all loving and forgiving God create a place where you are punished for all eternity, regardless of the severity of your crimes in the first place?

The Christians I knew in university didn't believe in Hell, and they didn't believe the Bible should be taken literally, and they didn't believe that the Old Testament was an accurate reflection of the nature of their God.

[Wicked Pilot]

There are also many Christians, myself was among them, who believed that any honest effort to find/understand 'god', was enough to get into heaven. If you're born in Saudi you will take the Islam route and any supreme being is going to know and understand that. I got into some interesting debates over this in Sunday school at my Southern Baptist church when I was younger.

[CmdrWilkens]

Excellent point. You would think a loving God would like it more if you directed your energy to helping the poor and downtrodden rather than bitching about people with lifestyles you disapprove of.

I have to ask, why would an all loving and forgiving God create a place where you are punished for all eternity, regardless of the severity of your crimes in the first place?

Because he didn't. Hell is a creation of the Church in the many long centuries after the gospels were written. Its telling that Jesus is said to have died, been buried then risen to heaven. he is never mentioned as descending to hell by any text until after the Chruch invented hell and that's where he went. Prior to that point he was simply dead, part of the earth, dust which became alive again which is what a decent number of folks still believe but the fire and brimstone Sodom and Gamorrah types love their lake of fire and the Catholic Chruch in paticular is so wed to holding onto doctrine no matter how old that Hell seems here to stay.