To Republicans (USA) or Tories (UK): who are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

To my Republican/Tory friends:

 I respect that you are "right of centre" by honest and prayerful  conviction.

 I know that you too respect my "left of centre" stance.

 But we, as Christians,  (Republican or Democrats)  should be very concerned at this video which mocks and disparages the poor, see:
http://youtu.be/eK2TSBz8OiU  (please  cut and paste this link to your browser)



 (video via my friend Karen N)

 There is nothing gracious  in the sentiments it expresses. It is not biblical.

 See for instance -   Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things".

 Indeed the video explicitly denies the teaching of Jesus who said "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20

 And the video is in direct opposition to what Jesus is recorded to have said in Matthew's Gospel: : see Matthew 25:31-46.

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
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.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

---------------------------------------------------------------


With these biblical texts in mind and heart I ask my dear republican/tory  sisters and brothers to link up with their district /constituency parties - so that :


1. the biblical concern for the poor is reflected in conservative policies, 

2.  Jesus' teaching about the poor becomes  "front and central"  for both liberal and conservative Christians,

3.  the horrible sentiments as expressed in the video do not become the norm for republican/tory Christian voters. 

And as a left of  centre Christian I will strive to subject my political views to the teaching of the Bible.


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