Helping the Poor is Now Apparently Anti-Bible

[Are_grits_groceries]

I see that fellow Orange Countian Rick Warren — he of Saddleback megachurch and Purpose Driven Life fame — is in the news again. He was on ABC's This Week yesterday, and Jake Tapper asked him what he thought about President Obama's suggestion that God tells us to care for those less fortunate than ourselves:

Well certainly the Bible says we are to care about the poor....But there's a fundamental question on the meaning of "fairness." Does fairness mean everybody makes the same amount of money? Or does fairness mean everybody gets the opportunity to make the same amount of money? I do not believe in wealth redistribution, I believe in wealth creation.

The only way to get people out of poverty is J-O-B-S. Create jobs. To create wealth, not to subsidize wealth. When you subsidize people, you create the dependency. You — you rob them of dignity.
<snip>
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/04/helping-poor-now-apparently-anti-bible

Jesus fed the poor and healed the poor Ricky. He didn't make them fill out job applications and ask for references.
Or did you find a new book of the Bible? The Book of Assholes maybe.

[AtomicKitten]

1. It's in the New Testament, Rev Warren. Shall we draw you a map?

[abelenkpe]

2. Jesus didn't call them lazy or make them pee in a cup either. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. I saw that interview ...

and my head just about exploded.

But then ... a certain calm came over me as I realized that (based on his belief system and the Book he claims) he is in for a BIG surprise at the moment of his death.

[freshwest]

6. Clearly, he skipped these verses in Matthew, Chapter 25:

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If he believes in Heaven and Hell, he's toast. I thought it would be advisable to stay in this group:

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[Moonwalk]

14. I think you missed a few verses there. Let's see...

Ah, yes, right here in Rick's Bible:

43.5: "And when I was jobless ye did not give tax breaks to the rich and so did not create a new job for me...."

36.5: "And when I was jobless ye did give tax breaks to the rich and they created new jobs and I finally got off unemployment and was no longer a lazy looser...."

Funny how those two always get left out.

[freshwest]

19. He must be reading a heretic version, adding verses is condemned as blasphemy.

Revelations Chapter 21: 18:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book...

Same thing as the popular 'Left Behind' series. And I can thump these lying, money-grubbing hypocrites on the head with scripture all day long.

Pretty good rendition of the GOP gospel there, Moonwalk.

[jwirr]

32. Unfortunately when they interpret these verses they do not believe that it means ALL poor

just those who belong to their own church. The rest are not worthy!!!!

[freshwest]

33. Well, they didn't even read what Jesus said to Peter or Paul, huh? Guess those RW $ blinded them.

May Rick Warren fall off his donkey on the way to Damascus and finally see the light. Or else, by his own spiritual book, he is condemned.

Whatever you believe is what you will get. Now, if he doesn't believe, I'm sure something else will occur to teach him the need for unconditional love. IMHO.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

4. pretty hateful stuff coming from the pastor

Is it in Matthew, or in John, that Jesus exhorts Roman authorities to lower the top tax rate so that the wealthy could hire the poor to do their work for them? I believe it's called the Blessed Are the Trickle-Downers sermon.

[freshwest]

9. There are condemnations for holding back wages, not forgiving debts, and orders to pay taxes.

Looks like the GOP didn't read those parts, either.

[libodem]

5. Good story

You brought us, Grits. Nice to be reminded of the unconditional love with which, Christ, talked the talk, and walked the walk.

[fascisthunter]

7. he reads a perverted version of the New Testament

[gratuitous]

10. As well as the Old Testament

Isaiah and Jeremiah are chock full of prophesies about having regard for the poor, the widows and the orphans. Not to mention Micah, Joel, and Amos. Amos is the source for Dr. King's famous quote about justice rolling down like water and righteousness flowing like an everlasting stream. Hint for Tubby the Preacher (as the Rude Pundit calls him): Justice and Righteousness in this context have nothing to do with lower tax rates for capital gains and the wealthy grabbing as much as they can.

The only word I can come up with for Mr. Warren is vomitrocious.

[freshwest]

26. Yes, if he'd read those he'd be more humble. Stephen Colbert is outspoken in this quote:

If this is going to be a 'Christian' nation that doesn't help the poor, either we've got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert

[Blue_Tires]

12. His "New Testament" is green and has a lot of little Ben Franklins on it...

[sudopod]

13. Maybe his copy is an artifact of the Mirror Universe.

"One of the fascinating yet tragic consequences of this turn of events is that major works of philosophy and literature were radically whitewashed to support the martialist ideology of the Terran Empire: Plato sings the praises of fear as part of a ruler's arsenal, and their version of The Merchant of Venice is described as "as blatantly and sensationally done as anything in The Revenger's Tragedy", in which Portia (perhaps to avenge an injury done to her by Antonio — who is probably not the good man he is in "our" version) sides with Shylock, and allows him to slice off a pound of his flesh. Picard finds the level of tragedy is about the same in Shakespeare, however. Similarly, during "In a Mirror, Darkly" Phlox comments that literary characters in the Defiant's logs are 'weaker,' with the exception of Shakespeare's work, being equally dark in both universes. Picard also finds a copy of the King James Bible in his counterpart's quarters; however, fearing what he might find inside, he refuses to open the book."

http://dictionary.sensagent.com/dark+mirror+%28star+trek+novel%29/en-en/

[freshwest]

20. Ooh, very nice. Will read that.

[sudopod]

22. I read it in undergrad, so I can't account for my taste back then.

For a tie in novel, it was pretty good!

[freshwest]

25. Yes, it gathered in just about everything.

[nobodyspecial]

8. Yes, hungry, homeless people, especially children

care more about dignity than a full belly or warm bed.

[Dawson Leery]

11. Another born again who has not read the bible:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-lux/rick-warren-economy-_b_1415077.html

"Woe to those who enact unjust decrees, Who compose oppressive legislation to deny justice to the weak and to cheat the poorest of my people of fair judgment, To make widows their prey and rob the orphan... To whom will you run for help, and where will you leave your riches?"

[freshwest]

21. Excellent read, thanks.

[WillyT]

15. Well... Jesus Was A Long-Haired Liberal...

& Rec !!!

[freshwest]

24. Jesus was a socialist hippie who was murdered by conservatives. Also homeless and friend to drunks,

Prostitutes and tax collectors.

He told the rich man's son that despite his following all the commandments, to get to Heaven he needed to give all he had to the poor and follow Him.

The religious right doesn't know Jesus and they never believed in Him. Plain and simple.

Sorry, all of you soulless GOP reading DU:

You're going to Hell.

[baldguy]

16. Rev. Rick is a follower of the Supply-Side Jesus.

Not Jesus of Nazareth.

[onethatcares]

17. I like Jesus,

He's my brother.

Yeah, in these days of biblical prosperity what else could one expect from a wolf in a 4k suit?,

a con artist in a mercedes benz.

I'm just sure Jesus wants us to do the best for others less fortunate than ourselves without bragging,
without expecting reward.

I think Jesus would have fit right in here and he wouldn't have needed wi-fi either.

Be fair to others, give what you can when you can. You can't go wrong by doing the right thing.

Peace.

[TransitJohn]

18. Republican Jesus

[demosincebirth]

23. Mathew 25:40 "what you do for the least of my brothers..." Ah, I guess they skip

that verse too.

[Odin2005]

27. Somebody tell Warren that Jesus was a Socialist hippie?

[libinnyandia]

28. When I hear the wealth worshipping preachers I think of the camel and the needle. The rich

can't buy their way into heaven.

[KatyaR]

29. Hmm, let's see....

"When you subsidize people, you create the dependency. You — you rob them of dignity."

So, Rick, according to your statement, you're being robbed of your "dignity" by accepting a "subsidy" from your followers.

I think you should resign immediately and take a job at Burger King so you can get your "dignity" back.

(asshat)

[saras]

30. So Jesus fucked up with that loaves and fishes thing - should have made them work for it

Here's a straightpin and some string. Go catch some fish. In the middle of the desert. And you over there, climb that mountain where there's some rocks claimed by no one but mountain goats, and raise some wheat, so we can have some bread. And hurry up, the show starts soon.

[Quantess]

31. Ayn Rand was a good Christian woman.

[CJCRANE]

34. Try again Ricky.

This time with quotes from the Bible.

You can't call yourself a Christian, and expect people to believe you, if you ignore what Christ himself said.

[KG]

35. it's only a two minute prayer...

[Iggo]

37. I know, right? What's the harm?

[quaker bill]

36. The false argument is the notion that anyone proposes

that everyone make the same amount of money. Not even DK has ever done this. Having millionaires pay the same tax rate as their secretaries is not redistribution, and will not make their pay even close to equal.

Not believing in wealth redistribution is a fascinating stand for a church leader. As I recall it, they pass a plate around every sunday to collect a bit of wealth to redistribute. Some churches even use the money to help the poor, Saddleback may be different, perhaps they just redistribute the collected wealth to construct "whitened sepulchers" and pay Pastor Warren and his staff.