The Bible Made Me Do It: Christians Misrepresenting Their Christ

Racists, homophobics, polygamists and Pat Robertson; they all can rely on the bible to excuse their behavior. The bible in itself is not a racist or homophobic book but if you look deep enough you can gather the scriptures to excuse your actions.

The Old Testament is usually the tool of these types of Christians. With so many diverse stories about ancient individuals it is not hard to find the examples they need to prove their feelings. The trick is simple, find a scripture that seems to mean its ok to do what you want and ignore those that insist you are wrong.

I call these people Old Testament Christians. Like the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, the subhumans responsible for “God Hates Fags”—what a crummy site, what, no homophobes in your “church” that can design a website?—and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers.” They love scriptures condemning homosexuality, even though they were written in a different time for different people. They have to ignore the scriptures of forgiveness and not being judgmental by Christ, but those scriptures are boring and too lovey dovey.

Let’s take Pat Robertson for example. He’s famous for saying stupid things. You know how people say “the devil made me do it?” Well, for this guy, the bible made him do it. Better said, his misunderstanding of the bible made him do it. How can I tell people there is love and hope in Christ with people like this around telling the exact opposite? The message of God’s wraith is popular with these old testament Christians. But the New Testament brought a totally different message. One of forgiveness and love. Regardless of what God considers sin, through Christ we are forgiven. God is not roaming around the earth conjuring earth quakes on the sinful. Silly man.

Considering the Christian faith? Maybe just considering that we all aren’t judgmental, old, senile fools like Robertson? Well, you can start off by turning off your television when you see these people come on.

Pat Robertson

Robertson has been in the news lately for his statements about Haiti, claiming the earth quake was a punishment from God for making a “pact with the devil.” The bible talks about earth quakes and other natural disasters occurring more frequently in the end times. I don’t recall hearing about God dishing them out, killing thousands of innocent poor men, women and children as a punishment. Scripture is an inconvenient thing for a man like Robertson.

“… something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it, they were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the devil, they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the French, true story. And so the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’ And they kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, and ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor.”

Fred Phelps

Fred Phelps deserves his own article all about the dumb, ignorant, homophobic, unChristlike things he says. He is the man behind Westboro Chuch, the God Hates Fags group, the people that picket funerals. For a man that runs around damning every person that isn’t perfect in his eyes he sure does a great job of portraying the Antichrist. If God hated anyone, it would surely be this man.

There is a great documentary called “The Most Hated Family in America” that goes into further detail about this abomination claiming to be messengers of Christ.

Fred has thirteen children. I guess homosexuality is a sin but don’t ask him about his own promiscuity. How much you want to bet this guy likes the whips and chains in the bedroom? In the documentary when asked about his kids he gets a bit defensive.

I could quote Fred for ages but what he is known for is his catchy signs so let’s take a look at some of those instead.

What’s really terrible is the poor children brainwashed and stuck out on the street to hold his signs. It’s child abuse, these poor children are vulnerable and innocent yet have to be burdened with the hate that should be directed at the adults and not them. The only thing worse than their protests is the way they are raising their poor children. Disgraceful and disgusting.

Wiley Drake

Some folks really hate President Obama, a lot. Some hate him so much that they are wishing death on him. Scratch that, some so-called preachers are praying for his death. How Christlike, let he who is without an understanding of Christ cast the first stone! Please, not all at once.

That has led other WWJK (Who Would Jesus Kill) Christians to pray Psalm 109:8 with President Obama in mind. The scripture says “let his days be few; Let another take his office.”

Moronic statements are nothing new for Wiley. In 2008 Wiley decided to send out a letter using official church stationary endorsing Mike Huckabee for president. Since he endorsed Huckabee in such an official manner he was put under investigation by the IRS and his church’s tax-exempt status was challenged. Wiley’s response was to ask his supporters to pray for the death of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the advocacy group that reported his violation of tax-exempt law.

Wiley was pretty excited upon hearing about the assignation of controversial abortion doctor George Tiller stating he was glad that he was dead. I’m sure he felt it was the answer to his prayers. Wiley is one of the best examples of an old testament Christian. Live by Matthew 5:39, turn the other cheek, Mr. Drake, put down the old testament and try and follow the teachings of Christ, the guy that represents the Christ part of Christian.

Jeremiah Wright

I couldn’t leave this guy out could I? You didn’t think I was just going to name a couple right-wing morons and leave out the left-wing guys did you? No, you see, here at Liberty Den we like to point out all idiots, regardless of political affiliation. It’s how we roll folks.

Wright is an important example because of his significance. Having been Obama’s pastor for a large part of his life, only been left behind after the media was having a field day with his statements, and the affect he had on the race he is forever a part of American political history.

Not God Bless America…

While the other folks on this list make Jeremiah look like a fuzzy little kitten, using the pulpit to spread your political agenda is wrong. Let that be the place to teach about caring for the poor, about loving your enemies and about what Christ would have us do on this earth. The people on this list have failed to carry out that simple mission. Tolerance and caring is missing from a lot of pulpits today and it’s a shame.

What do you think? I’m sure there are a lot of other examples of radical preachers that are misrepresenting Christ. Christian or not, we can all agree that these people are misrepresenting the loving and caring Christ presented in the New testament scriptures. I leave you with a Ghandi quote that sums up this article perfectly.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Whether faithful, or just a loving person, we all need to take care of the weak and the sick. The Christian, the Muslim, and everyone in between. Not for any glory but the glory of knowing you are sharing love. For me, I will do it for the Glory of God, and so that I know at least one Christian on this planet is actually trying to be like Christ.