Edwards on Jesus

So, John Edwards can not only channel the thoughts of dead people (for cash), now he is claiming to know Jesus' thoughts:

I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs. I think he would be appalled, actually.

Those who are involved with politics know exactly what this is. There is no doubt that this is nothing more than this:

When Edwards tells us what Jesus would do he is pandering for votes

Apparently the DNC has sent out it's yearly memo to tell Democrats to be friendly to churches and to appear religious so you can get those votes. It must be working on some people, or they wouldn't keep doing it. However, I really have to wonder about religious people who watch this sort of thing and actually believe it. I know there must be people out there who heard or read his speech and thought, "Oh, isn't that nice? John cares about people, just like Jesus did! That's just great. I think I'll vote for him because he's like Jesus." I am truly amazed, but there MUST be people who buy this circus act that or the Democrats wouldn't put on this show year after year.
Other people have done an absolutely EXCELLENT job in trying to point out the incredibly, absolute and total hypocrisy of Edwards:

A sermon about “appalling selfishness” coming from the Preening Pony who lives in a 28,000 square feet, 6 million dollar mansion paid for, at least in part, by exorbitant contingency fees that he earned by hoodwinking barely sentient apes in a jury box with testimony from beyond the grave, channeled by John “I Hear Dead People” Edwards himself.

However, John Edwards actually believes what he says.

No, I'm serious. He's not trying to put on an act. He really believes that he can live in a $6 million mansion and complain that we're selfish and that makes perfect sense. Why? His world view. He's a socialist. He honestly believes that what he has is his and government should take everything else. When he's talking about "our" selfishness, he's talking about everyone else but him. That's the socialist/Democrat mindset.

When Edwards complains about "ignoring the plight of the suffering," he's talking about government -- everyone but himself. Keep in mind as you read on -- government has ZERO money. They do not do anything to earn money. They can only take money by force from people -- that's the ONLY way they can get money. So let's take a look at what Jesus actually did say in regards to government handouts and helping the poor.

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, 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.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"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. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 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.'

"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?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

Matthew 25:35-45

That's one of the biggest sections of the New Testament in which Jesus talks about giving to the poor and needy. But to whom was Jesus talking? At the time, the government was the Roman government. All people were subject to Roman laws. And Jesus clearly wasn't talking to them. So Jesus must have been talking to people -- to individuals.

Jesus did not say, "Use what force of arms you can gather together under the guise of government and take by force all that you can without resulting in death, such that you may take from one and give to another so that the poor may have what the rich have worked for." Sorry, Mr. Edwards, that's not how the story goes.

Instead, what may make more sense is 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12:

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Surely, there are poor. There are those who have less. But nowhere in the Bible, as Mr. Edwards alleges, does it say that one group of people should force another to give to the poor. In fact, what Mr. Edwards has proposed, in his context, is that the laws of the Bible should be forced upon all the people with government!

Jesus gave to the poor. Jesus spent his life on this planet working and helping the poor and needy. Jesus spent some time asking others and telling others of the benefits of giving to the poor. The Bible is quite clear on that issue:

He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Proverbs 28:27

But none of that can be applied to the government. Government is absolutely and completely incapable of being nice, generous, or compassionate. Giving to the poor, as outlined in the Bible, helps individuals. It allows people to help one another. It allows individuals to give to Jesus. When a person does not give to the poor, they are taking from Jesus -- but governments are not capable of salvation. Governments will not stand before the throne on judgment day -- individuals will.

Mr. Edwards, do not attempt to use the force of government to do God's work -- that's not why government exists. You will not be rewarded by Jesus for taking money from working people and giving it to others -- especially when you are living such a lavish life based on lies and deception.

And you who believe Mr. Edwards and who consider that he is "good" and "nice" because he wants to keep his millions and take from those who work to give to the poor as "Jesus wants him to," I leave you with the words of Isaiah 58:7 -- and please note the use of the words "YOU" and "YOUR," not "government" or "president:"

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Posted by: Ogre at 04:41 PM

Comments

Posted by: Steph at March 06, 2007 05:59 PM (AC9Dc)

Posted by: Ogre at March 06, 2007 07:00 PM (oifEm)

Posted by: Big Dog at March 06, 2007 07:47 PM (vWo+c)

Posted by: Ogre at March 06, 2007 07:56 PM (oifEm)

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