The rulers of the Jews in Jesus' day were Pharisees and Sadducees, men who, like Bush, were noted for their piety and religious observance. Like the Christian right, they combined religion and politics for their own gain, and persecuted those who disagreed with them. Eventually, they crucified Jesus.
Here are some of the things Jesus said concerning pious rulers.
Matthew 16:6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ... 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesBBmint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Luke 11: 39 The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
Luke 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
Luke 16 13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." 14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
What would Jesus say to the "Christians" of the Bush administration?
In the name of the Prince of Peace,
Carol Wolman
