This will make you stop and think, and may bring some discussion to this list.


Reeva Parry.


>From: "Mary Piccerello" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>If America is a Christian nation then why isn't America more Christlike?
>
><http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_richard__071126_if_america_is_a_chri.htm>http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_richard__071126_if_america_is_a_chri.htm
>
>November 26, 2007
>
>If America is a Christian nation then why isn't America more Christlike?
>
>By Richard Mathis
>
>If Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers then why do more than 70% of the
>religious right support the war in Iraq and a potential war in Iran?
>
>If Jesus warned that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword then
>why has Blackwater gotten rich serving a Christian president?
>
>If the Bible prophesied swords shall be beaten into plowshares then why does
>the religious right support huge military spending?
>
>If Jesus taught to pray for your enemies and wish them well then why are we
>waging war to wipe them out?
>
>If the Bible revealed that Jesus came so that there could be peace on earth
>then why do religious rights preach that anybody who wants peace on earth
>is working for the Devil?
>
>If Jesus admitted that not even he knew the day and hour of the end of days
>then why do so many religious rights make a career of predicting Armageddon?
>
>If Jesus instructed that the mercy you show will be the mercy you are shown
>then why are conservative Christians so much in favor of the death penalty?
>
>If Jesus proclaimed the new law is to turn the other cheek then why is the
>religious right so much in favor of the old eye for an eye and a tooth for a
>tooth law?
>
>If Jesus pleaded that it was doing unto him by comforting those in prison
>then why do so many religious righters say lock them up and throw 
>away the key?
>
>If Jesus admonished that "let him without sin cast the first stone" what
>animated Ted Haggard, Mark Foley and Larry Craig to cast away with abandon?
>
>If Jesus gave notice that whoever does unto one of these little ones is
>doing in my name then why don't all American children have health coverage?
>
>If Jesus said blessed are the hungry for they will be fed but woe 
>unto those who feast now for their hunger will be far greater, then 
>why do Americans waste $88 billion of food a year while someone in 
>the world dies of starvation every 3.5 seconds?
>
>If Jesus declared that we do not live by bread alone then why are 2/3 of
>Americans obese?
>
>If Jesus advocated that the worth of one's soul consists of more 
>than mere material possessions than why do we value a person based 
>on their net worth?
>
>If Jesus counseled that when you pray, don't be like the heathens 
>and pray for what you want, then why are so many prosperity 
>preachers storing up riches here on earth by selling people the 
>belief that they are not richer simply because they do not know how 
>to pray to God to get what they want?

>If Jesus established that if you wanted to follow Him, then sell all you own
>and give the money to the poor, then why are so many ministers 
>living in pearly white mansions, while so many homeless are sleeping 
>under bridges?
>
>If Jesus stated, you cannot serve God and Mammon, then why is greed 
>good and materialism so worshiped in America?
>
>If Jesus blessed the poor, then why are the poor so despised in America?
>
>If James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that the poor are God's chosen, then
>why do you have to spend so much money to get elected?
>
>If Jesus cautioned, do not exalt yourself, for you will be humbled, 
>then why do
>Americans elect candidates who exalt themselves as Christians?
>
>If Jesus warned, do not swear by heaven, or God, or add anything to your word
>because doing so would mean your word is inadequate on its own, then why
>does the religious right always have to resort to invoking God's name
>whenever they want somebody to vote their way?
>
>If Paul announced that, in Jesus Christ, there is neither male nor female,
>Gentile or Jew, nor master nor servant, then why have women, nonwhites and
>gays been treated as second class citizens or worse for so long?
>
>If Jesus taught, to do unto others as you would have them done unto you, then
>do Americans want to be treated as they have treated Native Americans?
>
>If Jesus advised, condemn not, lest you be condemned, then why is 
>the religious right so obsessed with damning gays to hell and back?
>
>If the Bible gave notice that a house divided cannot stand, then why is
>America so divided into feuding red and blue factions?
>
>If Jesus cautioned not even to become angry in your own house because you
>risk the flames of hell, then why are so many conservative Christian
>commentators always so angry?
>
>If Jesus implored you to fear not, and the Bible added that he who fears
>does not know God, then why are most religious rights fear-mongers?
>
>If Jesus instructed to love your neighbors as yourselves, then why do so many
>conservatives want desperately poor Mexicans to stay home?
>
>If Jesus ordered to render unto Caesar and God each what is theirs,
>respectively, then why are there any lingering questions about 
>separation of church and state?
>
>If Jesus held, the truth shall set you free, then why does the religious right
>oppose the teaching of evolution?
>
>If Jesus preached, don't pray publically like the hypocrites, just to be seen
>but to go by yourself and pray in private, then why does the religious right
>insist on praying loudly in public places, like schools?
>
>If Jesus condemned religious hypocrites for wearing special clothes to draw
>attention to themselves as holier-than-thou, then why does the 
>religious right dress in bumperstickers and buttons?
>
>If Jesus let be known that you could identify his followers by them showing
>love to one another, then why do so many conservative Christians have to
>repeatedly tell you just how saved and Christian they are?
>
>If Jesus advised his followers to move on if nobody wanted to hear his
>message, then why does the religious right persist on making their
>interpretation of his message the law of the land?
>
>If Jesus advocated living carefree and trusting like wild birds or flowers
>Then why are we paving over paradise to put up a parking lot?
>
>If Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine, then why are so many
>religious rights teetotalers?