Evangelicals and BushCo -- Why?

[theHandpuppet]

Okay, I'll admit I don't know much about the evangelical movement, but am I correct in my assumption that evangelicals adhere to a literal interpretation of the Bible? If so, I wonder why they have so latched on to the issue of gay marriage, which Bush is exploiting for all its worth, when BushCo is violating God's laws right and left? You know, commandments such as "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor", "Thou shalt not kill", "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house or goods" etc etc seem to me to be the very tenets of conduct demanded by the God of the scriptures. Nowhere in the Ten Commandments did the Lord make any reference to gay folks, but he certainly had a few words to say about liars, killers and greed.

Same with Jesus, who never gave a sermon about gays but didn't mince words when it came to religious hypocrites, to whit:

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:1-6

Further, I'm trying to understand how Evangelical Christians who believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible feel that they can obsessively condemn gays on the basis of some rather flimsy interpretation of some obscure passages, while ignoring the in-your-face messages of Christ that can be found over and over in the New Testament. I posted the following on another thread but it was too good not to post again here:

Excerpts from http://gadfly.igc.org/liberal/WWJD.htm

What would Jesus Do?

We admit that this is a perfectly fine question. And so, to find answers, we decided to go to the source and last week read through the four Gospels. This is what we found.

Would Jesus launch a “pre-emptive” war?

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matt. 5:9 )


Our “President” appears to be prepared to “kick some Iraqi ass.” What would Jesus do?

Ye have heard that it hath it said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. (Matt. 5: 43-44 )


While he was the Governor of Texas, George Bush signed 140 death warrants, and granted no pardons to condemned prisoners. What would Jesus do?

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. (Matt. 5: 7 )


Rev. Jerry Falwell, steadfast proponent of “the right to life,” also endorses capital punishment. What would Jesus do?

Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto thee, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turned him the other also. (Matt. 5:38 39 )


What might Jesus say about school prayer?

And when thou prayest, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which seeth in secret . (Matt. 6.27 )


And the separation of church and state?

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. (Matt. 22-21 )

(There is more at the link posted above.)

So honestly here, I'm trying to understand how evangelicals can latch on to such issues as gay marriage yet act completely contrary to God's commandments in so many ways, and feel that GWB in any way represents the teachings of Christ? What am I missing here? Has anyone here had such discussions with evangelicals and just how do they explain the dichotomy?

I have to admit I am totally confused by it all. I truly don't understand how one can twist their mind into such pretzels of convoluted logic.

[info being]

1. I asked my Evangelical parents that.

My Dad said, "God put Bush there for a reason and we have to support him."

Of course I said that he would have made a good subject to a king and that such an attitude isn't very American.

[tom_paine]

4. Tongue tied him with that one, did you?

The truth hurts the Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

that's why, if successful, the Imperial Family will do what the Caesers did, keep the Imperial Senate around for show and to help convince the Imperial Subjects that they're not Imperial Subjects...

[seabeyond]

5. why is your father assuming it was god

who put him there. cause in hte talk i hear with evangelists is that satan often rears his ugly little head, that is why these people are so afraid of the world and self. so with bush saying pussy to reporters, lying incessively, creating total havoc of the nation and the world, why is your father assuming it is god who put him there and not satan.............

[grannylib]

7. Did God put Clinton there for a reason too, and were fundies supposed

to support him? They did a great job of it, didn't they??

[theHandpuppet]

9. Okay...

So what convinced your father that God chose Bush? Does he believe that God also put Clinton in office (twice) and did he support Clinton?

Just how much picking and chosing does God do, anyway? Did God let 9-11 happen on purpose, too? Where does it begin, and where does it end?

[mstrsplinter326]

2. Maybe it's because....

The pious never live up to their own rules, therefore they have no problem with Bush. Mostly the pious tend to be upper middle class and white, and they believe that helping the wealthy helps them... It doesn't work like that.

[revree]

3. MISERY LOVES COMPANY

Hateful people love to hang out in groups.

[Mari333]

6. because they want a christian dominionist theocracy

www.yuricareport.com

[Jawja]

8. Because

they are either totally and completely ignorant or hypocritical to core. That's why.

[BeHereNow]

10. Great Post!

Thanks for that. It sums up everything I
am so riled up about right now...
BHN

[Valkyrie55]

11. My view of this issue based on fundamentalists I know.......

would lead me to answer that they see homosexuality as an abomination. It is called that in the bible several times. All Christians but especially fundamentalists are very puritanical in their views on sex in general. Since they argue that the only reason for marriage is procreation homosexual marriage must therefore be a violation of God's plan. I have argued with fundamentalists many times and it's like banging your head against a wall. I point out that my aunt married her current husband when she was in her mid 50's and thus children were out of the question. They always fall back on the fact that at least she married a man and not another woman. In short it seems Christians will always focus on certain activities as evil, like homosexuality, while ignoring poverty, hunger, disease, and war.