Carnal Reason

Beliefnet recently interviewed Senator John Edwards. I want to comment on a small excerpt:

[beliefnet] What parts of American life do you think would most outrage Jesus?

[Edwards] Our selfishness. Our resort to war when it’s not necessary. 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.

I am leery of those who presume to tell us what Christ would have thought. That is unknowable, barring His return. But Christ did make some pointed remarks that may be apt.

Mark 10:21 Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

Luke 18:25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

The house in the picture belongs to the Senator. Notice the five cars in the picture to get some sense of the scale of the place. I cropped the picture to make it fit. Click here see the original, which includes more of the property. A man who lives in a palace should not invoke Christ to criticize the selfishness of others. It rings very hollow.

Perhaps the Senator might care to answer another question: Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Posted on March 6th, 2007 by pwyll
Filed under: religion