Much has been written and discussed of the Republican Party. God's Own Party. The Party of Greed. The Party of Family Values (minus the values). You all understand the rank hypocrisy that permeates and smells up their whole "values" bumper sticker slogan.
From what I have discerned, much of what was written in the Apostle's Creed gives these holier-than-thou hypocrites their backbone to do their worst here in life and expect a rosy and happy reunion with their loved ones in the afterlife.
The apostates creed? Greed!
The definition of apostate:
–noun
a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.
Jesus said:
Mark 10:14 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Mt 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mt 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Mt 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Yet, when expanding the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007, the Bush administration and many Republicans worked overtime to keep this legislation from coming to fruition. Again, in January 2009 another vote in the Senate regarding SCHIP expansion caused an uproar in Republican World when those bastions of Good, the tobacco companies were levied news taxes to help pay for helping children.
Our Lady of Rage and Family Values, Michelle Malkin chimed in once again:
Senate S-CHIP roll call vote: 9 B.O. Republicans vote for raising taxes in a recession
I don’t call them squishy, bend-over Barack Obama Republicans for nothing. Here’s the roll call vote on the massive S-CHIP expansion, funded with a huge tobacco tax increase that will hit the working poor the hardest in hard times.
The working poor will be hit with an increase in the price of purchasing tobacco products is Michelle's excuse for not getting behind the assistance of children in need. This is an apostate that has not forgotten their cause or their party, but instead clings to their cause (greed) and their party (party of greed) forsaking their religion.
Speaking of the Republicans and their concern for the poor, let's have a look at what Jesus had to say about the poor. It doesn't much match up to what today's Party of God seem to feel about compassion vs. profit.
Jesus the Advocate for the Poor
Jesus had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people. At the outset of his ministry, sometimes referred to as Jesus' mission statement, Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth and read from the prophet Isaiah:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
The biographies of Jesus depict him repeatedly reaching out to those at the bottom of the social pyramid--poor people, women, Samaritans, lepers, children, prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus was also eager to accept people who were well-placed, but he made clear that all, regardless of social position, needed to repent. For this reason, he invited the rich young man to sell all of his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. (Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30, Mark 10:17-31)
Jesus commanded, "Love your neighbor." When asked to define "neighbor," Jesus expanded the traditional meaning of the word--defining our neighbor as anyone who is in need, including social outcasts: "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13)
Now, the apostates in the Republican Party didn't quite get the memo, didn't understand what the passages in the New Testament of the Holy Bible were telling them, or they just figured they could once again ignore the teachings of Jesus because they had an Ace-in-the-hole. They can read and understand the teachings of Jesus, but they need not abide by them in whole, as they will be forgiven in the end.
The twelve articles of the Apostles Creed:
- I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
- I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
- He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
- He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
- He descended into dead. On the third day he rose again.
- He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
- I believe in the Holy Spirit,
- the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
- the forgiveness of sins,
- the resurrection of the body,
- and life everlasting.
Amen.
The apostates are ready and willing to believe in all twelve articles, but especially in article 10. That, coupled with the below scripture is all they seem to want to take from the teachings they love to quote.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life.
If you do good, be a caring and giving individual and allow that you will make mistakes but you can move forward, correct your mistakes and still be forgiven has been replaced in Republican World by the the much easier to perform If you just believe, you will be forgiven.
Apostates. They clapped louder and louder as they got further and further from the message and closer and closer to the cause and the party. The Party of Greed.
This is what we are dealing with today.