This past Sunday, 3 October 2010, as I was channel surfing I happened upon Cornerstone, a religious program featuring John Hagee. I thought I would listen for a minute of two and see what was on his mind. Instead, I found myself doing the weeks penance! I could not believe my ears. I became so infuriated that I had to listen so I would be able to shot down all of his mistakes - it was compelling.
This past Sunday, 3 October 2010, as I was channel surfing I happened upon Cornerstone, a religious program featuring John Hagee. I thought I would listen for a minute of two and see what was on his mind. Instead, I found myself doing the weeks penance! I could not believe my ears. I became so infuriated that I had to listen so I would be able to shot down all of his mistakes - it was compelling.
First, he started by saying that this "is not a sermon, it is a message from God to me". I thought to myself, ‘isn’t that what a sermon is? So I looked up the word s-e-r-m-o-n in the American Heritage Dictionary. S-e-r-m-o-n n 1. Homily delivered as part of a liturgy
- a lengthy and tedious reproof or exhortation (Latin sermon = discourse). I then looked up h-o-m-i-l-y (same dictionary) 1. A sermon 2. A tedious moralizing lecture (GK homilia = discourse). I also looked up (again same dictionary), l-i-t-u-r-g-y 1. A prescribed form for public worship 2. Often (GK leitourgia = public service).
Ok, so maybe a sermon is not a direct message from God to the teller, but by all accounts, it is considered to be an inspired message, by God to the teller.
Second, Hagee begins with "The National Debt is ......", I thought to myself, really? Why would God charge a preacher, entrusted with spreading the Word of God, with discussing national debt with his congregation? It is a commonly held Christian belief that God does not see people in terms of their monetary value. In fact the entire time that Christ was on earth He seemed to have a distain for how money was used and thought of. But again, I decided to fact check myself. I pulled out my Bible (New Century Version). I began in the New Testament, after all, that is where, the life of Christ begins (in the recounting). In Matthew 6:19-24 Christ talks about not storing up treasures on earth. He (Christ) goes on to say that "...where your heart is your treasure will be." He (Christ) ends this passage with, " No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly treasures." Fast forward a few more chapters, Matt 14: 13-21 and we see the story of Christ feeding more than 5000 with a few loaves and fish. Reading on, Matt 22: 21-22 Christ tells us, in no uncertain terms to, " give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s". Moving on, Mark 11:15 Christ is throwing the all the merchants out of His temple. (Doesn’t seem real friendly to capitalism here). In Mark 12: 43 Christ says, " I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave all she had to live on." This seems to me that Christ was in favor of a sliding scale, a need based society. Sort of like a sliding scale tax, based on what you have, what you need, what you can afford. (Our current income tax laws come to mind here). In Luke 8:3 we are told that "these women used their own money...." most of us are wondering, given the time and the culture, where did the women get their own money? But one soon realizes that Christ does not feel that is the important thing, what is important is giving what you have and giving of yourself. See, the money does not matter. Continuing on, Luke 18:11-14, "The Pharisee stood alone and prayed ......the tax collector ....would not even look up......’God have mercy on me a sinner’. I tell you when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not ....." This tells us much about humility and even more about rich arrogance. Matt 22:35, " When I sent you out without a purse, a bag, or sandals, did you need anything?" They said, "No"." Doesn’t seem like God was practicing capitalism here either.
The point is, this could go on for many, many more verses, but Christ is very clear that he did not come to preach about money, so why would He want his shepherds to begin preaching about money now? The answer, I don’t think that is or ever was God’s intention, based on his own words, the Bible.
Third, Hagee repeatedly refers to the Bible as the Magna Carta of the work ethic. This is troubling on several fronts. The Magna Carta is the definitive in British law, not American law. While much of American law is reflective of English law and the Magna Carta, why not reference the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence?
Fourth, Hagee continues by telling us that America has grown lazy because we have stopped working and we have created a welfare state where people do not have to work, they would rather have welfare. What is this saying to the millions of Americans that have lost their jobs to capitalistic outsourcing, jobs going to foreign countries because of cheaper labor? What is this saying to the millions who have had their homes foreclosed on because they have lost their jobs? What is this saying to all those, who because of a medical condition, injury, or accident, are unable to work, or went bankrupt paying medical bills? Again, if I refer to the words of Christ (Matt 5:44-47) " But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do this, you will be true children of God. He causes the sun to rise on good people and evil people, and He sends the rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends." I think that perhaps Christ is saying that we need to look out for all people, even those we aren’t crazy about, even those who just might be crazy!
Fifth, Hagee goes on to tell us that we are being ruled by ‘wicked’ leaders. At first I laugh when I hear this. My grandparents are from New England and in my venicular this is actually a compliment (to be wicked means to be excellent). But I know that is not at all how he means it. Hagee does not tell us how are leaders are wicked, just that they are. Although for those of us that call ourselves Californians, he does tell us how we and OUR leaders are wicked, because we allow gay marriage. I guess he missed the last vote, it was voted down, but I assume that he was going off of the recent court ruling. I wonder if he knows that federal judges are appointed and not elected (or anointed, as he seems to feel some are). Anyway, as a Californian, I will take that criticism, as I am in favor of gay marriage, as is the majority of my state. But again, he offers only one passage to back up his statement here, it comes from Genesis, "God make man and woman ....". Fair enough. But I failed to see how the national debt, wicked leaders, and gay marriage, were all connected. He tried, in vain, to tie everything together by way of socialism. In chastising socialism, he quoted John F Kennedy. But he only used part of the quote, and of course, out of context. He said that society can not help the poor by penalizing the rich. He forgot the part of the quote that says, "A society that cannot help the poor, cannot save the rich".
It was one of those speeches that made you want to scream. I know it was useless and an exercise in futility. But I was at once reminded of (my favorite Biblical quote) "If I tell you, you will not believe me. And if I ask you, you will not answer." Growing up, inscribed on our lectern was, ‘For those who believe, no explanation is necessary, for those who don’t, no explanation is possible’. Your friends will know the truth and understand, you enemies will not believe you anyway.
As I listened, through gritted teeth, I knew that God holds our soul, our self, and when we find our selfs we find God. It is a lifelong journey because sometimes our paths diverge. If a rule brings (or keeps) you close to God - keep the rule, if not chuck it. We are all children of God, by whatever name you chose to use. What is important is that we continue to listen to each other and practice tolerance through respect, then, and only then, love will lead the way.