Jesus says, "KILL!"
PART 1: Donald Trump Has Been Raised up by God
I was shocked to find out that Jesus is NOT the prince of peace. No, seriously--it turns out all that stuff about love thy neighbor, love your enemies, turn the cheek, give up your cloak, serve the least of these--it's a load of crap. What Jesus really wants you to do is KILL! Kill non-Christians who might be a problem in the future. Bonus points if the infidels have oil but limited military technology.
How do I know Jesus wants me to kill? Because Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, says so, pointing out that God "also hates" and is a "god of war."* And to make sure God's supply of hate and war lust isn't wasted, he has sent us a crusader for the ages: Donald J. Trump.
At an Easter gathering at the White House, Reverend Graham prayed to God, "You have raised up President Trump. You have raised him up for a time such as this."** He proceeded to share a parallel to the biblical book of Esther, claiming Esther was "raised up" to save the Jews from destruction.
Funny thing about the book of Esther--God is never mentioned. And, nowhere does it say Esther was "raised up." I'm sure theologians can easily explain this. I'm not sure they can explain the bizarre conflation of an historical heroine and a politician devoid of Christian ethics.
The Cliff Notes on the book of Esther:
The king of Persia had a party.
King got drunk (his heart was merry with wine.)
King wanted to show off his pretty wife.
Pretty wife refused to appear.
King got pissed.
King worried other women would "look with contempt upon their husbands."
Uncooperative wench!
King ditched wife.
King sent eunuchs out to gather beautiful young virgins.
Esther was the beautiful virgin that pleased king the most.
Esther became queen.
Later....
Jews were to be killed.
Esther intervened.
Jews not killed.
Jews allowed to slaughter enemies.
To me, the story of Esther tells me nothing about the spiritual or political leadership of the president, raised up or otherwise. It does, however, provide examples historical entrenchment within conservative religion. A few examples:
First, the resurgence of "wife, you shall do as you are told!" If man and wife like this, so be it. And....there's reason INCEL has become a thing.
Second, men demanding virgins. If men had hymens, this would not be an issue.
Third, wives must be prevented from observing independence in other women. Heaven forbid! We certainly don't want them thinking for themselves! May as well lock her in the closet. Did I mention INCEL?
Finally: we are still slaughtering the innocent in the name of "protection." From Esther (8:11):
"By these the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods."
Defend yourself by annihilating those that might attack you. Gaza. Lebanon. Group punishment. Targeting civilians. Same as it ever was.
And meanwhile, back in the bizarre fundamentalist brain of Franklin Graham, the Jews must be protected and protect themselves because Jesus cannot return without the gathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel.
Putting the pieces together: it's OK for a "Christian" nation to abet Israel in killing others who MIGHT in the future drive them from the "holy land" thus preventing the return of the Christian Messiah who preached peace, love and understanding. And, to make sure there is no glitch, God has sent a figure who knows nothing about Christianity, the Middle East, history, the military....
My head hurts.
Rev. Graham, I'm waiting. Waiting for you, or anyone else, to tell me how it is possible to claim Jesus as the messiah but ignore his teachings. Waiting to be shown where Jesus says, "get them before they get you." Waiting to be shown how a politician who seeks to dominate, not serve, can be evidence of God's plan. Waiting to be shown how the gospel of love, in any way, can be twisted into, KILL! KILL! KILL!
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUjbJ4BZLTQ
(Start 18:30)