The word of the Lord came to me:
2 Mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying;
say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:
“Hear the word of the Lord!”
3 Thus says the Lord God, Alas for the senseless prophets
who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel.
Ezekiel 13: 1-4 (NRSV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits.
Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit,
but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:15-17 (NRSV)
Recently one of the flock --infestation? -- of American "prosperity gospel" evangelists was given an office in the White House, home of the president of the United States and presumably a symbol of the separation between church and state. Pastor Paula White, a bizarre example of the genre, is described as Donald Trump's longtime personal pastor and she now has a position with the Office of Public Liaison as Advisor to the president’s Faith and Opportunity Initiative.The office works with outreach to religious voters, who will be essential to Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.
I find this decision mind-boggling -- can you imagine a Canadian Prime Minister or Premier appointing their unelected family pastor/priest/imam/rabbi to a government position? But we've become accustomed to a rather vile resident of the Oval Office who specializes in threats, attacks, and lies, surrounding himself with wealthy religious charlatans for the purpose of prayer. Those images literally make me feel ill because they are so obviously staged and make no connection between the moral and ethical precepts of scripture and the behaviour of the president. How has this transpired?
At least this isn't new, because there is nothing new under the sun, says the writer of Ecclesiastes. There are a number of passages of scripture from both Older and New Testaments which caution against false teachers and prophets of the "itching ears" variety. They seek out power for their own gain rather than speaking truth to power.
The sad reality is that while a stubborn, aging demographic in the States continue to support this travesty, younger people are leaving religion in droves. Sadly, they seem to be able to see through the phoniness and deceit. We can pray that they find their way to meaningful faith and that faux Christianity returns to Christ.
Paula White & hubby no. 3--would you buy a used car from this couple?
2 comments:
This makes me want to throw up ! I saw a clip of her praying "in tongues" (and no one around to interpret the prayer, as the New Testament requires) It was embarrassing - literally screaming and shouting .... Jesus would weep !
Up-chucking may be the only appropriate response Judy. Trump does seem to speak in indecipherable tnngues on a daily basis, so she has taught him well.
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