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Eminentoes
Blessed Is Big Government
Lawrence O’Donnell’s Jesus Christ.
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell devoted one of his “Rewrite” segments this week to the topic of Rush Limbaugh and Jesus Christ. Upset with Limbaugh’s dismissal of the left’s “What would Jesus cut?” campaign, O’Donnell tore into the talk show host, imagining him flying “down the path of the damned” in his private jet should he fail to “give up” all his wealth.
As he sits in “full recline” on one of his jet-setting trips to play golf, Limbaugh should consider the perilous fate of his soul, thundered O’Donnell. Heed, he said, “the words of Jesus Christ. Give up everything. You can be a radio talk show host and you can make your 50 million dollars a year. But you cannot do that and be a disciple of Christ if you keep all of your 50 million dollars a year.”
That an MSNBC host believes in the existence of hell is perhaps the most newsworthy element to emerge from this statement. But O’Donnell’s implicit “rewrite” of the New Testament and equation of Christian discipleship with IRS payments are also notable.
Jesus Christ told his disciples to “give to the poor.” But from O’Donnell’s commentary, one would have thought that Christ said, “give to government to give to the poor.” Christ’s injunctions to individual charity and the exacting of taxes by government are treated as one and the same in O’Donnell’s analysis.
O’Donnell casts Jesus Christ as the premier tax theoretician for the welfare state, interpreting Christ’s message of “give up everything” as a call for Marxist levels of taxation.
“The New Testament does have an answer to Rush’s question, ‘What would Jesus take?’ and it’s not one Rush is going to like,” said O’Donnell. “And since he obviously has no working command of the Bible, it will surely shock him because he will be hearing it now for the first time. The answer is everything, not 35 percent, not 39.6 percent. One hundred percent.”
O’Donnell describes Jesus Christ here as a very eager socialist, but if that is true, Christ’s pejorative references to “tax collectors” should be expunged from the Gospel and lines like “treat them [the unrepentant] as you would a tax collector” should be changed to “treat them as you would a tax cheat.” O’Donnell didn’t mention those needed rewrites.
The theology underlying O’Donnell’s commentary is curious to say the least. He interprets Christ’s calls for sacrifice wholly in terms of the good of Caesar, not God. In O’Donnell’s telling, Christ wanted his disciples to “give up everything” not for the kingdom of heaven but for the expansion of government agencies. Support for government programs is the test of sanctity for O’Donnell, which explains why he thinks its critics like Limbaugh are going to hell.
O’Donnell reduces Jesus Christ to an advocate for big government, an advocate who isn’t even allowed to call for defunding Planned Parenthood. O’Donnell’s Christ has uncannily similar budgetary priorities to the Democratic Party.
Christ’s “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” implies a limitation on government. But O’Donnell and company don’t see any limitation on the government, in effect considering Caesar to be God. O’Donnell said that while “Jesus may not have specified specific tax brackets, he was the first recorded advocate of a progressive income tax. Jesus actually said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on.’”
The story of the widow works against O’Donnell’s claim. The widow gave freely for the benefit of her soul, which Christ commends. Were O’Donnell presiding over that treasury, he would have refunded the money and encourage her to resent the rich instead.
About the Author
George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (51) | Leave a comment
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figusja| 4.28.11 @ 7:08AM
This twisting of the scriptures is what is going to be used to deceive the uniformed. People will hear the wrong message and work on those assumptions. Others will hate us Christians due to these lies. They already call Tea Party members violent. When all evidence points the other way around to the Liberals. 8/28 was massive and peaceful. No garbage was left on the floor. When the libs tried the same thing, they left so much garbage it took a long time to clean up. This from the city workers at the capitol. Sad is it not?
John Tannehill| 4.28.11 @ 8:20PM
Jesus had no quarrel with rich people and many of his examples involved the well to do. Jesus told the rich young man to give away his wealth not because God needed the money but so that he would see he needed God. Liberals should be banned from quoting the Bible since they never read it, particularly in context.
Storage Steve| 4.29.11 @ 11:11AM
I agree Jesus had friends who were rich Lazarus must have had wealth to have his own tomb and he wasa such a close friend of Jesus that He rose him from the dead. Joseph of Aremethia was wealthy and he gave up his tomb for Jesus. When Jesus asked the rich man to give up his wealth and follow it was to show him where his wealth was in relationship to God.
old white guy| 4.30.11 @ 10:53AM
there will be poor, always. i believe Christ said something to that effect. as far as odonnell is concerned the man is a bloody loon.
NedB| 4.28.11 @ 8:31AM
Funny, I thought Pope John Paul II had put the kibosh on Liberation Theology?
Doctor Right| 4.28.11 @ 12:31PM
Naah.
He was too busy covering-up scandals to finish the job...
RCV| 4.28.11 @ 6:45PM
The anti-Catholic bigot rears another of his ugly heads.
chemman| 4.28.11 @ 8:17PM
Funny but the magnitude of molestation in government controlled schools dwarf what is going on in the Church. Seems you might be too busy taking the mote out of the Catholic Church's eye while ignoring the beam in the Public School's eye.
Margie| 4.29.11 @ 7:10PM
Way to try and justify the supposed "true church of God!"
So, I could say my relative is a rapist, but just look at all the other rapists elsewhere?
And if you say "Oh my! Your relative is a rapist!"
I should say to you, "What a bigot you are for saying this to me?"
Ugh.
Groad| 4.28.11 @ 8:34AM
El Rushbo donates far more of his wealth to charity and worthy organizations than O'Donnell does. Gummint taxes are not donations and he pays more of that than O'Donnell as well. It is none of O'Donnell's business what Rush does with what he has earned. O'Donnell has typical Liberal class envy and animus toward the producers in this nation.
Ryan| 4.28.11 @ 8:39AM
It's like these guys don't even read the Bible. They would probably cringe at an expositional sermon.
And, by all accounts, Rush is a VERY generous person. He started off his latest cancer fundraiser by cutting a $500k check.
Walking Horse| 4.28.11 @ 9:57AM
O'Donnell is another example of people on the left who, following Hegel, wish to treat the State as God.
The accusation the Jesus was a socialist is very refutable. For starters, try KJV, John 12:1-8.
Too Many Tims| 4.28.11 @ 8:40AM
The Left loves to conjure "Comrade Jesus" but just try objecting to abortion as a Christian and the abuse flows.
Michael Tomlinson| 4.28.11 @ 8:46AM
O' Donnell should worry about Obama stealing tax dollars from the poor to fly around on Air Force One to raise campaign funds, chat with Oprah, travel to foreign countries so he can illegally wage war wasting hundreds of billions of dollars that could have helped the poor . . .
How about Obamacare that promises to ration medicine for seniors and those at risk? Does killing American seniors and the handicap by withholding medical care seem like something Jesus would do?
Would Jesus play golf all the time while troops die in a war Obama plans to lose (60% of all US deaths in Afghanistan are on Obama's watch)?
O' Donnell needs to remove the coveteous plank from his eye and use it to spank the wasteful and greedy Barack Obama whose policies are putting all American's in the poorhouse and turning the country into a Third World disaster.
Gary| 4.28.11 @ 8:49AM
Well said, Mr Neumayr!. I would only add a few humble thoughts. I was taught that one interprets scripture both historically and contextually. In this Mr. O'Donnell fails on both counts. Most liberals see Christ's mission here on earth as a grand social outreach to "feed the hungry, heal the sick and uplift the downtrodden". While Jesus did all those things and more, they were as a proof to show all who had the wit to see that he was the long-prophesized Messiah with the power over hunger, sickness and even death. His mission was to heal our spiritual sickness, not just our physical one. When He spoke disparagingly about rich men, it was to identify another aspect of this spiritual sickness, the love of money, where we make obtaining riches our god.
Bruce| 4.28.11 @ 8:50AM
O'Donnell misses the fact that the "treasury" the woman provided all her money to wasn't the government, but the church. This is why Jesus commended her. She was willing to give her all for the church and the furtherance of its teachings.
Andrew Keirns| 4.28.11 @ 9:28AM
Mr. Neumayr -- Please run for President so we can get you on the debate stage. Do you know how many of us would relish you shellacking the Left? Millions. And millions.
LarryK| 4.28.11 @ 9:29AM
Boy, people really do get it wrong when discussing the bible.
First O'Donnell doesn't know what he is talking about and neither does Rush. The finance system in the bible was/is tithing, giving 10 percent of your increase. So Jesus would take 10 percent of ones increase not all of it, Mr. O'Dummy. The story of the rich man and the widow is simple. That was not the tithe they owed but an offering given after the tithe. The rich man had someone blow the trumpets before putting in his offering so that all could see his "generosity". That was his reward, people seeing him give "of his excess". (That would be like Mr. O'Donnell writing an extra check to the IRS in excess of his taxes owed. Yea, right.)
The widow gave her two pennies which was all she had after tithing, paying her bills and for her sustenance. Truly, she gave all of her excess as an offering, giving more than the rich man. So get the story right both of you!
Kwisatz Haderach| 4.28.11 @ 11:20AM
Well said!
chemman| 4.28.11 @ 8:21PM
Actually Larry the Old Testament has a 23 1/3 % tithe. 10% yearly to the temple, 10% yearly to the priests and 10% every third year for the poor. In the New Testament teaches that you should be a joyful giver. Neither the Gospels or the Epistles teach anything about a tithe.
LarryK| 4.29.11 @ 1:11AM
Yes, the OT does mention 3 tithes. The first tithe, regular and to be paid always on your increase, the second tithe to be saved by individual and used for the expense of attending the Feast of Booths festival after the fall harvest time of the year, and a third tithe that is to be given every third year to be used for those less fortunate (the poor, widows, orphans, etc). The third year tithe would be paid on a 7 year cycle:
1st year no third tithe
2nd year no third tithe
3rd year pay third tithe
4th year no third tithe
5th year no third tithe
6th year pay third tithe
7th year - no third tithe and the 7 year cycle begins again.
1st year no third tithe ... etc.
In the gospels, tithing is clearly discussed when Christ condemns the Scribes and Pharisees because they tithe on mint, anise , and cumin, but ignore the weightier matters of the law. Nowhere in the NT does it say you should not tithe.
DrRick| 4.30.11 @ 4:28AM
Jesus did not teach tithing, or giving money to any religious organization. He himself, as far as we know, contributed nothing of secular value.
He opposed tithing. The Jewish High Priests took 10% of the sales of animals for sacrifice in the Temple. Jesus reaction was to pick up a lash and whip them out of the building.
Anthony| 4.28.11 @ 9:30AM
Please send this column to every Christian church in the USA. Mr Neumayr has explained Christian theology concerning giving alms perfectly.
Ryan| 4.28.11 @ 10:51AM
No, he hasn't. He takes one situation (Christ and the Rich Young Ruler) out of its context and attempts to apply it to his already-formed theological and political ideas.
Yes, Christ was preaching about wealth, but He was making a bigger point there - that the Ruler needed to remove the obstacles from his life that prevented him from knowing God.
Christian living is about giving from our heart to our neighbor in need - as the Christians did in the book of Acts. It's not about giving up our property to the State. That's not charity.
Ryan| 4.28.11 @ 10:52AM
ARGH. My apologies. My rant should be pointed at O'Donnell, NOT Neumayr.
Proofread. Proofread.
Doctor Right| 4.28.11 @ 12:45PM
Your analysis is correct.
What Christ was basically telling us is that to enter God's Kingdom, we must first put aside any and all worldly things or ideas that stand in our way.
For many, this entails a difficult personal change that may seem insurmountable.
Christ knew that the Rich Young Ruler's stumbling block was his wealth; for others, it can be something completely different.
We are not required to give up our possessions to follow Christ; O'Donnell is a buffoon.
Ryan| 4.28.11 @ 3:11PM
Actually, in a sense, we ARE, in the sense where we acknowledge that we are mere stewards and not "owners" of creation.
JP| 4.28.11 @ 4:53PM
One man's wealth is another man's stumbling block. A person could be fabulously wealthy, but may have an obession with sex, or a problem with pride. We all know our "idols", and many times money or possesions are not it.
These were things that most of us were taught in CCD or Sunday School. One would think O'Donnel would know better.
William Spivey| 4.28.11 @ 9:42AM
2 Thessalonians Chapter 3 verses 6 through 11 is Paul's comment on charity. It short it says, those who do not work should not eat. The passage is below.
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
Citizen Jerry| 4.28.11 @ 10:05AM
Why are we surprised? O'Donnell is just another of the endless parade of lefto-socialists who pontificate about what they know nothing about. All he's done is proven his view of government isn't the only area in which he's a heretic.
David T| 4.28.11 @ 10:14AM
Finally, a pastor who's worthy to shepherd our humble president: The Rev Lawrence O'Donnell
Louis Jenkins| 4.28.11 @ 10:14AM
It never ceases to amaze me. A liberal preaching what should be done! You give by faith, for all else is false. Not give to the government so they can laddle out the proceeds. O'Donnell, comparing Jesus to Rush is just about a pure lie. This is insane.
tjsker| 4.28.11 @ 10:15AM
Come On folks, O'Donnell doesn't care about religion or the bible, he just needed to get in his daily quota of conservative bashing. He was running out of material so he picked up the bible, took what he needed from it, and then threw it back in the bottom drawer of his desk to collect dust until he needed to exploit it again.
I was having a hard time trying to decide if liberals were a smart calculating group of people with a devilish plan to socialize the United States or just a bunch of immature dolts that act like high school sophomore drama queens. I was beginning to lean toward the former lately, but after listening to O' Donnell, I'm moving back to the latter.
Petronius| 4.28.11 @ 10:31AM
Would O'Donnell take any of it back if he had leukemia? Would he ask anyone who does? He'd never consider either question. His ilk views economic well being through three words; have, get, and benefit. To them the word Earn does not matter.
RichTex| 4.28.11 @ 11:29AM
Surely we all remember the passage in the scriptures where Jesus said, “Render everything unto Caesar and let Caesar take care of everybody.” And I’m absolutely certain that Lawrence O’Donnell practices what he preaches.
keith| 4.28.11 @ 12:46PM
Obviously O'Donnell has as much "working knowledge" of the Bible as the so-called pastors Jim Wallace, Jeremiah Wright, and the other spiritually dead clergy our leader chooses to associate with. Blind guides leading the blind who will all find themselves in the eternal pit. Christ died to free us from the curse of The Law, all of our sins, and death. It is only after we apprehend this by faith that we find our hearts changed and true charity beginning within. New and good activity flows from our lives as naturally as fruit grows on trees. The charlatans listed above have no clue what it means to be a Christian. Remember it is impossible for them to grasp in any way. They are part of the multitude of the walking dead.
Al Adab| 4.28.11 @ 2:59PM
Eric Hoffer made note of what he called "The True Believer". To state that the modern American Left believes in centralized government understates the fact. It is their Faith and it leads them not only to worship Government, but to set up idols in the public squatre such as Tolerance, Diversity and Choice while denying other faiths their voice. We have become an idolotrous nation at our peril. It was only a few years ago when we heard, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism". Have any of you heard that lately? The Left has become through their obsessive Faith both totalitarian and tyrannical. Prepare for the onslaught of epithets (racists, Bigots, Nazis, etc.) which will come our way as elections near.
JLKthree| 4.28.11 @ 3:23PM
Lawrence seems enthralled by the idea of giving away "everything".I can give him a large cardboard box in which he can live.
Finbarr Moran| 4.28.11 @ 4:11PM
Simply put, the guy is a tool.
Padoux| 4.28.11 @ 5:40PM
O'Donnel is a fool. The morality taught by Jesus was a personal one and how one should conduct his own life. Giving of one's riches is a way to do that but paying taxes we are forced to pay is no free pass to heaven. If the government compels us to do "God's will," there is no true virtue in it. Christian Americans are the most charitable people in this land and they give not because of government fiat, but out of their goodness and kindness. Think of it, if we all lived the Christian lives set out in the commandments and teachings of Christ there would be no need for many social services, no out of wedlock babies, no violence, etc. Liberals have no use for personal morality so for O'Donnel to rant at Rush using the Bible is ironic. When the liberals ask " What would Jesus do?" ask them to ask his opinion on abortion, promiscuous sex, etc.
Nick| 4.28.11 @ 6:16PM
I love it when stinking liberals try to talk Biblically, as if they know anything about the Word of God. Ha-ha!
The only time they probably even touch the Bible is when they burn it, sitting around their giant pentagrams in their basements, worshiping their real master! (Or is it pentacle? A little help, libs.)
Larry O' doesn't have any inkling what the Word of God is all about. Silly rabbit, the Scriptures are for Christians!
Not socialists.
G.S. Patton| 4.28.11 @ 11:09PM
This is about as good as Nancy Pelosi referring to her favorite book, "the word"....... LOL
Deacon Jim Stagg| 4.29.11 @ 11:15PM
Marvelous insight!
We do need to remember that G-d and Jesus are just, as well as beneficient. "Justice" seems to rankle the socialist.
RWinks| 4.30.11 @ 11:29AM
Larry O'Donnell is a Communist---with all that implies.
+joseph vellone| 4.30.11 @ 11:31AM
Both the editor and O'Donnel are incorrect.The editor for his abnormal fear of social programs and O'Donnel for his misinterpretation of a Divine Counsel for a Divine command.Jesus did mention what the rich man's fate would probably be for eternity.Wealth has to be measured by eternal vlues,not by money.If the editor is supporting good ol'Rush's message and attitude,he should resign immediately.If O'Donnel implies guilt because one has a hefty bank account,he should quit.So both of them should go on retreat and meditate on what their attitude towards wealth and salvation is all aboutThose whose main worry is whether to use the Lamboghini or the Mercedes on Wednesdays,or wether to have fillet mignon or a t-bone on Thursdays should seriously be worried about their salvation.Those who can blissfully ignore the poor woman who cannot afford to find out whether that lump on her breast is benign or not should also worry about their salvation
Nick| 4.30.11 @ 7:50PM
Mr. Vellone,
With all due respect, the part about Rush is ridiculous. Mr. Limbaugh just gave over half a million dollars in just one charity drive, as someone above pointed out. Surveys show that conservatives consistanly give more to charity than do liberals (who are always crying about the poor, oh, and the children.)
Christ was not commanding all wealthy people to sell everything they owned. Nor, did He ever command his followers to demand of Ceasar more funding for social programs for the poor. He commanded His followers to give to the poor, out of love for our neighbor.
Christ was making a point to this man, who asked Him, " Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?" Christ first asked him, "Why do you ask me concerning good? One is good, God." He then told the young man to "follow the commandments." The young man replied that he had followed the commandments since his youth.
Christ then told him, "If you will be perfect, go sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
The young man went away sad, because he had many possessions. He was not ready to follow God.
Christ then told His disciples, " Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Christ's message to the rich man is: Choose God over your wealth. It is not: Don't be rich in the first place. This is marxist clap-trap. Christ is saying it will be very hard for many rich men to choose God over their wealth, but, not impossible.
For, as He says at the end of Matthew 19, when asked by the disciples, "Who then can be saved?" Christ answered, "With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible."
Also, remember that is was Judas who was hypocritically indignant when Mary, the sister of Lazarus, wiped Christ's feet with ointment. (The cost of which was one year's wages of a farm laborer.) As Saint John tells us, "Now [Judas] said this not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief and, having the purse, carried the things that were put therein."
All Judas saw was how much money he was loosing. This is why the patron saint of liberals should be Judas Iscariot!
Sharon Beth Long| 5.1.11 @ 6:18PM
It is NOT TRUE that G*d did not mandate taxes to help the poor. Each year everyone was commanded to give one tenth of their income, two years for religious personnel and institutions and one year for the poor. This was not voluntary. (Lev) At least during some periods during the preChristian and early Christian era the poor tithe was distributed through the Temple in Jerusalem (New Testament) . In most times of the first and second Temples the Temple management and priests were tied closely to the secular government and the King had some special privleges in the Temple compound such as a special entrance during public holidays. Also early Israel WAS REQUIRED NOT to go back to re glean fields but let the poor pick up sheaves , not to harvest the corners of their fields to let the landless harvest it, AND were required to return all bought land to their original owners every seven years. They weree even forbidden to not buy land because the sabbatical year was coming near. It is true that the government was not allowed to take land and the King was not allowed to amass a lot of personal wealth (see Deuteronomy) but this was to prevent the King from taking advantage of the people, not to prevent redistribution.
Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 9:41PM
is good