Fat, Fatty, Fat-Fat

I generally do not call my fellow clergy fellas "excrement," although I have used a far more colorful pallet of language to describe some of the more recent spawn that I have worked with, but I choose to let you place the name with the idea. But, I have to call this idiot pictured, the original "pile of crap." I have known about John Hagee since I was in seminary. His name would come up often having to do with discussions about how certain clergy use the Bible to provoke fear mongering among the misinformed, or biblically illiterate. Tactics such as scaring people into changing their lives by yelling messages that are blatantly layered as "turn or burn" while spouting off bible bombs about the book of Revelation can move the weak minded, or at least the politically right anyway to become followers of a gospel of hate, bigotry, and intolerance. Hagee would come up in my personal discussions about how sick it made my classmates and I to see how we were becoming a part of a population whose very life it is to preach and teach the good news of Jesus Christ. We realized that what they were doing, was not preaching the good news at all. Their news is not of God.

When excrement like Hagee, Hagard, the late Fallwell, Hinn, and yes even that freaky Osteen dork come along and preach a scary, prosperous, or psychological message, it makes the rest of us who want to the do the good work, who actually care about the people that these idiots run out of THEIR church, it makes our jobs even that more difficult. Why? Because people need to know that they can trust their pastor. If these idiots prove that they cannot be trusted with their words, their actions, their personal version of meaningless theology, than that paints the rest of us with the same brush and that pisses God off. I am fairly sure that God is quite pissed off at these freaks, and wants nothing to do with their money, their self-imposed fame, and their horrible rhetoric!

But, here is where I am really fired up. As many of you may know, Hagee has publicly come out and given his endorsement for John McCain. To which I raise my index finger, twirl it in a circle and mundanely say "woohoo." What is appalling about all this is that McCain has not come out to deny this endorsement at all. He has not vehemently said to any of his so called fellow Republican bed-wetters, "Uh, yeah, I really don't want to be associated with that guy at all. If we want to somehow reach a peaceful solution in Israel if I become president, I really do not want that guy's endorsement to lie dormant in my closet." But, why would this middle of the road presumptive Republican nominee be "OK" with the endorsement? Think about who is missing in his base of support. All of the ultra-conservative, anti-gay, anti-prochoice, anti-Palestinian, freakezoids who really do believe that God created the world in six twenty-four hour periods, like to point to the biblical "proof texts" to prove their case against homosexuality, arrogantly and shamelessly home school their spawn, really are for the war cuz, "if they weren't over there fighting off the enemy there, that enemy would be here," enjoy bad neckties, and think to themselves, that to eat anything beyond meat and potatoes is just not American! Oh, and most of these people tend to replace the stars in our flag with crosses...as if we are somehow the promised land of God...and that we should somehow lead the way for the world to learn from and succeed from. 100% Bullshit!

I am an advocate for keeping religion (which is a term that makes me cringe by the way...because it is all insufficiently man-made) and state separate. I do not want my government crowding me in the pulpit, telling me what to say, how I should vote, what to think. Christ came into the world to free people from systemic evils such political dictatorship...think about his world...who ruled? The Caesars. They were ruthless in their pursuit to rid the world of free-thought, free-speech, and free hope. This is why Jesus was killed. Voices like Jesus voice are barely heard when idiots like McCain, Hagee, and whoever else distorts the line between religion and state, urging people from their bully pulpits to tell people who to vote for, how to think about their candidates, who is doomed if a vote does not go to so-and-so, etc. Using the pulpit to subvert the political process in the name of God, is wrong, is against the law, and is abusive of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is meant to free people, to liberate the sinner, to calm fears, and to yes, hold the human heart accountable for its choices. But, the human heart is always welcome to return to the grace filled love of God upon realizing wrong choices or behavior that separates the heart from God. There is a difference...let no one fool you with their slanted opinions, punchy warnings, or fear mongering words. If it's not good news, it's not of God, and it is of hell.

For example, Hagee has and will, always use the pulpit to give his opinion using the bible to back it all up. He uses the bible to teach people intolerance. He has called the Roman Catholic church a "whore." He believes that all the Jews in the world need to come to Jesus before the end of the world, or they will burn forever in the pit of hell. WHY WOULD McCAIN BE ALRIGHT WITH THIS PILE OF CRAP's WORDS? Can anyone within reason, explain to me why this alright with him? McCain seems like a somewhat smart man. Why is the religious right's collective vote that frickin' important...to put yourself in bed with these false leaders of Christ? I guess they forgot about that part in the bible where it says, that those of us who teach and preach in the name of Christ will be judged more harshly than the people of God, because we know better than to lead people astray. But, I guess Hagee, Hinn, and even Osteen have forgotten this small itty bitty part in the bible regarding church leadership. I guess the religious right needs to feed off their power of manipulation...I mean after-all, look who they voted into office for president. Well, they voted him in...they were the only ones...hell, nobody else who had a brain dared prostitute their vote to that guy. Bush holds office illegally though...the last legal office Bush was democratically voted into and held was governor (thanks George Carlin for this one), and frankly that's what I am calling him...governor Bush.

I can't believe I am saying this because I am not supporting McCain in any way or advocating for him, nor am I endorsing him, but let's hope that McCain can wisen up between now and the general election. To not be so eager to accept endorsements from those who claim to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ, but to simply thank them, politely refuse it, and walk away. Because if there is anything that politicians need to realize, that unlike the gospel story of Christ, there is no forgiveness in politics. Only God through Christ can forgive them...even if they shake hands with the fat bastards who prove they consume more chicken wings than in consuming the beautiful life giving words of God. I just hope they eat the hot ones...may their asses burn for a week! More later...