For Wednesday Night, November 9^th, we will be discussing a recent challenge to Evangelical Christians by Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. He said: “I don’t usually do this but I am going to do it now because it seems that Christianity is constantly being thrown into primary debates. It happened again this past weekend. How fascinating that, despite the fact that many on the right have brought religion up over the past 30-40 years, they somehow missed the core of Jesus’ message. Jesus was asked by his disciples, who is getting to heaven? How do we sit on the right hand of the father? This is what Jesus Christ said. By the way… if you open your Bible to Matthew (25:31-46), it is in red letters. That means Jesus said it. Then, the King will say to those on the right, come you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  Joe went on to say that “many on the right” who wave “their Bibles around the most” simply don’t GET “the core” or central message of Jesus Christ.

      In his reference to “Christianity.. the Right.. Religion.. past 30, 40 years” – he is referring to the fact that in the last 30-40 years, the majority of Evangelical Christians have supported the Republican Party. The Republican party’s platform – at least as it is portrayed in the mainstream media – advocates tax breaks for the rich, cutting welfare and medicaid for the poor, repealing healthcare for the poor, privatizing Social Security, and blind faith in “trickle down” capitalism.

      Is Joe right?  Has Evangelical Christianity become so “conservative” that we have missed “the core of Jesus’ message?”  Please participate in the poll and, as always,  feel free to comment.

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