+Arizona Makes Me Nervous

Whether you’re a professional cyber-stalker-for Jesus like the Ould twins, or just some nut trying to reverse the decline in Irish sectarian violence, it’s vital to understand that the reason God tortured His Son to death was so that Christians could today display a mean-spirited lack of compassion to everyone lacking their own sinless self-righteousness.

Certainly, in New Testament times the Church was supposed to devote it’s energy to trivialities like feeding the poor, caring for the sick, or ministering to widows and orphans in such a manner as to not risk five-to-ten years imprisonment, but obviously that was only because under the Roman Empire’s gentle hand believers didn’t face the prospect of civilization’s destruction by homosexualists and Obamacare. No, My Beloved Sinners, back in the days of the Circus Maximus people knew how to treat foreigners with the distain they deserve. Whereas today we’ve got our work cut out for us preserving such fundamental liberties as the right to let poor people die through inadequate medical care – never mind having time to waste on non-strategic ministry to worthless foreigners of no value to the kingdom of God. After all, if God hadn’t wanted the primary focus of our outreach to be wealthy conservative whites Jesus wouldn’t have chosen His Apostles exclusively from this demographic.

Which is why I’m so troubled by the Bishop of Arizona. Mouthing foolish platitudes about loving one’s neighbors is one thing, but when an Episcopalian Prelate starts acting like Our Lord’s commands in this regard are in someway to be taken seriously - even when one’s neighbors are Hispanic - True Believers know things have really got out of hand. Not to mention his Grace having written a letter of support to such people - in their own language! All because a few creative lawmakers have sought to make scapegoats of the sojourners in their midst: since when has the Bible ever said anything about caring for strangers?

Honestly: were it not for the proudly indignant commenters at little Kendal Harmon’s blog (the always appropriately titled Nahum 3:6) showing there’s still a place for meanness and tiny-minded racism in ECUSA it would be hard to not lose hope. With people of the Rt. Rev. Kirk Smith’s caliber wearing purple I fear the future could prove no bed of roses: next thing you know someone might start pointing out Leviticus isn't all about homosexuality.

I’m Father Christian and I teach the Bible.