We have probably all heard people proclaim “Jesus loves you!” While that might be true of the original Jesus, or some form of Jesus “out there,” I can assure you, that is not how “Republican Jesus” feels about you.
The concept of “Republican Jesus” was popularized by author Christopher Duerringer, who in 2016, published a book entitled “Who Would Jesus Bomb? The Republican Jesus Meme and the Fracturing of Ideology.”
Even for many years prior to that, it has been evident that Republicans, despite claiming to be the party of Christianity, have a very different view of Jesus — in which Jesus supports intolerant, draconian Republican policies – than do other people.
In fact, Republicans tend to have Jesus frequently reversing course on various compassionate positions which the bible says that he preached. In the minds of Republicans, for example, Jesus considers blindness or any other disability to be a preexisting condition; guns are good (when the “right” people have them); borders to keep people out are good (again, unless they are the “right” people); taxes are bad and so is welfare; homosexuality is a crime against God; universal healthcare is a crime against capitalism; and, the 10 Commandments are whatever Republicans say they are.
This is definitely not the Jesus that loves us. This is the Jesus who only loves money and wealthy white dudes who vote for and finance Republicans. In fact, if anything, “Republican Jesus” despises us, but that’s to be expected from a pseudo-religious moral farce that resembles Jesus’ spiritual foe rather than the real thing.
Many of us may have seen a hilarious but sobering video or two about “Republican Jesus.” If you have not, I would recommend watching it. In fact, I will link it to this post.
Wikipedia references this video as follows: A viral video titled “GOP Jesus” portrayed Jesus as if he had adopted Republican policies. It referenced well-known passages including [Matthew 25:35-40](), satirized as “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. And behold, now I’m all lazy and entitled. You shouldn’t have done that”. In a scene satirizing the [parable of the good Samaritan], GOP Jesus is approached by a woman asking for healing, and responds: “but who would pay for it?” The woman has no money, so GOP Jesus responds “Yes, it’s a sad story, but it does not make me responsible [Republican Jesus – Wikipedia]
It is past time to stop letting Republicans exploit religion – Christianity in particular – as though it supports their toxic worldview and policy agenda. This is an affront to not only true Christians, but people of integrity, whoever they may be and whatever they may believe. The GOP is giving Christianity a bad name, which is likely contributing to the exodus of Christians from the religion, faster than Moses and his followers (supposedly) fled Egypt during the “old testament” days.
Let us go forth in peace, with populist progressive priorities and policies.
And remember, Republican Jesus may not love you, but somebody does love you.