Did you ever notice that the more fundamentalist the Christians, the further they stray from the actual teachings of Jesus Christ? The reason for this apparent paradox may lie in the fundamentalist personality, which tends to be very critical, judgmental, rigid, and overly assertive, if not outright aggressive. People with such a personality aren't happy until you believe what they believe; think the way they think, and act or behave in accordance with their beliefs. This might explain the huge disparity between the Jesus, fundamentalist Christians worship, and the real Jesus Christ.
The following example might provide further clarification and moreover, provide a better understanding of why the fundamentalist's Jesus is so at odds with the real Jesus.
In April 1935, Norwegian immigrant, Abraham Vereide, a fairly prominent preacher, who strongly opposed the "New Deal" and trade unions, experienced, what he called a revelation from God, which proclaimed Christianity's been focusing on the wrong people for the last 2,000 years. It is not about the "down and out", it's about the "up and out". I guess Jesus didn't really know of what He was preaching. Nevertheless, talk about procrastination... 2,000 years to get the memo out?? Anyway, Abraham was called on to be a missionary to the "New Chosen" - politicians, executives, wealthy and powerful men - whose power was assigned through God's blessing.
After God spoke to Vereide, he, of course, had to spread the word. So, he gathered 19 businessmen in Seattle for a "prayer" session. And wouldn't you know...right there at the meeting: Hallelujah! More messages from God! Showering down upon them like raindrops and sunbeams. In fact, God told one man, Arthur Langlie, that he's destined to be Governor of Washington State. Sure enough, Langlie was elected, giving this group of "up and outers" the success they needed to infiltrate Washington D.C. As you can well imagine, it was not hard to garner support, and recruit for an organization based on the religious doctrine of wealth and power. Soon after arriving in the other Washington, they started their power agenda, getting behind the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which was the beginning of the rollback of the "New Deal". From there, this anti-Socialist, pro big-business group, who hid behind the facade of a Christian evangelical movement, plowed full-steam ahead.
Fast forward some 70 years or so, and Jeff Sharlet, author of "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power" and the follow up, "C Street: The Fundamentalist Threat to American Democracy" went undercover among America's secret theocrats. He gained full access to the C-Street House, and discovered the covert mission of these men, who, because of their chosen status, are able to live above, what they believe are moral constructs imposed on the rest of us "down and outers". Referring to themselves as The Family, this group hosts Prayer Breakfasts in public, while in private; preach a gospel of "biblical capitalism", military might, and American empire.
Religious differences and contradictions among its members are transcended by the member's drive for political and financial power. This is why orthodox Jews, secular neo-conservative Jews, conservative Catholics, evangelical Protestants, Sunni and Wahhabi Muslims find it possible to unite through "Jesus" to further their power agenda.
Over the decades the Fellowship's Nazi and racist roots have been replaced with homophobic ones, although you won't hear it from their mouths, with the exception of one: David Bahati, the author of the anti-homosexuality bill. You see, racism interfered with their political goal of internationally networking powerful "chosen" fundamentalists since these people come in a variety of flavors. However, just as important as burying their racist past, to their international mission, is the common enemy, who provides a symbol of the evil against which they must unite, distracting them from issues that might divide when trying to conquer foreign territory. Hence, homosexuals become the new common enemy.
Sharlet explores, in his new book, the specific connections between C-Street and the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill that was introduced into Uganda’s Parliament last year, and whose ultimate goal is to eradicate homosexuality throughout Africa. The Family created the structure that made this possible. How?
Well, David Bahati is one of the leaders of the The Family's presence in Uganda, which is one of their strongest countries in Africa, a place where they've invested millions of dollars in leadership development. Uganda became The Family's guinea pig for exporting culture war issues from America.
So, one day while visiting David Bahati at his home Jeff Sharlet asked, "Is there a connection between your bill and The Family?" Bahati responded, "No, there is no connection, the bill IS The Family." Now, to the American press, C-Street says that's not what we meant, however they've done nothing to hold Bahati accountable, never told him to stop the bill, only assured him that he remains a member in good standing. The only thing The Family mentioned to Bahati was that they were concerned about their reputation in America. Because they believe the more invisible the organization the more influential, and this bill could destroy their invisible influence.
Invisible influence? Well, invisible power. This invisible and powerful organization, states they're working for "democracy" and "free markets," when in reality, they're extending the American empire. Jeff Sharlet tells the following story about David Coe, son of Doug Coe, C-Street's current leader, that illuminates the darkness at the core of this influence.
"I met the younger Coe when I lived for several weeks as a member of the Family. He's a surprising source of counsel, spiritual or otherwise... Attempting to explain what it means to be chosen for leadership like King David was -- or Mark Sanford, according to his own estimate -- he asked a young man who'd put himself, body and soul, under the Family's authority, "Suppose I hear you raped three little girls. What would I think of you?"
One of the young men responded, "You would think I'm a monster."
Coe responded, "No, I wouldn't, because you're chosen."
As a member of the Family, he's among what Family leaders refer to as the "new chosen". If you're chosen, the normal rules don't apply.
Not to worry, the
New Yorker is their friend.
The Bible warns us of many . . . "whose god is their belly," their appetites, their physical senses.
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God
is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."
Philippians 3:18, 19.
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