The Biblical Argument for Bernie --- Jim, a Liberty University Alumnus, Explains:

[kpete]

Biblical Argument for Bernie
Jim, a Liberty University Alumnus, explains how an Evangelical Christian can be both theologically conservative and politically liberal, and support Bernie Sanders.


AUDIO:
https://clyp.it/eusxalwe
https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3kx57b/im_an_alumni_of_liberty_u_bernie_is_the_voice_of/


Partial transcript:

When I heard Bernie speaking in that way, when I saw that guy on stage at Liberty University, I saw John the Baptist...crying out to the religious leaders, the Pharisees of his day, calling them corrupt and complicit with those who have all the power and all the money and all the wealth, and abandoning the people that God loves, that God cares about...

As I heard Bernie Sanders crying out to the religious leaders at Liberty University, in his hoarse voice, with his wild hair – this Jew – and he proclaimed justice over us, he called us to account, for being complicit with those who are wealthy and those who are powerful, and for abandoning the poor, the least of these, who Jesus said he had come to bring good news to. And in that moment something occurred to me. As I saw Bernie Sanders up there, as I watched him, I realized Bernie Sanders for president is good news for the poor. Bernie Sanders for president is Good News for the poor. Bernie Sanders is gospel for the poor. And Jesus said "I have come to bring gospel" – good news – "to the poor."

And lightning hit my heart at that moment. And I realized that we are evangelical Christians. We believe the Bible. We believe in Jesus. We absolutely shun those who would attempt to find nuance and twisted and tortured interpretations of scripture that they would use to master all other broader interpretations, to find some kind of big message that they want to flout. We absolutely scorn such things, and yet somehow we commit to the mental gymnastics necessary that allows us to abandon the least of these, to abandon the poor, to abandon the immigrants, to abandon those who are in prison.

.................

I wouldn't be much of a Christian if I didn't stand on the side of gospel for the poor, because, the last time I checked, that's where my master Jesus stood, and I'll stand with Him. And, for now, that means I stand with Bernie Sanders.

The audio is BEAUTIFUL 16 minutes long, the partial transcript begins about half way, but the WHOLE audio is fascinating:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/16/1421659/-An-Evangelical-responds-to-Sanders-speech-at-Liberty-U

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. From the heart.

And if there is a soul, from that as well. Christianity as it should be. A force to help, rather than hate.

[FormerRepublicanNow]

15. Here is a link directly to the talk

https://clyp.it/eusxalwe

[daleanime]

2. Welcome Brother....

Roll up your sleeves, there is work to be done.

[Skwmom]

3. Bernie is also for the middle class. The middle class vs the poor has been a strategy

used for decades while the rich and corporations have fed at the federal trough.

[mmonk]

4. Brings a tear.

Bernie is getting through to people.

[restorefreedom]

5. wow. gop "christians" take note

this is how its done.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. That audio was lovely and a MUST LISTEN TO!

See what happens when you take an opportunity to TEACH in a University? Bernie took a few minutes of his time and used it as one of those teaching moments. And even though Jim is no longer a LU student, he is a LU Alumnus and had his mind changed - just like that! To know Bernie is to LOVE Bernie. His speech was perfect for LU and his message was clear - and they heard it. I'm sure Jim isn't the only evangelical Christian who changed his mind on Monday. Surely there's many more, if they truly follow their Bible.

Just an aside - Jim opened his audio explaining how he would never have been able to voice his Bernie support on the audio or Facebook or Reddit if he was still a student at LU because LU has an "honor code" which means you cannot publicly support anyone who is pro choice or pro LGBTQ. If you do, you're in trouble and could be expelled from LU (bizarre, I know!), so I wonder what happened to the LU student who posted his support for Bernie last week on Reddit (?) or his FB page? I hope he wasn't expelled for it!

[mmonk]

7. Let's hope that student makes it through OK.

[AllyCat]

8. Alum. No longer a student

[mmonk]

9. Yes, I know. I was referencing the previous post notation of an LU student that voiced

support on reddit last week.

[dorkzilla]

30. I think he’ll be okay since really all he did was thank Senator Sanders for speaking

Unless they’re really harsh that shouldn’t get the kid in trouble.

Who wants to go to a uni with thought police? Fuck that.

[artislife]

10. I am not a Christian but the words of Jesus are beautiful

Someone or a few people wrote the words of Jesus, that is true. If it was the son of God birthed by a virgin is my quibble....but the words are beautiful and this young person gets it.

It is about love. It is about acceptance. It is abou helping everyone.

Love this OP so much, thank you for bringing it here.

[vlyons]

11. Yes indeed - the real teachings of Jesus - pure and simple

Feed the poor, heal the sick, practice peace (not war), and love thy neighbor. Thy immigrant neighbor, thy black neighbor, thy Moslem neighbor, thy Buddhist neighbor, thy female neighbor, thy Chinese neighbor, thy Mexican neighbor, etc etc

Stop worshipping money as the highest of all values. Oh, and also be a good steward of the land, the water, the natural resources. It's not a complicated message.

[magical thyme]

12. here's a link to a complete transcript

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3l4khz/transcript_of_biblical_argument_for_bernie_by_jim/

[DrBulldog]

13. Kaboommmmmm!

(My jaw just hit the floor.)

[w0nderer]

14. k&r n/t

[LiberalArkie]

16. Amen. The audio is very well worth you time and effort.

[dorkzilla]

17. Mind.Fucking.Blown.

Wow. I’m stunned, happy, gobsmacked and really really touched. Thanks for posting this! I will share this on Facebook.

[kpete]

19. Please do

spread the word


and peace,
kp

[dorkzilla]

22. Can I just tell you...I am a card carrying Atheist who was brought up a progressive Catholic

I turned my back on religion long ago (probably because my parish priest was an open-minded radical LOL)...and this guy’s words have me in tears I am so moved. And i am reminded that *sometimes* good works are done in Jesus’ name. Long may it be so.

Had you not posted this here I never would have heard this powerful and moving message.

Peace to you, my brother.

[bunnies]

29. You and me both.

[zeemike]

18. To bring light into the world, be a candle or the mirror that reflects it.

(I don't know who first said that)

But what Bernie brought to that stage was a mirror.

[handmade34]

20. too preachy for me

(as a former seminarian pragmatist) but good message if you stomach the sermon

"wild-haired Jew" never thought of bernie that way

[dorkzilla]

24. Me neither, but think about who his intended audience is

They’re people who grew up believing Jews have horns.

Honest to dog I thought this was a myth until i became close friends with a woman from West Texas who moved to New York City when she was in her early 40’s. My husband at the time was Jewish (and a child of a Holocaust survivor at that). It was the High Holy Days and I was telling her that i had to go to my in-laws for Yom Kippur and she was asking all sorts of odd questions about their festivals, what they ate, did my MIL have a tattoo on her arm, just bizarre things for me to hear considering I grew up there and at least 1/3 of the people I knew were Jewish so I’d always known of these things. She looked at me and said “do you know, I never even laid eyes on a Jew until about 6 months ago; our pastor told us Jews were dirty and had horns.” She’s now married to a retired Italian American cop...culture shock all the way round!

Anyway sometimes the only way to get through to these people is to remind them that, yes, in fact Jesus was a Jew. Given who he wants to get through to, I can stomach the sermon.

[me b zola]

21. Truthbomb

[NightWatcher]

23. Wow, damn. He's a Christian who hasn't fallen for the rw hate.

I'm going to be spreading this around to see what my fundie family thinks about this.

[NightWatcher]

25. From my Johnny 1-note family... "What about abortion?"

They read the blurb but did not listen to the message.

[dorkzilla]

31. Sorry, that’s a disappointment

They didn’t even listen to the part about how “we can’t major in the minors”?

If your family is reacting this way I hope the guy who posted this on Reddit doesn’t start getting death threats. Those people (fundies) are seriously disturbed (no insult meant to your family).

[arcane1]

26. Beat me to it by a few hours! I posted in the Sanders group just now.

He's reaching out, and connecting!!

[liberal N proud]

27. Let's not do what the republicans have done - use religion in politics

Lets keep politics where they belong and religion where it belongs.

I left church because I was told how I should vote. Religion and politics don't mix! We are not the right wing!

[sabrina 1]

28. I didn't this when I posted my OP.

It is a beautiful audio, very moving and well worth watching.

[LonePirate]

32. I'm always amazed by evangelicals who claim to follow Jesus but ignore almost everything he said

I'm an atheist and I seem to know more about the Bible than those fervent believers. We live in very strange times.

[markpkessinger]

33. In reference to this OP . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251602671

[ion_theory]

34. K&R n/t