An Evangelical responds to Sanders' speech at Liberty U

[arcane1]

An Evangelical pastoral counselor and Liberty University graduate posted a short sermon about Bernie Sanders' speech at Liberty University to reddit yesterday:

(audio, a little under 17 minutes)
https://clyp.it/eusxalwe


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.

-snip-

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/16/1421659/-An-Evangelical-responds-to-Sanders-speech-at-Liberty-U

I'm sure some will say Sanders is now a right-winger, or that we are now deifying him, but the truth is that he is reaching out and connecting with people who didn't realize they had progressive ideals.

And that's always a good thing

[Phlem]

1. Proud to be the 1st K&R !!!

[villager]

2. A fundie (convert) cousin of mine is posting pro-Sanders items now...

It's fascinating. We're a large Jewish family, with the first three generations, from immigrant great-grandparents on down, "expanding," as lots of kids had lots of kids (pendulum has gone in the other direction a couple generations later...)

But I have lots of cousins/2nd cousins. One branch of those, during a period of family crisis long ago, were all converted to fundamental Christianity. As a Sunday school teacher in a Synagogue, I'm fairly comfortable talking religion/non-religion with anyone who wants to (you really think when I'm grappling with the "God" concept, I'm imagining some Euro-looking white dude in the sky!!?), but at family gatherings, I never could figure why that one branch allowed their fundie-ism to translate into rightwingism. Didn't seem very Jesus-y.

Well, of these converted siblings, one has become more steadily "hip," or down-to-Earth over the years. My first inkling, at a family gathering, was when he was talking about about making visits to prisoners, and I thought, hey, at least he's taking the reaching-out-to-the-downtrodden seriously...

In any case, his FB posts increasingly have questioned corporate doctrines, industrial food production, mass media, etc., and the latest was a pro-Sanders post (the one comparing our "Socialist Jew" to the one celebrated every Dec. 25th!)

I was pleasantly shocked.

His older brother remains fused, politically, to the GOP, but I'm seeing how taking the "Jesus stuff" seriously will lead to big problems for the Repubbies.

My favorite description of Jesus, after all, comes from Larry Flynt: "A rabbi with a record."

[arcane1]

5. I've always believed the purpose of fundie-ism was to promote rightwingism.

I love the story about your cousin! Sometimes all it takes is to step away from the buzz-words and slogans, and Sanders is very good at that.

[villager]

9. That's what's gonna create big problems for the GOP, if the embedded radicalism of that "Jesus talk"

...actually starts to open some "ears" in their base...!

[arcane1]

10. Exactly n/t

[99th_Monkey]

3. K&R - This is so moving. just wow. -nt-

[arcane1]

7. I can't wait to listen to the audio when I get home.

I have a feeling this guy's words are going to resonate with a lot of people.

[99th_Monkey]

11. Thom Hartman played it on his show today.

That the first I heard about this, and yes, hearing the young fellow's voice
was incredibly resonate .. with me anyway.

I know several friends who are "Sojourner" type evangelicals, i.e. very liberal/
radical on peace, economic justice, and social justice issues. The know their
bibles VERY well on this stuff, yet are orthodox believers that Jesus was really
"onto something" .. most are middle of the road on abortion.

Anyway, this all reminds me that Christianity is way overdue for a REAL
spiritual revival along these lines anyway, so what better timing than between
now and Nov. 2016.

[appalachiablue]

4. K & R. What true and wonderful thoughts on Bernie's moving speech. Thanks for the post!

Anyone who would try to twist Bernie's appearance at LU as anything other than broadly reaching out to all Americans is worthless and contemptible. I have faith that won't be an issue.

[Daemonaquila]

6. That's Bernie!

When you stand for something, you can inspire.

When you don't, you hire lots of political consultants and claim you're "inevitable."

[Doctor_J]

8. I am not used to fire and brimstone supporting MY beliefs.

My brother found Jaysus and Fox "News" in his late 30's, and has voted for every GOP loon for 20 years. I wonder if he's feeling the Bern.

rec