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elfsSome things are just beyond ridiculous. Let's take Bill O'Reilly. On Saturday, O'Reilly posted Keep Christ in Unemployment, in which O'Reilly writes:
On the topic "Does the Bible say 'The Lord hepls those who help themselves?'", the website Blue Letter Bible reminds us that the American originator of the phrase, Ben Franklin, was most definitely not a Christian, and his take on life was "If man was not able to help himself, then man was hopeless."
There are so many examples of the Bible saying exactly the opposite that it's hard to know where to start:
Romans 5:6, 8: For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Proverbs 28:26: He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Jeremiah 17:5: Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Peter 5:5 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"
You could go on and on. Luke 15, 2 Corinthians 1, there is any number of places where mankind is depicted as hopeless and helpless, and God succors anyway.
But the most obvious one is The Sermon on the Mount:
(I know, I know, the Sermon on the Mount is probably a late addition by 1st century liberal enemies of true Christianity.)
And what is this "He was not self-destructive" bullshit, O'Reilly? He freakin' turned himself over to the authorities when his followers were ready to fight for him, played the court system according to his rules when he could have escaped, and finally surrendered himself to die of crucifixtion. An ultimate act of self-destruction if ever there was one, in the service of his fellow human beings!
I'm not a Christian. I don't believe this myth. But O'Reilly says he does-- while he blasphemes it at every turn. When will American Christians realize that they have long been led by the Pharisees, already?
America remains the land of opportunity, but you have to work for it. The unemployment rate for college graduates is 5 percent. For high-school dropouts, it is 16 percent. Personal responsibility is usually the driving force behind success. But there are millions of Americans who are not responsible, and the cold truth is that the rest of us cannot afford to support them.Jesus Christ, no, "The Lord helps those who help themselves" is not Biblical, Bill-o.
Every fair-minded person should support government safety nets for people who need assistance through no fault of their own. But guys like McDermott don't make distinctions like that. For them, the baby Jesus wants us to "provide" no matter what the circumstance. But being a Christian, I know that while Jesus promoted charity at the highest level, he was not self-destructive.
The Lord helps those who help themselves. Does he not?
On the topic "Does the Bible say 'The Lord hepls those who help themselves?'", the website Blue Letter Bible reminds us that the American originator of the phrase, Ben Franklin, was most definitely not a Christian, and his take on life was "If man was not able to help himself, then man was hopeless."
There are so many examples of the Bible saying exactly the opposite that it's hard to know where to start:
Romans 5:6, 8: For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly....But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Proverbs 28:26: He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Jeremiah 17:5: Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Peter 5:5 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"
You could go on and on. Luke 15, 2 Corinthians 1, there is any number of places where mankind is depicted as hopeless and helpless, and God succors anyway.
But the most obvious one is The Sermon on the Mount:
But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.The conservatives at Fox have become idolators of Mammon.
(I know, I know, the Sermon on the Mount is probably a late addition by 1st century liberal enemies of true Christianity.)
And what is this "He was not self-destructive" bullshit, O'Reilly? He freakin' turned himself over to the authorities when his followers were ready to fight for him, played the court system according to his rules when he could have escaped, and finally surrendered himself to die of crucifixtion. An ultimate act of self-destruction if ever there was one, in the service of his fellow human beings!
I'm not a Christian. I don't believe this myth. But O'Reilly says he does-- while he blasphemes it at every turn. When will American Christians realize that they have long been led by the Pharisees, already?
