Throw the Bums Out!

Jesus was not fond of money-grubbing persons. The kind and gentle Jesus carrying that little lamb in his arms? Well, we need to counter that kindergarten picture with the fed up Jesus kicking the money-grubbers out of the temple.

It always amazes me to observe so many conservative Christians moaning and groaning about abortion and gay marriage, and yet saying nothing about greed and self-centered money-making. These Christians protest healthcare reform and yet roll over and allow private health insurance companies to rip them off at will.

They hold “tea parties” to protest taxes when they should be marching on the headquarters of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Humana. It seems that any talk about setting up a system to serve “the common good” is labeled “socialism.”

I’m pretty sure that Jesus was not a socialist, as we define that term today. But I’m convinced he wasn’t a capitalist. And I’m also convinced that if Jesus was walking the earth in person today, he would be throwing people out of the temple.

First, Jesus would walk into congress and toss out all the elected officials who take bribes. He would throw out the politicians who are in bed with the lobbyists.

Next, Jesus would go to Wall Street and blow it up. He’d take a sledge hammer and whack all their cute little computer screens that they stare at all day while every day Americans are struggling to make ends meet.

Then Jesus would visit the big banks, like Goldman Sachs, and toss out all the CEOs. Everyone else in the place would work for minimum wage and would have to cancel their plans for their new swimming pool and BMW.

Then Jesus would go to the churches that are making millions of dollars off religion. You know, these are the “mega-megas” with rich preachers and TV shows and a DVD industry. These are the churches that are so tied into the capitalist mentality that making money off Jesus seems to be the American thing to do.

Throw the bums out! --Brad