“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version)
We need to listen to the prophets.
Since Thursday, July 3, I have been haunted by the photo of members of Congress in a circle of prayer in the aisle of the House of Representatives prior to their vote on the budget bill.
Rev. Benjamin Cremer, Substack author of “Into the Gray”, eloquently posted a lament about the photo, writing, “What are we to make of this image? Men huddled in pious prayer, arms around each other, heads bowed, as if invoking Your name makes the cruelty they prepare holy? …And Jesus, warned us: “Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:5) This, too, is a show. A public performance meant to mask a private betrayal. They fold their hands and raise their voices not in repentance or humility, but in justification of injustice. …They will walk away from this circle of prayer into chambers where they vote to deepen poverty, increase suffering, and criminalize mercy. And they will dare to call it righteous.”
Throughout this arduous process, House Speaker (and professed Bible-believing Christian) Mike Johnson has repeatedly called the budget bill “good” despite the “evil” it will perpetrate against children, the sick, immigrants, the elderly and people with disabilities–the very people with whom Jesus identified and to whom we are called to serve.
Meanwhile, some conservative Christians have been throwing shade on empathy–a quality frequently aligned with compassion and kindness, a fruit of the Spirit. But on his Podcast, “Stronger Man Nation,” Pastor Josh McPherson said, “Empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic. Empathy will align you with hell.” What was once considered “sweet” (positive) is now “bitter” (negative).
This substitution of evil for good, darkness for light, and bitter for sweet has consequences. It hardens the heart, atrophies the spirit, and deadens the soul. It also disconnects us from God’s kingdom plan–shalom. Jesus said, “I have came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). Jesus modeled compassion, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the outcast and releasing those held captive by forces of darkness. Sadly, we have watched as self-proclaimed followers of Jesus pray and then deliver sickness, hunger, detention and death to the “least of these–Jesus’s siblings and ours..
It’s not how you pray; it’s how you obey.
Tongue on Fire 