What’s Funny Is…

Then Jesus said unto the sick, “you better have insurance.”

Then Jesus said unto the stranger, “are you here legally?”

Then Jesus said unto the hungry, “my taxes better not be paying for these loaves and fishes.”

Then Jesus said unto the poor, “this is your own fault.”

— Rev. Benjamin Cremer (@Brcremer) October 8, 2024

This tweet triggered almost a solid wall of tweets insisting Jesus said nothing about government (not true), nor about government “taking” your money to give to others (Rome truly taxed without representation, and kept the money for Rome), and (my favorite), how Jesus insisted individuals should help individuals, no corporate activities need apply.   

With no indication, of course, that any of those self righteous individuals are doing a damned thing for others, or even disagree with the sentiments presented in the tweet.

But mostly the responding message is that Jesus wanted life to be as comfortable as possible for “us,” and clearly that involves excluding “them” from our consideration as human beings. Certainly it doesn’t involve us in any way being responsible for each other.  One hears in every response the echo of Cain’s famous question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” One hears no consideration the answer could be: “Yes.”

Or Matthew’s deeper question: “Lord, when did we see you?” Or Luke’s teaching: “The first of all will be last of all and servant of all.”

The tweet is a purposeful distortion of the teachings of Jesus. Interesting how powerful those teachings are, that they still trigger such discomfort among so many who purport to have learned their lessons.