Does it sound like Jesus?

Recently, I’ve been thinking about public statements made by public officials and politicians who make the claim to be Christian as well as from prominent Christian religious figures. I’ve been asking myself this question — “Would Jesus say something like this?” This isn’t just an American thing either. This should be no surprise since Christianity, in spite of what Christian Nationalists claim, is not confined to any one nation.

I have found myself going to this question of whether Jesus would say the same thing as officials because I’m kind of at a loss otherwise to make sense of so many statements.

Jesus talked about welcoming the stranger. There are many public officials that treat the stranger in dehumanizing ways and as scapegoats for society’s ills. Jesus talked about caring for the poor and outcast. There are many public officials that live by a “pull yourself up by your boot strap” belief system and that outcasts are scapegoats and a threat to others. Jesus talked about compassion and caring for the least in society, love of our neighbors and our enemies. There are many public officials that seem to be oriented towards policies that rely on cruelty as a way to either punish or be a warning to anyone who doesn’t fit the ideal. Jesus talked about the idolatry of money and power. There are many public officials who see money and power as more important than people. That’s just a small handful of examples. The list could easily be expanded. And while I am not specifically citing any politician or statement here, let’s be honest — it…