October 12, 2020

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Evangelical Christians, especially those on the “far right,” tell us that our Constitutional fathers meant for this nation to be founded on the moral and ethical principles taught in the Judeo-Christian Bible. These evangelicals bemoan the liberalization of our laws that have allowed abortion (as per Roe v. Wade), accepted homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, condones same-sex marriages, permits divorce, and similar transgressions that the Bible declares are sins. Indeed, Christian fundamentalists tell us that the Bible cannot be interpreted as we see fit. The words we read in the Bible mean what they say, since the Bible is the inspired word of God. Yes, humans penned the various books of the Bible, but the words they wrote were not theirs; the words were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit.

But let me point out another aspect of God’s teachings, especially prominent in the words of Jesus. Of all the sins that Jesus warned against, which one was the target of his strongest invectives? It was not any of the ones mentioned above. The sin that Jesus despised the most was hypocrisy. And the people who were the most hypocritical were the so-called religious leaders of that day, the Pharisees and the Scribes. They were supposedly teaching the common folk how to lead righteous lives while themselves participating in the opposite.

What does this have to do with our Constitution and the evangelical right of today? Note today’s hypocrisy. The evangelical right bemoans the moral decay of our country that allows abortion, but they support a president who thinks nothing of separating children, some under the age of 5, from their parents at our Southern border. These evangelicals turn a blind eye on a president, and his administration, that lies incessantly despite the fact that the Bible teaches, “You shall not give false witness against your neighbor.” They turn a blind eye on a totally corrupt president who is interested only in himself and his gain, despite the fact that the Bible advises us to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Our president is anything but “humble.” In fact, our president is the antithesis of who the evangelical right should be supporting. Apparently, Pharisees and Scribes are still with us.

Neil I. Spielholz, Wellington, Fla.