This is another wonderful essay by Charlotte. It's an especially important one because she covers pretty damn well how SELECTIVE Christians are about following their Bible. Remember, Charlotte is an ordained preacher and scholar of Comparative Religions, so she can speak better than most on the subject:
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Christians practice what can only be described as “selective morality”. What they like, they cling to and shove down other’s throats; what they don’t like, they ignore vehemently. That which is palatable and acceptable is supposedly applicable to all; while that which is obnoxious, inconvenient, or self-denying is only applicable to those addressed 2,000 years ago. Their hypocrisy is so rampant that even the validity of calling oneself “Christian” is in question. I see so many people enjoy quoting the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and some of Paul’s sermons, but don’t even PRETEND to heed other equally valid maxims. I’ve mentioned Pro-life and conservatism in other sermons. This one is going to sum up the rest of my beefs.
1) “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6 & Mark 10:9).
2) “Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:32, 19:9 & Luke 16:18).
3) "Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery" (Matthew 5:32).
4) "...[W]hosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her" (Mark 10:11 & Luke 16:18), which applies to women as well (Mark 10:12). [Note from Jordan: Atheists actually have the LOWEST divorce rates, as data shows.]
On to another beef: The Christian attempts to put prayer into schools run directly counter to biblical teachings. Disagreeably, Jesus said prayer should be a private affair devoid of public display: "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room (or closet.) and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret..." (Matthew 6:5-6). Biblicists violate this on a regular basis and have no intention of correcting their behavior. They demand that Evolution be taken out of the curriculum. They demand parochial schools receive voucher programs so that they may collect public funding. Christians continuously pray in public (i.e. churches, street corners, schools, courts, etc.) yet all the while they never stop to think this is in direct violation to the god they pray to.
I, of course, know why this is voluntarily ignored. Public prayer forces the peers of school children to jump on the band wagon and pray. We are all aware that the church is simply a business which employs tactics similar to that of tobacco industries in recruiting consumers. Get the kids while they are young and vulnerable so that they become donating members of the church when they reach adulthood. I find it humorous that other businesses warn their consumers on the package that it is dangerous to one’s health, whereas Churches don’t put warning labels on the bible for the pornography and immorality it contains. The psychological damage organized religion causes is notably prevalent. Cancer from smoking and cirrhosis from drinking is JUST AS HARMFUL as the psychosis believers develop concerning reality. The “I see demons” complex is more rampant in Christians then it is in acid dropping space cadets. I am not saying this as a joke. There are literal studies done on this topic and they are in accordance to what I am conveying here.
Christians always use the excuse that the above mentioned verse is somehow “metaphorical”, yet they take Paul’s maxim that men should pray with their heads uncovered very seriously: "Any man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head" (1 Corinthians 11:4). I assume this is generally followed because removing one’s hat isn’t particularly inconvenient. On the other hand, Paul’s tenet that women must keep their heads covered with a veil during prayer is quite inconvenient: “…[B]ut any woman who prays or prophecies with her head unveiled dishonors her head … For if a woman will not veil herself, then we should cut off her hair: but if it be disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil … Judge for yourself; is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered” (1 Corinthians 11:5-13)? Presumably, because it's inconvenient this rule has either been rationalized away or ignored, although it is no less binding than any other New Testament law. The selectivity in which these verses are followed SCREAMS hypocrisy.
2) 1 Corinthians 14:34 clearly prohibits women from being ministers or otherwise speaking in church: “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says." It’s difficult to see how Paul could support the current movement to ordain women. Why, Jesus would shit himself knowing that even I, an ATHEIST WOMAN, has managed to get herself legally ordained!
3) Deuteronomy 22:5 prohibits men and women from wearing each other’s clothing: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." Funny thing, two female Jehovah Witnesses came over this morning, they coffee clutched with my neighbor Jenny, a fellow Christian and ALL THREE of these women were wearing pant suits!
4) Ever watch these Christians on television and notice how their bowed heads uniformly shake amen while some evangelist goes on and on in prayer for a fucking hour? Well, repetitious and monotonous praying is in violation of Matthew 6:7: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
5) 1 Corinthians 6:1 explains Christians are not supposed to take their disputes before non-Christian courts or judges: “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?” How interesting! Considering that state is separate from church all courts are supposedly “ungodly”. Does this stop Christians from tying up the supreme court with lawsuits concerning school prayer, abortion, or numerous other absurdities? Hell no it doesn’t, and my taxes are paying the fucking bill for their hypocrisy!
6) l Timothy 2:9 says Christian women are supposed to dress discreetly: “...[T]hat women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire." As an incendiary addition, 1 Peter 3:3 reads,“Let not yours be the outward adorning of braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing.” Violations of these rules are too numerous to mention. Just visualize Tammy Faye Baker’s mascara-laden eyes and gold encrusted wrists.
7) Here, perhaps, are the mothers of all verses ignored: “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1), and “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). I have yet to meet a Christian who has not judged my Atheism. The whole world is chalk full of judges, juries, voters, employers, teachers, etc. which are all constantly judging others.
8) Believers are supposed to hate their parents when they follow Jesus: “If any man come to me, and not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sister, yet, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Well, considering that Christians do not abandon their families but usually attempt to brainwash them, they are all guilty of not following this verse. “It’s symbolic”, yeah, I know your lame-ass defense to this one already.
9) Matthew 5:39 accords that Christians are not to oppose evil: “But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." If this were followed one might just as well abolish law enforcement.
10) Matthew 23:9 says Biblicists are not allowed to call anyone “Father”: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Not only is this rule ignored on a DAILY BASIS, but Catholicism uses “Father” as the specific Priest entitlement.
11) Matthew 6:25-34 & Luke 12:22-31 specify that Christians are not supposed to plan or prepare - God will provide: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or that ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on ... Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, not gather into barns; yet your heavenly father feedth them." I see Christian conservatives plot on a daily basis how to screw their employees and reap more profits.
12) Lastly, in Matthew 5:18-19, Jesus (clearly of greater importance than Paul, logically speaking) said the Old Law was to remain in force until Heaven and Earth passed away and all is accomplished: “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Heaven and Earth still exist and many prophecies are not yet fulfilled. How many times have you heard some lame ass Christian say “the Old testament doesn’t matter, Jesus was the lamb and abolished it”? Don’t let them get away with this shit for even the bible says that they should still be following the Old Law.
This verse leads me into an observation of how clear their selective morality can be exposed. Take for instance how Biblicists approach the Old Testament. They leap in and out of the Old Law like a porpoise in a ship’s wake. If they like it, they quote it; if they don’t, they won’t. Among the scores of verses they enjoy and employ are those which teach the following
1) Contact with mediums or wizards is forbidden by Leviticus 19:31 (as well as by Leviticus 20:6 and Deuteronomy 18: 10-12): “Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God”. Here’s an interesting little stat; Christians more then any other faith consult mystics and self-proclaimed oracles.
2) Leviticus 27:30-32 orders people to give one-tenth of their income to the Lord, which Biblicists equate with church: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s ... And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." It would be beyond laughable to even ENTERTAIN the possibility that Christians follow this one!
3) Leviticus 19:28 calls tattoos an anathema: “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you. I am the Lord." Despite this teaching I manage to see Mexican Catholics daily with tattoos of the Virgin Mary, Jesus or a set of praying hands on their forearms and shoulder blades.
4) Money cannot be lent at interest to your brother, only to foreigners, says Deuteronomy 23: 19-20. Ahhh, I’m recalling all the Christian banking corporations....
5) Eating pork becomes forbidden in Deuteronomy 14:18. Hmm, I’ve never met a Christian who DIDN’T enjoy bacon and eggs.
6) According to Deuteronomy 25:5-6, a man must marry and have relations with his dead brother’s wife. This goes without explaining of course - THANK GAWD.
7) Exodus 22:16-17 FORCES a seducer to marry the unengaged virgin whom he seduced.
8) A raped, unengaged virgin must marry her rapist no matter what, and they can never divorce according to Deuteronomy 22:28-29. What justice this “moral ultimatum” advocates!
9) There are several petty and silly little verses in the Old Law, but nonetheless, they are each to be followed. Therefore, I guess Christians decided to instead disobey the Lord for fashion’s sake, as hereby shown: Beards can’t be rounded according to Leviticus 19:27, and a garment composed of wool and linen can’t be worn, says Deuteronomy 22:11. (Note: this explains why you will commonly see orthodox Jews with the long beards and black clothing. I say Christians should do this too so we can identify their stupidity upon first impression.)
10) Bastards can’t enter the Lord’s congregation according to Deuteronomy 23:2. Hey, I know this is kinda harsh. But still God commands it, so that means it must be “just”, right?
Conclusion: All of these rules are part of the Old Covenant and of equal import. Why quote the Ten Commandments and ignore other tenets? A believer’s obligation to one is no less than his obligation to all. In fact, if under the New Covenant Christians have stepped into the shoes of the Israelites and become, in effect, the new Chosen People, then they should inherit all the privileges and duties of that office. They seem to want the former but not the latter. Biblicists teach, preach, and attempt to reach others with morality, but are not averse to selectively using that which suits their interests.
I’d like to close this essay with how to catch a Christian in the act. When you see them expounding a verse and ignoring another, call them on it. I know what you’ll hear. They’ll say, “that’s from the Old Law and we aren’t under the Old Law anymore”. Trip them with, “But aren’t the Ten Commandments part of the Old Law?” (Matthew 19: 16-18), “Yes, but we are obligated to follow them because they are reported in the NT” (Mark 10:17-19), and with the parable of Luke 18:18-22. Immediately point out to them that Jesus omitted half of the Ten Commandments and invented a new one, “Though shall not defraud!” Before they can get a word in edgewise, finish them off with Luke 16:17 and Matthew 5:18-19: "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one title of law to fail."
Formidable of all, if sin is transgression of the law, as 1 John 3:4 states ("Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness"), then Christians should be following all of the Old Law. This, from experience, is the best way to shoot down these idiots and bar them from getting away with their hypocrisy.
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