Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry, hands joined, face uplifted to the heavens, giving us his best Elmer Gantry imitation, invited politically active Christian groups from the far and intolerant evangelical right to join him fasting and praying to install himself as the President of United States, as an instrument of the Lord, so that he may put an end to this nation’s troubles by fulfilling his own personal ambition. Amen Brother! Can I have another amen? Amen!
Perry said, “Father, our heart breaks for America.” Is “our heart” an imperial reference to Perry’s holy ticker, or to his intolerant financial underwriter, the American Family Association, that insists that the First Amendment, guaranteeing Freedom of Religion, applies only to Christians?
Perry prayed to relieve “discord at home” as if he had never sown discord himself. He must remember that he told an Austin T-party rally that Texas might secede from the union. This latter day Calhoun didn’t understand what Lincoln meant when he spoke against disunion and warrantied that “the better angels of our nature” swell “the chorus of union.”
Is Perry “just praying to a God he doesn’t believe in?”
After Texas Governor Perry’s Office issued a proclamation for this day of Christian prayer and fasting, inviting state and national politicians, Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional scholar, said Perry was violating the establishment clause because he was “advancing religion.”
Dean Chemerinsky was right, but Governor Perry’s objective is “advancing” his bid to be the Republican nominee and, if convincing these folk he’s “advancing” religion does that, all the better.
Had Perry been truly sincere about prayer and fasting, he would not have used his office as he did.
More than that, he would have not been so prideful and public.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” See Matthew 6:6.
As for fasting, Jesus said, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward.” See Matthew 6:16. Jesus instructed to fast “in secret.” See Matthew 6:17-18.
Perry promised to pray and fast as Jesus did – but he wasn’t even close.
When Jesus prayed and fasted for 40 days, the devil tempted him with the power and wealth of Herod, and of Rome. See Luke 4:5-8. Jesus resisted while Perry has long since succumbed to this temptation.
When the devil suggested Jesus gain acclaim by hurling himself from the highest point of the temple, saved by angels from the fall, Jesus rebuffed the devil. See Luke 4:9-12. Jesus instructed that humility, not pride, “shall lift you up.” See James 4:10. By contrast, Perry is as remote from humility as is darkness from the light.
The pundits predict that, if Perry enters the race, he’ll split the vote with that other fringe candidate, Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachman. After their sparring fest of Christian nostrums and imagined facts, should both lose the nomination, the burning question will be whether the Republican nominee will be forced to select one as Vice-President.
Let us pray!
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