I for one find this modern version of Evangelical Christianity thoroughly disgusting. It’s a complete perversion of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I realize and understand that there are many “good” Christians out there who are compassionate, Love Thy Neighbor, help the poor, don’t pass judgment, and try in general to live a Christ-like life. They are not concerned with the trappings of wealth and power. Their concerns are living a good life, being a good neighbor, and caring for their family.

But those true Christians are not being represented by their leadership in the Church. Case in point was last Friday’s Saddleback Church Q&A. Pretty much the entire right wing Evangelical movement can be boiled down to two planks: anti-abortion and anti gay marriage. That’s it. Those are the two issues right wing Christians seem to be concerned with at least according to their current leadership.

I don’t seem to recall Jesus rallying against gay marriage in the Bible. While Jesus had tremendous respect for life I don’t seem to recall reading about him giving sermon after sermon about how abortion needed to be made illegal. Jesus preached helping the poor. Jesus said it was the sick that needed a doctor, not the healthy. Jesus spent his time with thieves and hookers. Jesus did not judge those seen as sinners and impure by society. Instead he opened his arms to them, gave them love, and showed them compassion.

Jesus also stood for peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Jesus stood for peace so much that he was crucified rather than have Jerusalem go to war with Rome. At that time Jerusalem was occupied by Rome and many Jews wanted open war with Rome. Jesus knew this would lead to the slaughter of his people so he prevented that war from happening by sacrificing himself. Yet this current brand of Evangelical Christian leadership is hell bent on war with Iran and stoking the flames of Armageddon. How is that Christ-like? Jesus did NOT say Blessed are the warmakers people!

At a rally in Washington D.C. last week Mike Huckabee gave a prayer asking God to forgive America for the 50 million killed. The 50 million he was referring to are the supposed number of abortions since Rove vs. Wade. That’s all fine and well. Perhaps America needs forgiveness for not only failing to care for the unborn but the born as well. Who cares for the sick, the children without parents or with only one parent, and the poor? Isn’t that really what Jesus concerned him self with the most? The Bible says so.

How about some prayers for the millions of dead Iraqis? What about some prayers for the Japanese we fried with nuclear weapons? How about the thousands of dead and injured U.S. Soldiers? I guess I just get frustrated when it seems time and time again that so-called Christians care more for the un-born than they do for the living. They are not pro-life they are pro-fetus for time and time again we have seen the leadership in the Evangelical movement calling for the destruction of America’s enemies. Go head and pray for the un-born but pray for the living as well. How can you care for the unborn in one hand and call for the destruction of people in the other? It’s that type of blatant hypocrisy Jesus condemned the most.

I just think it’s sick and sad that the entire modern Evangelical movement can be summed up with two very simple and narrow minded views: anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. That’s it. If you are anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage you are considered a “good” Christian.

Look at the questions Pastor Warren asked Obama and McCain. Look how the candidates were judged. Their worthiness as Christians was determined not by how much they love their neighbor, help the sick, and show compassion for the least among us but rather by how strong their stance was against abortion and gay marriage. They weren’t rated by their willingness to work toward world peace and how much they help the poor but rather if they supported a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

If Jesus were to come back he would be disgusted. Pastor Warren had the stage for several hours and a platform tailor made for delivering the teachings of Jesus Christ. He could have asked about peace, love, compassion, making peace, and helping the poor, the CORE of Christ’s teachings, yet instead he chose to focus on what modern Evangelical Christianity has become: an anti abortion and anti-gay marriage institution.

It’s tainted Christianity to say the least. Being a “good” Christian is a hell of a lot more than just opposing abortion and gay marriage. It’s about living the teachings of Jesus Christ. The teachings of Christ are love your neighbor as yourself, do to others as you would have them do to you. Care for the least among you. Don’t pass judgment lest you be judged yourself. Promote peace NOT war. Those are the teachings of Christ. It has nothing to do with opposing gay marriage. It has nothing to do with judging and condemning those who do not believe as you do.

The current Evangelical leadership should be ashamed of themselves.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also-In Luke (Lu 11:40)