Obama vs. "Oh, Bomb 'Em" -- Who's the Christian?

Republicans and self-styled "Christians" are agog over what Andrea Mitchell of NBC characterized as the "crisp, immediate, forceful response" John McCain gave to Rick Warren's question about evil during the forum at the Saddleback Church. They dismiss Barack Obama's "more nuanced approach."

"Sen. McCain was crisp, decisive, knew what he was about, knew his values," Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R, Minn.), who is a favorite of the "Christian Right," proclaimed on Face the Nation on Sunday. "Sen. Obama, I thought, was hesitant, halting, and quite wandering in his answers."

Pastor Rick asked the following question of both candidates: "Does evil exist? And if it does, do we ignore it? Do we negotiate with it? Do we contain it? Do we defeat it?"

Here is a portion of Obama's reasoned, considered, "nuanced" answer:

"Evil does exist. I mean, I think we see evil all the time. We see evil in Darfur. We see evil, sadly, on the streets of our cities. . . . It has to be confronted squarely . . . . I think [it] is very important for to us have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, because a lot of evil's been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil. . . . in the name of good. . . . [J]ust because we think that our intentions are good, doesn't always mean that we're going to be doing good."

Here, in stark contrast, is McCain's answer:

"Defeat it."

One can't get much more "crisp" and "decisive" than that! And it sure sounds like the proper Christian answer to what to do about evil, doesn't it?

Sen. McCain's values, which he knows so well, are based on that revered commandment from Jesus, "Shoot first and ask questions later."

Let's see, that's from . . . uh . . . the fifth chapter of Matthew, isn't it?

Oops. That's where Jesus offers an answer to Pastor Warren's question on what to do about evil that is nearly opposite to Sen. McCain's:

"But I say to you, 'Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" (Matt. 5:39)

Several biblical Proverbs also reject Mr. McCain's "crisp, immediate, forceful response." A few examples:

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty." (Prov. 16:32)

"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient." (Prov. 14:17)

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (Prov. 14:29)

"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention." (Prov. 15:18)

And, from the Christian New Testament's Letter of James: "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20)

Three years ago, when President Bush was, as he is now and was prior to the 9-11 attacks, on his long August vacation in Crawford, Texas, Cindy Sheehan and other mothers who lost sons in Iraq War staged a protest near his home. One of their signs read: "Who would Jesus bomb?"

John McCain gave a memorable version of his standard answer to that question when he was asked in 2007 about his Iranian policy. He sang, to the tune of "Barbara Ann": "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran."

In my new book, Grand Theft Jesus, I offer a name for these people who stand Jesus on his head. The person who had the greatest impact in overturning the teachings of Jesus lived 1700 years ago. Constantine won the Battle of Milvan Bridge in AD 312 after a dream led him to have Christian symbols painted on the shields of his soldiers.

Emperor Constantine is usually said to have converted the Roman Empire to Christianity. What he actually did was convert Christianity to the Roman Empire. He gave Jesus the fourth century equivalent of a shot of anabolic steroids and transformed the Prince of Peace into the Prince of War and ally of the rich and the ruler.

The Jesus Thieves who have committed identity theft against the Prince of Peace should be called Constantinians.

In Orange County on Saturday (as he has on many other occasions), John McCain showed himself to be a Constantinian, not a Christian. But this will do him little harm with the Republican "base" of the "Christian Right," because they, too, are Constantinians who shout "JESUS!" at the top of their lungs but ignore his teachings.

The choice in November is Obama or "Oh, Bomb 'Em."

Constantinians will vote for the latter, but Christians who are actual Jesus Followers may prefer nuance to crisp, angry decisiveness.

{Historian Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts & Letters at Millsaps College. His latest book is Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America .

Comments

[SouthpawSass]

If Christians actually followed Christ's teachings and put some thought into what he was all about, there's no way McCain would ever get their vote.

And as all "good" Christians believe and as McCain has stated, "Life begins at conception­"... if life means so much, and life begins at conception, and abortion is murder, why even consider a pro choice VP who could possibly become president? Why pal around with those who condone "murdering" the unborn? If of couse, McCain actually cared about life, that is.

Are those who support McCain that dumb not to question him?

[marthlois]

Thank you! Little by little, it will all get out there.
Sure appreciated this article this morning Sir.

[emjay42]

Let the ignorance of the secular left continue to spew forth... Do you people REALLY think that serious Christians (whether McCain himself is one or not) are just unaware of Jesus' teachings, or that they simply choose to ignore them? Seriously? Are they so stupid?

Or is it possible that there is thousands of years' worth of theological and philosophical reflection on the morality of war and the proper understanding of Jesus' teachings? Maybe, just maybe, there is a difference between the proper conduct for an individual human person whose own interests are at stake and the proper conduct of a legitimate state that acts to protect its citizens' interests. Is that so crazy? Maybe serious Christians also accept Paul's teaching in his letter to the Romans that it is the job of the state to bear the sword.

Maybe there's even a sophisticated and philosophically impressive set of principles out there that Christian theologians call "just war doctrine." Maybe that thinking, for good or for ill, has been enormously influential in world history. Maybe. That would probably be a good thing to look up sometime.

[highlyamused]

Ahh yes, Paul. The one who you should have named your church after. Paulians.

[mach]

Outstanding post, the same way these new age, postmodern, relativists can not understand the distinction of theocratic, priestly and moral law in the OT (dont eat pork...bla­h blah blah), they dont understand the NT law that Jesus spoke of and the distinction between the state and individuals.

I would add that a cursory glance in scripture shows that war and the death penalty are justified:

Numbers 35:16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

We have a right to self defense: Exodus 22:2: “If the thief is caught while breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guiltiness on his account.”

And we are required to defend the innocent: Deut. 19:10, “So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and blood guiltiness be on you.”

In the NT Christ Himself told his discpiles to buy swords (Luke 22:36),.

[cap57]

Please don't take the scriptures out of context, Luke 22: 36 you need to get a understanding what that scripture is really saying, read the entire chapter.

[mikie63]

Yes, also read Luke 19:27. There's a Jesus who doesn't want you to kill anyone, unless HE wants them killed.

[Nooneyouknow]

Ah, yes, Paul. He's also the one who didn't have much use for women, either.
Sure, there's a just war doctrine; sometimes war is entirely justified. However, bombing people in Iran, when that country has done no wrong and when intelligence experts say that it is planning no wrong, is unjustifiable. So why is McCain so eager to do it? And why do so many "Christians" want to put McCain the warmonger into office?
To answer your question, no, serious Christians are not ignorant of Jesus's teachings; too many serious Christians simply prefer the intolerance of the OT to the tolerance espoused by Jesus.
McCain didn't differentiate between the public and the private in his answer; he replied in a way that is far too usual for him: fight it; lash out; kill some people. He had the same reaction after 9/11. Let's invade Iraq, although Iraq (notwithstanding Bushco's lies) had nothing to do with it. The result? Hundreds of thousands of innocent people dead, mutilated, their lives demolished. Not very Christian.

[BTJ46]

You are right but I wouldn't charge only the secular left with ignorance of theology and philosophical discussion of ethics -- the ignorance is much broader.
I don't think you mean to suggest that McCain support for Bush's war on Iraq is based on a close reading of Aquinas or that fundamentalist's demands for various constitutional amendments are based on a deep understanding of the reflections of sages on the proper relationship of church and state. But it would be an interesting and useful discussion to use some of those insights to evaluate their practices and policies and hold them to account.
Take for an example, the discussion of Evil at Saddlebrook. I'd really be interested in your interpretation of the candidate's remarks in response to that question. To my mind McCain's bluster that Evil should be 'defeated' is well outside the bounds of scripture and the careful boundaries of just war theology. Obama's counsel to confront evil while maintaining humility seems to fit much more within the tradition. The current administration's lack of humility seems to me the source of much suffering and sin in our current political situation. Can we agree perhaps that the statement "I'm not against all wars, just stupid ones" is a contemporary statement of 'just war doctrine'.

[k1k2lee]

I would say that there are plenty of folks on both the secular left and so-called evangelical right who discuss issues from a place of ignorance - simply regurgitating positions that have been told to them without doing the necessary research. What I can't figure out from your post is the phrase "serious Christians­." Are those people JUST on the right? Because I would suggest that there are many (myself included) who grew up in the church, have read the Bible extensively both alone and in Bible studies, have even read scholarly works on the Bible and its interpretations that do not share the hard-line ideological belief system of those who promote the death penalty, war and accumulation of wealth as well as intolerance for those who are different (either in race, class, faith, sexual orientation or tax bracket). My faith journey has led me to an understanding that Jesus (being perfect) could have thrown the first stone at the woman he saved from death. He didn't. He showed tolerance and love. Who are we to know a person's heart and God's plan. Humility is what is seriously lacking in those so-called "serious Christians" on the right. You are right that it is the State's job to bear the sword. The problem is that the discussion on Saturday night was in a CHURCH and was supposed to provide insight into individual faith.

[aleco]

Amen!

[nonni-g]

thank you for speaking the truth! I hope this article gets some air time in other places....­thank you again!

[Genisa]

Amen, Amen and Amen!

Who were Jesus' biggest adversaries while he walked the earth, the Religious Leaders, who claimed to know God.

There's nothing new under the sun.

Thank you so much for writing this. You really hit the nail on the head here.

[ed3541]

"The Jesus Thieves who have committed identity theft against the Prince of Peace should be called Constantin­ians."
They are hypocrites and are also anti-Christ.

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Can somebody say Amen! I have such a hard time with my "fellow Christians" thinking I am somehow NOT Christian because I think the Republican party has been the most un-Jesus like group of folks ever. Is it just because they are part of Jesus' flock that they have to think like sheep?

[pastgone]

Obama's answer to that question was excellent--just what you'd want to see in a president.

The trouble is that Obama is swimming uphill. I didn't see the forum with Warren, but to listen to the media spin it, McCain kicked Obama's butt.

We'll have to see if Amerrican voters have learned to see through right wing media spin. I bet they haven't.

I woudln't be at all surprised to see President McCain moving into the White House in January,

[paulita]

You said it exactly right, the "Jesus hijackers" who mis-interpert religion to absolutism to suit their own needs. I hope America does not fall for this absolutism philosphy which we have been subjected to for 8 years. People must be smart enough to know that the world is nuanced.

I think we must remove this notion that if you are "religious" you must be extremist in one direction, or you must be "atheist" in the other direction. What happened to those in middle? These are the majority. Furthermore, I´m not following why Rick Warren was hosting a political debate in the first place... "Give Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar," is another biblican maxim.

Just as Obama said, evil so called is nuanced and relative. We can object to evil in the world, but we must object to our own evil as well. The whole world seems to know this, which is why they have taken such an interest in the U.S. election and seeing that we remove "absolutism" from power, which leads to nothing but war and destruction, and doing any thing in the name of your made- up "god," or "hijacked Jesus."

It is crucial to the world stability, please vote America for a new non-Absolutist direction. Anything else is simply dangerous to America and dangerous to world stability.

[hchriste]

McBush's answers were better because he cheated. The questions were sent to him when he was supposed to be isolated. Is this the clean crisp values we want from a President?

[nk007]

I am sorry to disagree but his answers were not better. They were simply meant to pander to the audience and to the brain challenged corporate media. I kept wondering if Andrea Mitchell ever read the bible because she would have commented on the answers within the context of the bible.If the majority of Americans prefer a president who is not interested in thinking through complex issues, then they deserve John McCain. The irony is that neither McCain nor pastor Warren will pay any price for all this foolishness. Rather, the people who will pay the price are those who blindly follow them.

[abby4ever]

You have to be extremely careful about applying Christian doctrine to the secular when it comes to governing. Just imagine what would happen if we were attacked by some big country and the president refused to order a counter attack, one to protect us from further attacks by the enemy, on the basis of the 'turn the other cheek' passage in scripture.

[Genisa]

Turn the other cheek is not permission to be abused, it's more or less do what you can to diffuse a situation if you have the power. There of course is a time to fight, but don't be hasty.

Jesus at times was very confrontational, and let people have it from time to time, i.e. tearing up the temple when people were using it for a market place. Shutting down, with verbal mastery, the Pharisees and Sadducees who constantly tried to trap him.

God doesn't call us to be foolish.

[lewes17266]

I challenge anyone who has the heart of a Christian to go over to Townhall.com like I did and read Coulter, Medved, Novak and others and be sure to read the comments too. I was shocked into the reality - I had bought the lie that the Republican party was the Christian party. I no longer want to be a part of that cold, hard-hearted group of people with such hateful attitudes toward others. The Right focuses on specific sins and enlarges them and turns them into political issues. They manipulate gullibles with their wrong teaching and powermongering. They use scripture for its rules and laws and conveniently ignore scripture for its heart for sinners, sufferers, the hungry, the hopeless and the helpless. They teach hate and prejudice. They engage in scandalmongering. They are legalists.

[highlyamused]

Honestly..­......I don't think I have the stomach for Townhall.com. Especially if Coulter is involved.

[rwe]

please go over there!!!!!!!! as many more have by the 5 pt lead .....Oh and you will not see any of the hate speech , fearmongering , racism and sexism and defeatist depression you see here

[lewes17266]

townhall is a home for bullies but i won't elaborate anymore because i want to use this for something positive hopefully.

rwe, i wonder if your awareness, or actually lack of awareness, of hateful, prejudicial, and judgemental attitudes might have something to do with your own views. i looked at some of your comments and they were all derogatory, spiteful, gloating, sneering.



rwe, it might help if you put some thought into your words instead of going around poking your finger in the eye of anyone who does not agree with you.
you could make respectful comments once in a while and maybe learn something and teach others too by sharing your views respectfully. i left townhall because i realized i did not fit in and did not belong so i do not understand why you visit huffington at all since you hate everyone here so much.

but.....th­is is just another example of why two parties cannot work together toward making good things happen in this country...­one party is determined to be adversarial and righteous and uncooperative and hateful and disrespectful.

[demfriend]

There is no way to "defeat" evil as evil is inbred into every human being and the majority of us don't do the worst evil acts as we have awareness of society limitations on what will be tolerated and we have religious beliefs which prohit it except for minor things which humans do. EVil as Mccain presents it to be is like Bin laden who plans and has other execute killing of others. In twisted minds which have bent their religion around to where is supports the acts which we despise they believe they are acting to perserve their religion and their ways. Look at the US our distant relatives did evil horrible things to the native americans which is troubling when the real stories and not the prettied up history books are read. The white people we are today have relatives who did this evil. SO we need to know evil and see it for what it is and deal with it as we can to change it. Mccain's ideas are to kill all of those who are evil. How many of us would nevr have been born had that happened to our "evil" relatives?

[Whinger]

A warmonger cannot walk in the footsteps of Christ, embracing Christianity is mere expediance!

[jgaines7]

Those playing the role of today's "Conservative" on our televisions (John McCain included) don't know a thing about Jesus or Christianity. At least they don't behave as if they know Christianity. Is "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran" something that a real pro-lifer would sing?