We are slowly seeing some wonderful examples of behavior from people claiming to be Christians, demonstrating for us just how far from Christian principles and values churches are being led by the intrusion of far right wing extremism into the churches of conservative Evangelicalism. While the article from Baptist News Global cited here references a court order to attorneys for Southwest Airlines, the case that got them there in the first place involved a lawsuit by former flight attendance Charlene Carter, who was fired by the airline for bullying and harassment, based on a string of emails she sent to union officials and fellow employees.
The claim on which she won the lawsuit was that her religious freedom was violated by the company firing her for sending out what she had determined was her own religious expression. She sent videos of aborted babies, expressing her opposition to abortion to fellow employees and to union officials, chastising them for what she claimed was their support for a woman's right to choose. Among her messages was the use of vulgar language in several instances, and personal name calling and blatant rude behavior which she claimed was "trying to initiate a conversation."
We've apparently gotten to the point, in our culture, where we are no longer content to accept other people's rights if their perspective disagrees with our own. While Carter's criticisms and accusations, especially against union leaders, even though she was not a union member, may constitute free speech, though her approach was abrasive and rude, it is certainly well outside the boundaries of expectations of Christians who are following the gospel and giving a testimony for their faith in Christ. There's no reference in the article to whether or not Carter claims any kind of Christian faith, though the implication is that since she opposed abortion rights, she must have been one. Her approach wouldn't lead to that conclusion, but Jesus did say that we are not to judge.
These kind of people, who insist on their rights while demanding that others not have any of their own, are re-writing the Christian gospel to suit their own purposes. It's apparently not too far of a leap from supporting a presidential candidate with no morals or values to being unacceptably rude and aggressive in pursuing one's own agenda.
So we might need to do some re-writing of the Beatitudes, those verses at the beginning of Jesus' sermon on the mount, where he lays out the characteristics of the Christian gospel. I have a few suggestions.
Blessed are the arrogant, for they shall always get their own way.
Blessed are those who rejoice in the hardships of those with whom they disagree, for they will have their vengeful spirit satisfied.
Blessed are the bullies, for they will be temporarily happy with who they are.
Blessed are those who ignore righteousness, for it is inconvenient and does not lead to worldly success.
Blessed are the unmerciful, for those who are targets of anger probably deserve it because they are liberal.
Blessed are the corrupt, for they will be rich.
Blessed are the peace-haters who see war as their own way to win.
Blessed are those who persecute the libs, who utter all kinds of evil against them falsely, for while this displeases God, he doesn't matter, and we don't care as long as we get our way.
If this doesn't seem to let loose enough, feel free to take what's here and turn it into something that really expresses the kind of morally bankrupt, value-less system that the union of far right wing political extremism and ultra-conservative Christianity have produced. Integrity seems to be the biggest value that so many of those taking this path seem to lack. I'm always tempted to ask, when I see something like this, "What church was it that taught you that?"
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