“Whatsoever You Do — For The Least Of My Brothers, That You Do Unto Me…”

Overnight, Mr. Hinderaker made the claim that liberals use an intentional misunderstanding of Biblical Christianity to promote what he calls socialism — the notion that each of us is our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. Before I go even one step in this direction, though — let it be known that I no longer regard Christianity as my primary governing covenant-set. Here is the relevant bit of Mr. Hinderaker’s rant:

. . .Nor did Jesus ever say that we should be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers; Obama apparently referred to the story of Cain and Abel.

This is the point I want to make: Biblical precepts are often twisted by liberals to support socialism. Jesus was not a socialist. . . .

There is so much more, far and wide, that informs my spiritual life, now. But I did study the Bible, in my youth — and Matthew’s Gospel plainly commands us to be our bothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

That much of the Christian ethos I still embrace — not Cain and Abel (Old Testament) — but Matthew’s Gospel (New Testament): Matthew 25:31-45, specifically. Apparently, Mr. Hinderaker would read Matthew’s Gospel out of his Bible. Note that Christ, by parable, in verses 31 to 45, commands us to be our brothers’ and sisters’ shelter, clothing, food-provider and care-taker — in prison, on the highway and in the infirmary. Especially those we do not know, at all — these are our our brothers and sisters – “the least of us“.

And those who do not, shall be goats, and cast into the everlasting punishment. I may no longer believe in the concept of Hell, but it is plain that the Bible sets a harsh punishment for those who do not care for “the least among us”.

If, in Mr. Hinderaker’s view, that be socialism — then so be it. But make no mistake — Jesus teaches it, in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, thus (NIV):

. . .The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. . . .”

Namaste, and Amen — even, if you please. [In passing I will note the tendency of Antonin Scalia and others to invoke the notion that we were founded as a Christian nation — to argue that the government should support programs they favor, but conveniently forget that, when it comes to Christ’s “social gospel”. Odd. Or not so.]