MSNBC host Joy Reid on Tuesday declared that the "far right has hijacked the concept of Christianity, as if it only includes people who shun LGBT people, want to ban birth control" and who "follow prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen, fetishize assault weapons and worship Donald Trump ..."
The outspoken left-wing host of "AM Joy" began her series of tweets vehemently criticizing a Washington Examiner op-ed that argued media members "still don't get religion" in the wake of the deadly Texas church shooting. (Reid's social media postings made it into the op-ed, which may have fueled her fire.)
"What’s insulting is the presumption that many of us in the media are not ourselves people of faith," Reid reacted. "Same with many people who criticize the empty 'thoughts and prayers' gestures of politicians who shirk their duty to govern."
Here's more of what she tweeted:
"Lots of people who feel that way ARE people of faith. We simply believe that — as the Bible says — faith without works is dead. The far right has hijacked the concept of Christianity, as if it only includes people who shun LGBT people, want to ban birth control ... follow prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen, fetishize assault weapons and worship [President] Donald Trump like [Jerry] Falwell [Jr.] and his gang do. A lot of us believe in the Christianity that lifts up the poor, the sick, the widow and the orphan, not the rich, the cruel and the gun. A lot of us were raised in churches that lift up the immigrant and we are able to view people of all faiths as our brothers and sisters. Saying we 'don’t get religion' is absurd. We don’t get politicians who substitute bland religious pronouncements for action. And our version of faith is as valid as yours ... You don’t get to question my faith."
Reid ended her tweet storm with the following send-off: "Jesus walked with the leper and the cast out. You lot walk with Donald Trump."
Here are all of her tweets on the matter:
Image source: Twitter
Image source: Twitter
Image source: Twitter
Reid's pronouncement that the far right has "hijacked" Christianity is a blatantly broad brush stroke accompanied by zero evidence but plenty of tired conservative stereotypes (e.g., gun fetishizing, Trump worshiping, LGBT hating, birth control banning, etc.).
She continued by using an equally broad brush to paint left-wing Christians as the ones who help "the poor, the sick, the widow and the orphan" — you know, as opposed to those heartless fake Christians who love "the rich, the cruel and the gun."
Reid's closing dig that a particular brand of Christianity prefers to walk with Trump as opposed to the outcast is yet another generalization — and a huge slap in the face.
It's interesting that Reid also noted — with a bit of a puffed-out chest — her spot-on theology about the "Pharisees and greedy men" being the "villains" in a New Testament passage about prayer (Luke 18:1-8) cited in the Washington Examiner op-ed.
Reid is correct. But she's also guilty of looking down her nose at others — and all she had to do to figure that out was read the next six verses in the Luke chapter:
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
