Measuring Fruit

One of the many reasons I don’t buy the attempt to graft Libertarianism on to Christian teaching is that it does not do what it promises and it constantly contradicts itself.

Libertarians tell me they are brimming with burning generosity but that when the state takes a nickel out of their paycheck for a social safety net, they somehow cannot find it in their heart to be charitable in vengeance for being “robbed”. They tell me they are full of disinterested love for the least of these, but by their actions make clear that what really matters is that they get the credit for being “charitable”. It matters more to the Libertarian that they get the credit than that the poor family whose daughter has leukemia get the help they have to be forced to beg for (assuming the Libertarian finds the sick person “truly worthy” and not a parasite who needs to die for his sins).

Likewise, I hear from Real Christians that the purest expression of deep Christian love is to look refugee children from Syria in the face and tell them “you can’t come” abandon them to their fate.

All the very best Christians love this policy, I am told, because the people who love this all describe themselves as the best Christians. Way better than “liberals” like me (who voted for Reagan twice) and the pope (who is, I am informed by the Alt Right white supremacists who somehow got my email and will not leave me alone, a “cuck”). Not that there are no Catholics working to help Syrian refugees. Catholic Relief Services, for instance, are in there pitching. But the very best Catholics in the world, such as Michael Hichborn of the one man Lepanto Institute, as well as, of course, Michael Voris and the gang at Church Militant are busy tying up heavy burdens of accusation against CRS while not lifting a finger to help. Oh, and Voris assures us that Trump is Constantine, so leaving children to die is practically a work of mercy.

Meanwhile, godless damned Hollywood liberals who lack the grace of the Holy Spirit and know nothing of the true love of God in Jesus Christ or the gospel plot to make Real Christians look like ice cold heartless monsters by seeking ways to build schools for Syrian children. Good White Christian prolife conservatives spend their time and energy working overtime to explain why nothing can or should be done to help these children and cheering the Dear Leader who leaves them to die. Wicked heathen like George Clooney, out of pure spite and just to make Real Christians[TM] look selfish and cruel, take the wounded children, poor oil and wine in their wounds, and pay for their care.

“Which of these do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. – Jesus of Nazareth