Christian Hypocrisy From the Religious Right

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I am approaching my 80th birthday so I've reached a point in life where I can honestly say I've seen it all. I look at you and i see a very beautiful, intelligent woman. Unfortunately, like so many highly intelligent people, you lack plain old fashioned horse sense. This seems to afflict quite a few of today's youngsters. You have decided to lump the so-called "religious" right together with "real" Christians. There is a huge difference between true believers, who do not shout from the roof tops what they give, or boast about what they have done for others who are less fortunate, because they are following God's reprimand: to do so "you have already received your reward"...A "real" Christian would NEVER demean others the way you continue to do so. "Real" Christians pray for people like you, even though we know you are playing a part in the fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy, and it's something that MUST take place. ..."eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear"...never forget that just because someone calls themselves a Christian, it's not necessarily so...only God KNOWS, and only HE can judge.

Rosemary Schultz of CA 10:39PM February 13, 2013

I feel far more sorry for you, personally, than I do for a starving man. After all, this life is the trial not the eternity we all will occupy in some fashion.
Your pathetic means of defending abortion is the greatest sin here, IMO. Your accusations of conservative Christians, allegedly that they do not care about the poor or the oppressed, or that they do far less than their secular liberal brother, is just another thoughtless, if not dangerous, accusation.
The Bible does say "that which you measure your neighbor will be measured back to you." I have gone through great strides, daily, to take the dare to send out a message of measure. I hope you have done the same because the consequences are immeasurable.

turzovka of MN 10:01AM November 26, 2012

I think many people today assume that we do our part by paying taxes, and when asked for more by someone in need, have little gilt in saying no. I am a Christian and believe firmly that God calls us to take care of the poor. I also work for the government and have seen first hand how inefficient the largest bureaucracy in the world can be. Now in a perfect world I believe poverty could be eradicated (with any form of government). The problem is that in the world we live in there will always be hungry and homeless. We do need to share our possessions with those in need. This article has once again reminded me of that truth. But just like I would walk out of a church that demanded an offering from me, I reject the idea of a government forcing extra taxes on me. Forcing people to give doesn't create any real change. On top of that, I can buy someone a sandwich for $2 and know that my $2 supported the economy and feed someone in need. What does $2 of my tax money do? Maybe it runs the air conditioner in my office that is cooled to 60 degrees on a 105 degree july afternoon. We do NEED to do more, I do NEED to do more, God WANTS us to do more... I personally am not convinced that mandated taxes is the best way.

Michael of CA 11:05PM August 12, 2012

My church offers free meals and does homeless feeds every month, and we have a project that has raised over $40,000 and counting for those in our community whether they are Christian or not to offer support for single parents, struggling families, and those who lost a family member to diseases such as cancer. We do everything we can to offer opportunities to those around in our community like free daycare and music programs. I'm not old enough to vote yet, and I don't care much about the drama of politics; however, I do want to state that as a Christian I do care about the poor and the homeless. Those who claim that they are religious, and their actions don't reflect their beliefs can only be seen as a hypocrite. Unfortunately, the truth is churchgoers and "religious" people don't necessarily equate to a true believer. I'm sorry for people like that and wish that more believers were real about their faith.

Jihea Shin of WA 6:18PM December 11, 2011

I have a dear friend who is single and children are grown and out of the house. She has a 'job', if you can call it that, where she gets, at the most, 16 hours per week. She is unable to keep a residence and pay bills and feed herself with this income. Establishments are not hiring. In desperation she visits every church and charitable organization she knows of and asks merely for food. Everywhere she goes, she is turned away with nothing. I ask all of you, why? Can anyone answer that and also provide some information as to where this truly poor person in need can get a meal? How can churches and charitable organizations be such and not possess and show any compassion whatsoever? Just a meal is all she asks for. Can anyone answer this without rhetoric, defensiveness and blaming my friend for her situation?

Cris of AL 10:57AM December 11, 2011

This article is thought provoking and honest. I find myself everyday wondering how so many people who call themselves christians can stand back and not help those in need. God states he will defend the poor. However, they will defend "religion" rather than God's word. It is an insult to God. I am christian and I can't stand by and walk away when I see people on the street without homes. Children without food. I can't shy away when I see elderly who can't afford their rent or life sustaining medications. However one statement of the bible is proven consistently. We will know a tree by its "fruit". So with that being said it doesn't matter what their ideologies consist of; All that matters is that we do our part to help others.

catrina of CA 8:21PM December 10, 2011

Why would you even write this article? to blame religion for the problems of the world. It is government that has caused the problems and is now tying the hands of all churches across America. Our church did feed, clothe, and shower the homeless until we were told by government we had to stop. Our church does what it can for the homeless, the abused, the addicted, the poor and the needy. Stop laying the blame on religion and put it back on the government where it belongs. And incidentally, what are YOU doing?

nancy of AZ 6:02AM November 06, 2011

Thanks David, for setting Leslie straight. I am SO sick of seeing articles which accuse the church of not helping the disenfranchised. The facts are that faith-based organizations do it, and often do it better than the state. Please don't slander the faithful until you've checked the facts....

Operation Inasmuch of TN 1:35PM October 31, 2011

As Christians, we are called by Jesus to 'heal the sick." He didn't say "heal the sick, as long as it doesn't cost too much" or "heal the sick, as long as corporate profits stay high" or "heal the sick, except for poor people of color." If you are a Christian, you should support healthcare for as many people in the US as possible. We are called by Jesus to do so. If you oppose health care access for all, you are not a Christian, you are a hypocrite.

John in Wheaton of IL 9:29PM October 28, 2011

Leslie wrote, "Why isn't it a value or moral to help a sick child, an elderly person or someone who is hungry?"
Leslie casts a large net in her attempt to lampoon the entire Christian population. When, in reality, all she shows is how little she knows about the subject she attempts to write about.
For the record, Leslie, many hospitals are outgrowths of religion. Many of the social agencies can thank Christians for the solvency and for the non profit work.
Take the LDS church's welfare statistics for 2010 as a prima fascia example:
Days of labor donated to church welfare facilities by its members — 777,381 (2,129 years of effort)
Employment and training placements — 168,713
Total number of:
Storehouses — 143
Home storage centers — 102
Production projects — 54
Processing facilities — 23
Storage and distribution facilities — 36
Employment resource centers — 326
Deseret Industries thrift stores — 43
LDS Family Services offices — 79
I don't know about other Christian denominations and their involvement. But I'm willing to bet that they are as involved and concerned.
If you're saying that Christians don't care because they won't swipe a blank check for someon, then you are probably right. But that would be contrary to their faith and Gods commandment. See Genesis 3:19.
How's the government's current welfare system of "swipe check" without expectation working out?! Thought so.
Leslie is barking up the wrong tree. Had she done even a brief search she would have found the following:
"conservative Americans donate 30% more to charity than liberal Americans."
"Americans who believe in 'income redistribution' give 75% less to charity than Americans who do not."
"religious Americans give four times as much money to charity each year than secular people, and are 23 times more likely to volunteer to help people than folks who never attend church. And here’s another crushing stat: If liberals donated blood at the rate conservatives do, the nation’s blood supply would rise 45%."
Next time, do us a favor, and do some research before you write.