One of those Biblical messages takes the form of a story in which a wealthy ruler and successful merchant asked Jesus, “How can I get into heaven?” The response was simple (Matthew 19:16-24). Jesus is alleged to have replied, “If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor,…” This direction is both simple and unequivocal, and the typical exegeses of this section leave no doubt that the young ruler sorrowfully rejected Jesus’ advice precisely because he was too attached to his material possessions to give away even a few of them.
Those among us who have regularly observed services in Christian churches will have noticed one universal phenomenon: i.e., congregation members love to dress up for Sunday services. Significant attention is devoted to wearing fashionable suits, hats and hair styles, matching shoes and handbags, or coordinated shirts and neck ties. Clergy routinely wear grand vestments, often silk, brocaded and embroidered, and sometimes adorned with bright stones or jewels. Headgear (mitres) may be gaudy, garish and bejeweled. Most ministers wear suits and ties, or suits and scarves, for all but the most casual church events.
Revelations from Republican National Committee expense reports have detailed well over $150,000 paid by the campaign for Ms. Palin’s suits and accessories. Large sums were also paid to dress her husband and children. As documented by numerous published election photos, the suits, skirts, slacks, blouses, shoes and jackets that Ms. Palin wore, in addition to whatever her closet contained before her nomination, totaled well over a dozen outfits.
At each campaign stop, Ms. Palin couched her political message as derivative of her sincere Christian faith. In fact, she drilled in repeatedly her doubt that Mr. Obama was truly Christian, and implied again and again that Obama was secretly a Muslim.
The comedian and incisive social critic Lenny Bruce used to say, "Show me a preacher who has two suits where there is another man who has none, and I'll show you a fraud." Then think to yourself (no need to raise your hand) of just one Christian pastor, one preacher, one minister, one Bishop, one Cardinal, one fellow parishioner, or one Vice-Presidential candidate who owns just two suits.
Yes, Lenny Bruce was entirely correct in suggesting that the patent hypocrisy of professing a Christian faith yet holding on to multiple suits, shirts, autos, homes, televisions, or any other consumer goods while others have none, is so gross as to be egregiously, corrosively, and unmistakably contrary to the most basic principle of Christianity as expressed in The Book of St. Matthew.
As one commenter on the Anderson Cooper blog wrote: “[Pastor Rick] Warren sends the message to the Muslim world that Obama and the US is [sic] just another intolerant Christian fanatic….” Amen, brother. Long live hypocritical Christian rhetoric. Screw Jesus and the Constitution. Let’s all go shopping before the Inauguration!
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