Thom Hartmann: Jesus Is a Liberal, Asking Retailers to Use the Word 'Christmas' Is 'Promoting Blasphemy'
The American Family Association is conducting a “Naughty or Nice” campaign noting which major retailers sound hostile in avoiding Christmas in their seasonal sales. Somehow, on his Monday program, leftist radio host Thom Hartmann yelled that this made him sick and that the AFA is “promoting blasphemy.” He threw the B-word repeatedly.
Citing the Gospel of Matthew, Hartmann also insisted that Christianity and welfare statism are synonymous, and that the House Republicans are terrible Christians because they propose “Oh, we’ve got to cut these social safety net programs – which is the essence of what Jesus Christ said you’ve gotta do to get into Heaven! And instead replace them with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.” Hartmann began by asserting the AFA thinks Jesus is a liar, but the AFA’s Bryan Fischer drove Hartmann crazy by refusing to take the bait and fight:
HARTMANN: The AFA and you, Bryan, believe that when Jesus said you have to choose between God or Mammon, which is money and the things -- and commerce, that he was what, lying or was he mistaken? Jesus made it very clear that you could choose between getting rich
and choose between [sic] being virtuous and holy... A company that uses Jesus Christ to hustle goods is profaning His name and the work that He did.
Saying you’re having a “Christmas sale” or wishing customers “Merry Christmas” is hardly hustling goods by profaning the name of Christ. It used to be common courtesy. Here’s where Fischer almost glowed with praise for Hartmann:
FISCHER: I am delighted to hear that you are concerned about people profaning the name of Jesus Christ. This is a breakthrough –
HARTMANN: I’m a Christian, and I am horrified, for example, when people, Republicans, stand up and call themselves Christians, and then say, and then completely forget about Matthew 25. The one time in the entire New Testament where the disciples came to Jesus and said ‘How do we get into heaven?’ and he said ‘Feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Clothe the naked. In other words, house the homeless. Visit those in prison.’ And they all freaked out and said, you know, We’re screwed. We’ll never make it into heaven, you know, because we’ve never seen you....we’ve never seen you hungry, we’ve never seen you naked, we’ve never seen you sick. How are we going to get into Heaven? And he said as you’ve done these to the least of my brethren, you’ve done unto me.
The bible-thumpers would quickly direct Hartmann to other places in the New Testament where Jesus and the disciples discussed getting into Heaven (MRC’s Ken Shepherd starts with John, chapter 14). Then Hartmann launched into an anti-Republican rant, insisting Jesus came to Earth to promote "safety net" government programs:
HARTMANN: Then I see Republicans standing up on the floor of the House of Representatives, and people like your organization, the American Family Association, saying ‘Oh, we’ve got to cut these social safety net programs – which is the essence of what Jesus Christ said you’ve gotta do to get into Heaven! And instead replace them with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. And by the way, let’s help Macy’s make an extra billion dollars, and let’s make sure Wal-Mart makes an extra billion dollars. Their multi-billionaire owners are really good Christians. And let’s use the name of Jesus to do that. It makes me wanna puke, Bryan! I think that what you are doing is blasphemous!
Fischer repeated very calmly, “Well, Thom, I’ve just gotta tell you I’m so heartened to hear you so worked up over blaspheming the name of Christ. I’ve never heard this coming from you before.”
An angry Hartmann shot back: “I’m astounded you’re not ashamed and humiliated that you have been called out for blaspheming the name of Christ.” Fischer tried to point out Obama wouldn’t make an Easter proclamation from the White House. Hartmann yelled again:
HARTMANN: Bryan, I am astounded that you are trying to change the subject away from the fact that the American Family Association is promoting blasphemy!
FISCHER: Well, Thom, as I say, I think it’s terrific that you’re so concerned about blasphemy.
HARTMANN: Why are you not answering the question! Why is the American Family Association promoting blasphemy?
FISCHER (after a laugh): What’s we’re doing is promoting the day that our nation has set aside to honor the birth of Jesus.
HARTMANN: Not true. If you were doing that, you’d be out buying advertising or putting up signs saying ‘Please honor Jesus Christ.’ What you’re doing is saying we’re going to put a gold star by the name of corporations that make a profit by using the name of Jesus Christ and that is blasphemy.
When Fischer calmly explained that in his view, Matthew 25 is not about government policy and that in the Parable of the Talents, Jesus was encouraging investment, Hartmann concluded the interview by rudely announcing, "I will pray for your soul. I am so sorry to hear that. Bryan Fischer, blasphemer with AFA.net."
It's not easy to have a religious conversation with Hartmann. He once asked me if John the apostle was gay, since he laid close to the breast of Jesus on the night before the crucifixion (John 13:25).
Hartmann was still smarting on Tuesday's show over his interpretation of Jesus-profaning capitalism: "We have created something in the last thirty years that is like the new chalice, the new blood and body of Christ, the new sacred wafer, the new sacred activity, and it's called making money."
- Tim Graham's blog
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Comments
The 3 wise-men were blasphemous, capitalist pigs!
Submitted by ant on Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:17pm.
Alright, now liberals position on illegal immigration should be, "Send 'em all back, they're engaging in the evil task of making money." From now on, I'm to assume Thom is going to work for free. All money/profit/pursuit of happiness is bad. That includes computers and I-phones, taking donations, forming your own bank, all that's been done by the Occupiers, a subject where Jesus' name is also brought up within the din of hypocrisy.
Making money
Submitted by Franksam on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 9:14am.
The immigrants are not here for money. They are here for the safety net that Jesus told the United States to have in place before the world ends in 2012. I might have been sleeping that day in Bible class, but I think it was during one of those hilltop kind of speeches that He liked to give to members of Congress. It's in there somewhere. Maybe Thom could point it out.
the safety net happens to be
Submitted by TruthMonger on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:53pm.
the safety net happens to be money
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
Why do Conservatives go on
Submitted by Liberallies on Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:23pm.
Why do Conservatives go on shows of these pseudo-intellects on the Left who attack Christianity when it suits them and then twist the teachings of Christianity when it suits them!
Funny how the Left loves to quote the Bible when it comes to making money, but they hate the Bible when it comes to abortion and homosexuality. Incredible.
Who is Thom Hartman?
Submitted by WarEagle01 on Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:56pm.
And if he really believes in "doing unto the least of these" then why don't his fellow liberals give anything to charity? American liberals are some of the least charitable people on the planet.
Say Mr. Hartmann,
Submitted by Order270 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:18am.
Why are you getting so huffy over this "Merry Christmas" thing? Did Santa miss your house last year?
Ramadan promotes hatred and
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:51am.
Ramadan promotes hatred and terrorism.
According to Matthew Jesus was a capitalist
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:57am.
Hartman might want to go back to Matthew, Chapter 25 and reread it.
Right before the parable of the King he cited, Jesus told the parable of the Master who gave his servants various amounts of money (talents) and all used it to make more money ... except one who hid it in fear of losing it.
The Master called him "wicked and lazy" and said he could have at least put the money in a bank and earned some interest.
See ... Jesus was a capitalist and knew that leading a productive life allowed you to voluntarily help those who were less fortunate than you - those who were truly, through no fault of their own, unable to take care of themselves.
Don't you love how liberals always play revisionists when it comes to Jesus, Robin Hood, Ronald Reagan and, yes, even Teddy Roosevelt.
Right on. The responsibility
Submitted by east tennessee john on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:48pm.
Right on. The responsibility is a personal one, not a governmental one, but of course the collectivist liberals do their charity work through government with your money. This also holds true when it comes to salvation. Obama is absolutely wrong. There is no thing as collective salvation, it's an individual matter but the collectivists can't handle individualism in any way shape or form. It impacts their desire to control.
BINGO, we have a winner!
Submitted by vrwc13 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:38pm.
The responsibility is a personal one, not a governmental one - east tennessee john
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
Beautifully said, Met.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:12pm.
.
'If ye love me, keep my commandments'
Submitted by Slyrr on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:34am.
Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world.'
Fools like this Hartmann, who wrest the scriptures and try to project the false illusion of divine approval for their tyrannical policies, would do wisely to remember that. What he did there is called 'priestcraft', and God has warned that those who practice it will pay a price for that evil.
When Jesus was hauled before Pilate, that would have been the time for him to lecture the Roman potentate about 'social justice' and 'welfare', and 'taxing the rich', would it not? Instead, he said his kingdom was 'not of this world', reinforcing his earlier pronouncement to the Jews - 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and render unto God the things that are God's.'
If this 'Hartmann' was half as righteous as he is pretending to be, he'd be better served to exhort his listeners to obey the 10 commandments. Why doesn't Hartmann tell his listeners to worship on the Sabbath day and not do any work thereon? Why doesn't he urge them not to covet other people's posessions? Why doesn't he order his listenters to obey the commandment, 'thou shalt not commit adultery'? Has he taught his listeners to obey all of the Bible's teachings, and the Savior's teachings? No, he hasn't. Instead, he's specifically ordered his listeners to break all of those commandments.
He has worshipped other gods, and called it 'multiculturalism'. He has bowed to graven images and called them 'campaign posters'. He has blasphemed the name of the Lord and called it 'artistic freedom'. He has broken the sabbath, and called it 'a foolish tradition'. He has cheered the destruction of the family and parenthood and called it 'alternative lifestyles'. He has cheered the killing of babies, and called it 'the right to choose'. He has participated in robbing and stealing and called it 'social justice'. He has borne false witness and called it 'political savvy'. He has coveted his neighbor's possessions and called it 'taxes'.
If this 'Hartmann' really believed in Christ, he would remember his most powerful plea: 'If ye love me - keep my commandments.'
Hartmann
Submitted by Demonhunter on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 3:00am.
You covered most of what I was going to say, and very well too. Let me just add that if Hartmann is a Christian, he might also do well to learn the difference between blasphemy and heresy.
Blasphemy is the correct word
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 8:54am.
for the point he's trying to make. The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. (M-W)
Heresy, on the other hand, is claiming a doctrine or opinion that is contrary to church dogma.
I'm not saying he's right; only that he's using the correct word.
This is just Martin Bashir, the second verse.
Submitted by Mike Bratton on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 7:30pm.
Thom, you don't get to conform Christianity to your political worldview.
You get to conform your worldview, regardless of the subject matter, to your Christian faith.
When you're a Christian, that is.
Saying "I'm a Christian" and doing otherwise doesn't really cut it. You might want to let Bashir know that, too, the next time you run into him at the cafeteria.
--Mike
Hot Air
Submitted by Kleenex on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 6:01am.
This guy is another history revisionist. He always sees things as he wants them to be rather than reality, he's also a self-admitted socialist. Jesus had no party affiliation, we all know that and I for one would never even try to label Jesus politically. One minute this guy says Jesus is liberal then the next says Jesus needs to be taken out of the public square.
too bad
Submitted by g55rumpy on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 7:36am.
those that who try to say Jesus is a liberal use the Gospel of Mathew, forget Eph 2:8 'For by Grace are ye saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is a gift from God"
The term liberal is used very
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 8:29am.
The term liberal is used very liberally and the meaning changed as the situation changes.
Funny thing is that people forget Jesus is God, the manifestation of the Son. God is triune and three persons in one. God's character and mission does not change from Jesus, to God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. When people say Jesus promoted love and not violence, I ask you mean the same God who destroyed the world? The same God who told the people of Israel to go into the land He gave them and kill all in the land?
The same Jesus who cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit?
It generally sets them on their heels.
Church and State
Submitted by Nonanon on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 8:47am.
So are liberals now throwing out all of the preaching they have done for decades about separation of C & S? Hartman is using Scripture to condemn the Republicans for now following Scripture in running the government? It is no wonder liberals are so confused. They just follow their emotions rather than thought and we know how unreliable feelings are. They spend their life throwing out facts and reality and are left with this huge mess they promote. This whole diatribe he spewed contradicted the very Book he pretended to promote and obey.
Someone should perhaps
Submitted by tiger6 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 8:58am.
introduce Mr. Hartmann, and a lot of people really, to a quote by John Stott.
"...If we come to Scripture with our minds made up, expecting to hear from it only an echo of our own thoughts and never the thunderclap of God's, then indeed he will not speak to us and we shall only be confirmed in our own prejudices. We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behaviour."
But in general I've found that liberals + religion = hilarity.
"Alright, now liberals
Submitted by Pinetree3 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 9:01am.
"Alright, now liberals position on illegal immigration should be, "Send 'em all back, they're engaging in the evil task of making money."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah,,,it's not a sin for them to engage in the evil task of making money because they aren't crackers. Making money is only a sin when whitey does it.
I'm just saddened that the
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 9:04am.
I'm just saddened that the AFA interviwee didn't take Hartmann on directly. Either Fischer was being too cute by half by his blasphemy approval comments or he was actin Christian in not whacking someone with limited mental functioning over the head with the facts. But the latter did a disservice to the audience while making it appear that Fischer was being evasive and not that he was being charitable in this season of utmost charity.
Wrong...
Submitted by vrwc13 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 9:47am.
Citing the Gospel of Matthew, Hartmann also insisted that Christianity and welfare statism are synonymous, and that the House Republicans are terrible Christians because they propose “Oh, we’ve got to cut these social safety net programs – which is the essence of what Jesus Christ said you’ve gotta do to get into Heaven!
...getting to Heaven has only one requirement: "You must be born again" - Jesus
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
strange...
Submitted by Mark81150 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 10:04am.
Everytime a leftist tool comes out qouting Jesus Christ, to bash Christians, you end up feeling he can't be that profoundly stupid,... can he? The Lord Jesus Christ, whom Thom the thupid claims is such a good socialist he must be obeyed ... as interpreted by Thom...
is also...
So offensive and divisive a figure he must be airbrushed out of the nations psyche, lest someone of a wilting temperament be left crying in his closet,... terrified to go out in public, for fear he might stumble across some random event of faith...
yesth Thom,.. You are a moron,..
There is something so twisted about a supposed Christain like Thom trying to buy his way into Heavan by bullying, intimidation, and extortion.. using the threat of force (government) to make other people pay your debt, because somehow Thom.... I doubt God will buy the excuse....
"I may never have helped a single soul myself,.... but I lied to get democrats elected, and they forced other people to pay huge taxes, so I didn't have to do anything,... besides,.. Your son's a socialist like me"......
Love to see how God reacts to that Liberal conceit,... God may have made man in his image,.. but a Liberal, makes God in his..
every.. time..
As a boy, I was taught that being a Christian, was hard,. it was meant to be. To do the right thing, even when no one but you and God knew, because it was right, not because it was easy. Every supposed liberal Christian I've ever heard of, has tried to sell the idea, it should be easy,.. that it's only "real" Christianity if it is a burden on OTHER people, never on yourself.
Something is so terribly selfish, so very lazy about liberal churchs,.. when they place the responsibility to do good works on everyone else.
liberals promote homosexuality
Submitted by dmacleo on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 11:14am.
as well as other deviant stuff.
pretty sure Jesus wasn't having orgies with the 12 disciples.
hell, he was conceived w/o actual human sex...no liberal would ever practice delaying self gratification.
I just now finished
Submitted by misterbee241 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:49pm.
Matthew 25. I just dont see what Hartman was raving about. Nobody asked Jesus how to get into Heaven. This chapter is about the judgement of the Gentile nations. It is about those proclaiming to be Christian (you listening Hartman?) but who are really not. They are the goats.
I am so sick of liberals interpreting scripture, especially when most if it is straight forward.
...funny, the goat lecturing the sheep!
Submitted by vrwc13 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:56pm.
Reminds me of the story where algore claimed John 16:3 (many believe he meant John 3:16) as his favorite scripture "They do such things beacuse they have not known the Father or Me (Jesus)"
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
Hartmann, self proclaimed Christian
Submitted by east tennessee john on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:51pm.
So this theologic radio host is a Christian. Does he accept the virgin birth, and most importantly the Resurection?
Hartman: "I'm a Christian.."
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:20pm.
Don't you love it when prog/libs interpret the Bible? Their version must be either the "gender-neutral version" or the NIV 2011. Hilarious!
And, yet, they still believe they are "Christians". (insert head-shaking emoticon here)
...does he even know what he is talking about?
Submitted by vrwc13 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 1:20pm.
I’m a Christian, and I am horrified, for example, when people, Republicans, stand up and call themselves Christians, and then say, and then completely forget about Matthew 25. The one time in the entire New Testament where the disciples came to Jesus and said ‘How do we get into heaven?’ and he said ‘Feed the hungry. Heal the sick. Clothe the naked. In other words, house the homeless. Visit those in prison.’ And they all freaked out and said, you know, We’re screwed. We’ll never make it into heaven, you know, because we’ve never seen you....we’ve never seen you hungry, we’ve never seen you naked, we’ve never seen you sick. How are we going to get into Heaven? And he said as you’ve done these to the least of my brethren, you’ve done unto me.
Matthew 25 starts with the 10 virgins, five wise(capitalists) and five foolish(socialists).
Then it talks about 3 servants, two good and faithful(capitalist investors) and one wicked and lazy(socialist).
And as far as giving? It's a given that:
It turns out that this idea that liberals give more…is a myth. Of the top 25 states where people give an above average percent of their income, 24 were red states in the last presidential election.
Arthur Brooks, the author of "Who Really Cares," says that "when you look at the data, it turns out the conservatives give about 30 percent more." He adds, "And incidentally, conservative-headed families make slightly less money." - ABC 20/20
...but hey, who needs facts when you have the lying liberal msm!
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
Liberals are so funny
Submitted by Tenebrous on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 7:05pm.
I guess Thom thinks that this is how you're supposed to treat your brothers and sisters in Christ -- by hectoring them, disrespecting them, and making up lies about them. I wonder what Jesus would say about that.
When will you apologize for shamefully treating your brother the way you did, Thom?
I suspect Thom's Christianity is about as real as a three-dollar bill. He's just latched on to something he's heard that makes his socialist heart purr.
Visions and Principles blog
Thom Hartmann is an idiot AND
Submitted by JesusFreak1963 on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 9:31pm.
Thom Hartmann is an idiot AND a hypocrite. The only thing he got right was that Jesus was a liberal; I'd just LOVE to see Hartmann and the whole rest of the bunch embrace Jesus' brand of liberalism....
I think Hartmann misses one
Submitted by ant on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 11:46pm.
I think Hartmann misses one other important point about all this. The reason retailers do well is because of shoppers engaging in a Christmas tradition. And that tradition is giving gifts to others, just as the world was given a gift on the day Christ was born. Liberals only see the 'sin' of shopping, others know the joy of giving a loved one or neighbor a gift. You'll rarely see my dad so happy as when his grandchildren are opening a gift from him. So what if it's a flat-screen TV or a gift that a poor drummer boy might humbley give? It's all based on the same outpouring of love. He'd do well to remember, too, that the type that would pepper-spray others for a sale is a small minority of the population. And that happened in California..so...'nuff said.