Lately, I have been seeing the name of Jesus in my news feed a lot. It should not be surprising as I follow some Bible-based pages but the references to Him are in the form of news---political news to be exact. As a believer, I am all for Christians not shying away from politics but I wish politicians would tread more carefully and not take the Lord’s name in vain to justify their stance and feed their ego.

JESUS AND THE DEATH PENALTY

To defend death penalty, one senator said, "Jesus Christ nga nasentensyahan (ng) kamatayan dahil ang government nag-impose talaga ng kamatayan…" In the other spectrum, those who oppose it cite Jesus as its greatest victim. Both are mistaken.

To say that it’s okay to restore death penalty because Jesus was meted a death sentence is like saying it's okay to crucify people nowadays just because our Lord was. Besides, the account was a narrative, not a prescription. 

And Jesus was never a victim (Mt. 26:50-54, John 19:11). As much as the justice system was manipulated to find Him guilty, He knew what was going to happen because that was the reason He came (Col. 2:15, Gal. 3:13, Rom. 5:10). Jesus was no victim of circumstances. If He had been found innocent, we would all still be dead in our sins. There would be no hope for our hell-destined souls (1 Cor. 15:12-19).

The senator later said, “Let’s change the discussion on the death penalty so we can’t drag the name of our Jesus Christ.” Amen.

JESUS AND ACCEPTING GIFTS

“Well, if you’re given a gift, accept it. It cannot be bribery because it is allowed by law. What I mean if there is generosity in them, the anti-graft law says you cannot accept gifts. That’s nonsense,” said our president.

Naturally, people were up in arms against a presidential endorsement of violating the spirit of Section 7 of Republic Act 6713 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)  which states that “Public officials and employees shall NOT solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, ANY gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from ANY person in the course of their official duties or in connection with ANY operation being regulated by, or ANY transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

Then comes a commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission with his personal opinion:  “Very clear po yung statement ni President na if the gifts are out of gratitude, these are not bribery or out of coercion or force. It is an attitude that even Christ has taught us, so it is not a crime to accept gifts out of gratefulness.”

Yes, Jesus taught us to practice gratitude but from the perspective of someone expressing it. Not from someone in the receiving end. Besides, not just because one is offered, one must accept.

JESUS AND “LIKE THE SECOND COMING”

And then there’s US President Donald Trump re-tweeting a radio host’s comments comparing him to the “King of Israel” and “the second coming of God.”

“Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for the very nice words. ‘President Trump is the greatest President for Jews and for Israel in the history of the world, not just America, he is the best President for Israel in the history of the world...and the Jewish people in Israel love him...like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God….

Carmen Fowler LaBerge, another radio host, couldn’t have come up with a better rebuke: “The righteous response, if such idolatrous things are ever said of you, is to deny and humble thyself, pointing insistently to Jesus.”

As of this writing, Trump has yet to make a counter-tweet.