Marjorie Taylor Greene's glib anti-immigrant theology
Has Marjorie Taylor Greene even read the Bible?
She certainly has some opinions about it. The notorious Republican congresswoman from Georgia recently gave an interview in which she asserted that American church groups that assist migrant refugees are "not adhering to the teachings of Christ" but instead are the result of "Satan's controlling the church."
"The church is not doing its job, and it's not adhering to the teachings of Christ, and it's not adhering to what the word of God says we're supposed to do and how we're supposed to live," Greene said. Sure, those teachings include the command to love one another, she said, "but their definition of what love one another means, means destroying our laws. It means completely perverting what our Constitution says. It means taking unreal advantage of the American taxpayer." If groups like Catholic Charities took a tougher stance against immigration, "loving one another would have the true meaning and not the perversion and the twisted lie that they're making it to be."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now I've been fallen away from the church a few years, but I definitely remember that among Christ's teachings is the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story about a man who showed mercy on a traveler who had been beaten by robbers.
And I remember this from the Gospel of Matthew:
Listen: There's nothing more tedious than a non-Christian citing Biblical chapter and verse to Christians, but Greene cited the "teachings of Christ" and these (if you're a believer) are the teachings of Christ. It's not clear what other actual teachings she's referring to other than her own intense feelings about the Constitution and immigration. That's not the same thing.
This would be little more than a minor theological debate if not for the fact Christianity ostensibly guides one of our major political parties. So it matters. Greene is not the first or last person to filter their religion through the prism of their own personal and political preferences. I'm probably doing it right here. But Greene's comments have all the hallmarks of a glib Biblical illiteracy that she brandishes as a cudgel against "the least of these." We'd all be better off if Christian nationalism was actually more Christian.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.
-
Mary Poppins tour: 'humdinger' of a show kicks off at Bristol Hippodrome
The Week Recommends Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are 'true triple threats' as Mary and Bert in 'timeless' production
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Jaguar's stalled rebrand
In the spotlight Critics and car lovers are baffled by the luxury car company's 'complete reset'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
What the chancellor's pension megafund plans mean for your money
Rachel Reeves wants pension schemes to merge and back UK infrastructure – but is it putting your money at risk?
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Young women are leaving the church
Talking Points They've been the 'backbone' of their congregations. What changed?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The potential consequences of Pope Francis' call for a ban on surrogacy
Talking Points Francis called the practice 'despicable' and a 'commercialization' of pregnancy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The divided Methodist church?
Talking Point
By W. James Antle III Published
-
Will anyone be happy with a post-religious America?
Talking Point
By Samuel Goldman Published
-
A viral conversion story and the paradox of choosing to leave modernity
Talking Point
By Damon Linker Published
-
Biden chooses the wrong Bible verse
Talking Point
By Samuel Goldman Published
-
What the latest church scandal teaches about the Catholic right
Talking Point
By Damon Linker Published
-
The 4 groups of writers shaping the Catholic Church of tomorrow
Talking Point
By Damon Linker Published