We should ignore the un-Christlike example of most religious celebrities and political leaders and instead follow the example of George Frederic Handel, who wrote “The Messiah,” the most sung and listened to Christmas work ever. Most Celebrity leaders would claim they love Handel\’s Messiah. But they fear to live the words, for the overwhelming theme in the almost 300 pages of music and lyrics is love and peace.
Handel wrote the Messiah in 1741, a time of ongoing turmoil and wars in Europe and coming conflict in our new world; Warmakers were busy at work in every court in Europe. In its challenging arias and choruses, taken from Old and New Testament scriptures, Jesus is revealed as the peacemaker, the humble and meek, the teacher, the victim of violence, The mighty spiritual king, and finally the hope of mankind.
Only in one bass solo and chorus does Handel speak of justice and judgment of the wicked: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter\’s vessel.”
Sad to say, it is rare to find a church leader in any pulpit today who will defy our Warmakers by following Handel\’s example. To do so would be to expose the evil of the government that has granted them the means to accumulate vast wealth in the name of churches, so long as churches do not “violate public policy.”
Public policy today is war. Our country currently involved in six or seven, if you count Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Palestine where we have either troops on the ground or overpowering military aid for one side of a conflict. How does the USA\’S warmaking square with these words quoted from the Bible into the amazing music Handel created?
“He was a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief.”
“His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
And he shall speak peace unto the heathen.
“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
“Come unto [Him], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and [He shall] give you rest. 29. Take [his] yoke upon you, and learn of [Him]; for [he is] meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Sarah Palin, Chuck Baldwin, John Hagee and George W. Bush all claim to be followers of Christ, but they would probably be more comfortable with the lyrics of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer or the Battle Hymn of the Republic than Handel\’s words. Not one of them, nor president Obama, has set peace as a national priority. All regard war as a given, but Jesus said otherwise. They and thousands of pastors in all kinds of churches and synagogues are the Pharisees (false leaders) of our day.
Pharisees were the most politically powerful of the false religious leaders of Jesus\’ time. We Hold These Truths focuses its feature stories on the unChristian acts of those religious celebrity leaders today who have been granted political power, much as the Roman government of Jesus\’ day granted power to the Pharisees and other false leaders of the Judean people, in order to keep them misled and under Roman control.
You can easily recognize the Pharisee leaders by asking them the simple question, “was not Jesus a peacemaker as depicted in Handel\’s Messiah… if so, how can you do less than to oppose the USA\’s serial wars?“
Or simply: “Pastor, what are you doing to end war and strife in our time?”
Messiah Lyrics: http://www.worshipmap.com/lyrics/messiahtext.html
Listen to The Messiah
