Bush’s claims fall morally short

In recent weeks, Republicans have justified their long andprotracted scrutiny of Senator Kerry’s service in Vietnam,arguing — perhaps correctly — that Kerry, having madehis military service a central theme of his campaign, opened thedoor to the constant and often scurrilous attacks.

In his book, May God Bless America: George W. Bush andBiblical Morality, Dr. Joseph Martos, biblical scholar andretired professor of theology, adopts this same justification as heanalyzes President Bush’s self-professed conservativeevangelical credentials in his campaign for a second term.

What will surprise most conservative Christians, however, isthat Martos argues — not unlike the Swift Boat Veterans forTruth in their criticism of Kerry — that Bush’s claimsfall morally short, citing six specific areas of hisadministration: principles and policies, environment and resources,poverty and wealth, human rights, and war and peace.

Martos reaches his conclusions applying both Old and NewTestament scripture and biblical exegesis to the policies Bush haseither enacted or endorsed during his last four years in office andduring his current campaign.

According to Martos, Bush’s applications of biblicalprinciples, routinely presented as mainstream, are often misguidedand represent a narrow and fundamentally flawed interpretation ofChristian teachings.

While he admits that Bush may be sincere in his interpretationof morality, he argues “sincerity is not enough,”adding, “a person can be sincere and also misguided. A personcan be trying to do the right thing and be mistaken,” citinga litany of wars, military campaigns, as well as other social andpolitical policies, including the Crusades, the Inquisition andslavery, all of which, according to Martos, constituted at one time”sincere beliefs about God and Jesus,” and all of whichwere later “judged to be heretical.”

While his conclusions are likely to be denounced by theextremely religious, many mainstream theologians have added voicesof support to Dr. Martos’ findings.

Charles E. Curran, Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor ofHuman Values in the Perkins School of Theology at SMU, states thefollowing in his review of Martos’ findings: “The bookclearly shows how the Bush policies … not only fall short of theJudeo-Christian biblical teaching, but often stand incontradiction.”

Another reviewer, George Edwards, Professor Emeritus atLouisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, writes, “Theauthor of this book is far kinder than I when discussing PresidentGeorge W. Bush, but we share a mutual eagerness to reaffirmbiblical premises ignored and distorted by politicalconservatism.”

Finally, E. Glenn Hinson, Professor Emeritus of the BaptistTheological Seminary at Richmond, Va., concluded that the book”is a thoroughly informed, balanced and judicious critique ofthe policies of the Bush administration. It is a ‘must’read for informed Christians concerned about the … use of forceto achieve political ends.”

In his criticism of the president, Dr. Martos writes,”President Bush’s personal faith leads him to saythings that sound good to Christians, but … seem to depart frombiblical principles of stewardship, justice, dignity, respect andcare for others.”

He adds, “With the Bible in one hand and the public recordin the other, I began to get a new perspective on what is going onin Washington. This book will take you on my journey ofdiscovery.”

In the six subsequent chapters, he exhaustively outlines how, inhis opinion, Bush’s statements and policies either contradictor stray from biblical teachings.

In a specific reference to the war in Iraq, Martos argues,”Biblical morality also suggests that responding to thetragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, using massive military force was ahuge ethical mistake. A war on terrorism that hurts the innocent aswell as the guilty does not inspire respect. Instead, it incitesrevenge.”

In his most excoriating criticism of Bush, Martos posits,”What if President Bush is not the Christian he thinks he is?What if the Bush administration is disobeying God’s will asit is revealed in the Bible? According to the scriptures,God’s blessings are bestowed on the righteous, not on theself-righteous, and those who act contrary to God’s commandscan expect divine punishment.”

As in my previous articles, I recommend that you do your ownresearch before you reach any conclusions about Dr. Martos’findings. After all, that is what a university encourages itsstudents to do. The book is available for reading online in itsentirety at www.biblicalchristian.com.

George Henson is a lecturer of Spanish at SMU. He may becontacted at [email protected].