A conservative US congresswoman addressing a church congregation last week appeared to be praying for the US president's death when she cited Psalm 109...
"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."
...isn't a prayer like this an abuse of scripture and profoundly un-Christian?
11 Feb 23
@fmf saidShe didn't quote the entire Psalm, only '"May his days be few; may another take his place."
A conservative US congresswoman addressing a church congregation last week appeared to be praying for the US president's death when she cited Psalm 109...
"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."
...isn't a prayer like this an abuse of scripture and profoundly un-Christian?
This is hardly a prayer for his death and more for an end to his presidency.
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidBut isn't it "an abuse of scripture" to take one sentence out of its clear context? What Psalm 109 is about is not ambiguous.
She didn't quote the entire Psalm, only '"May his days be few; may another take his place."
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidBut why is she quoting from Psalm 109 then? If you read it, it's about hoping for a hated leader's death and wishing ill upon his children.
This is hardly a prayer for his death and more for an end to his presidency.
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI disagree. If you disagree with my OP, that's fine. But it isn't misleading.
Point is, your OP was misleading.
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidSo we agree that it is "an abuse of scripture" but I think it's an abuse because she is wishing death upon a political opponent and you think it some lesser abuse, is that right?
All Christians do that. (Okay, and some atheists).
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidSo you don't believe in "dog whistles" in politics?
Exactly, she cherry picked and noticeably did not say, 'May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.'
11 Feb 23
@fmf saidYour OP said she cited Psalm 109...
I disagree. If you disagree with my OP, that's fine. But it isn't misleading.
"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."
In reality, she only cited the first sentence. You added the second for sensationalism.
11 Feb 23
@fmf saidEverybody and their dog twists/abuses scripture for their own end. This doesn't change the fact she wasn't calling for the death of the president.
So we agree that it is "an abuse of scripture" but I think it's an abuse because she is wishing death upon a political opponent and you think it some lesser abuse, is that right?
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI think she quoted Psalm 109 because it is a crystal clear signal to her congregation that she is praying for the death of the president in office because Psalm 109 is about praying for the death of a leader in office. I don't think there is any "sensationalism" about calling her out as I have done.
Your OP said she cited Psalm 109...
"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."
In reality, she only cited the first sentence. You added the second for sensationalism.
11 Feb 23
@ghost-of-a-duke saidI think she was appealing to a group of people that probably do pray for President Biden's death. If you assume that they don't, that's fine. But, you DO agree that it was a political dog whistle and you DO agree that it was an abuse of scripture, right?
Everybody and their dog twists/abuses scripture for their own end. This doesn't change the fact she wasn't calling for the death of the president.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidPsalm 109 is about praying for the death of someone. The verses I quoted in the OP make that clear.
Point is, your OP was misleading.
As she said: "We pray for our president..." and then what Psalm did she cite? What prayer is she referring to?
