Politicians normally try to keep their private lives separate from their public personas. And the media generally respect this separation, unless any probing can be justified as being in the public interest.
But some politicians purposely ventilate aspects of their private lives when they feel that it will help them in their jobs.
And that is the case with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison who has, right from day one, broadcast the idea that he is a Christian, claiming that this is what drives him.
Morrison attends a Pentecostal church and has even gone to the extent of inviting media photographers into his church so they can photograph him while he is attending a service.
But after three years of his rule, in what has at times become a circus, one needs to ask: despite all his contortions, is Morrison really a Christian? Is he all talk and no action? Is he a windbag who blows hot and cold, doing one thing when it suits and another when it does not?
To examine whether he is a Christian in deed as well as word, one needs just a single source: the Bible, and, more specifically, the New Testament.
When Jesus delivered what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, He went into great detail to explain what people ought to be doing if they wanted to rank as His followers. The sermon can be found in the gospek of Matthew, from chapter 5 to 7.
One of the first things Jesus said was: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Morrison does not fit into this category as he is always trying to create strife.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” does not fit Morrison either for he is never charitable to his enemies, leave alone his friends.
Neither does “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” describe Morrison who is one of the most aggressive public figures in Australia, always seeking to shout someone else down and throw mud at them.
Morrison lies as a matter of default, to the extent that one Australian publication, Crikey, has even published a book about all the falsehoods he has told. Given his character, Morrison would definitely have tried to sue Crikey if this was contestable, and the fact that he hasn’t shows that he has no defence.
Verse 11 says: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Doesn’t fit Morrison again.
Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Morrison stands condemned on most counts therein; he ladles out insults as though they are going out of stock and abuses everyone in sight whenever he can.
“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison” is another admonition. Morrison does the exact opposite, accusing all and sundry of a number of things, without any basis most of the time.
Jesus warned people against swearing; Morrison probably never heard of this advice. When it comes to retaliation, the PM stands on the wrong side every time.
Jesus’ words were: ““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
Morrison tries his level best to belittle others and act against the weaker sections in the community. No better example is available than his keeping a Tamil family of four, including two little girls, in limbo and away from their home in Queensland for many years. He could settle the issue in a matter of minutes and in behaving in this manner, he is being anything but charitable.
Morrison has contempt for women and does not shrink from showing this in public. He turns his back on women when they are speaking in Parliament and treats them as though they are weak in the head.
The gospel says: “Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven”, but Morrison makes a song and dance about even the smallest act of generosity. He lives for the media, putting on almost a circus act for them every day.
On the same lines, Jesus said, “when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” But Morrison beats the drums and blows the trumpets when he does anything to ensure that all sections of the media know what he is doing.
There’s a lot more, but even by this stage, it is apparent that Morrison is the very antithesis of what a Christian should be. He is a hypocrite, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, someone who pretends to be what he is not.
For people such as him, Jesus had this warning: ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”