Even the Devil can quote scripture.
A certain columnist today declares that Thomas Jefferson was wrong when he wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The preachy columnist got up on his pulpit and proclaimed:
“Consider St. Paul’s letter to the Romans: ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’ (Romans 3:22-23). ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,’ (Romans 6:23). ‘That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,’ (Romans 10:9).
“There’s not a single word about rights granted from God.”
Paul also wrote: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)”
And if one shalt not kill or steal is that not an implied God-given right to life and property that others should not usurp? And: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that geteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13) Pursue that.
God save us from the self-righteous, please.
4TH ST8 
I’m baffled, if Steve Sebelius said the same thing about Islam’s Allah, one billion of his adherents would be insulted and he would likely be marked for beheading. Wow, he would be in more trouble with Muslims than George Zimmerman with Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the Black Caucus, the president, etal., but Christians will be Christians and forgive him his trespasses. I have no interest in religion but I have no problem with those that practice religion, I realize they all have violence in their history but Christianity presently seems bent on peace as opposed to other persuasions with less kindly attitudes. .
I believe the preachy columnist might research a bit more of the Bible before he questions Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson spent a good bit of time reading and in introspection. I would suggest the columnist do the same.
I agree with the comment by txcasey, there’s reading and then there’s reading with “introspection”, it really is open to literal comprehension and no one will kill you if you interpret it differently. The bible isn’t exactly text in a novel like the latest novel from John Grisham, it’s an ancient text that serves as basic religious tenets for over a billion people. Over the centuries many have studied and followed it as both vocation and avocation in a lifelong search for understanding. A dismissive column by a “doubting Thomas”, hardly can be taken anymore seriously than the many others that have cast doubt; he should know that the believer’s faith in the bible will continue regardless of his smug little comment. He’s not far different than the Muslim that recently demanded Representative West, R. FL., show him in the Koran where it says that Muslims are directed to attack America, Representative West had the obvious answer, America hadn’t been discovered by the Europeans at the time the Koran was written. He also told the individual to put the mic down and go home, that would be a good idea for Mr. Sebelius.
Good advice, Vernon.
Thanks for this blog. I tend to tune out “certain columnist” when he mixes the Bible with politics
As well you should, since he obviously knows little about either.
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Well, I am surprised that anyone bothered to point out the error of his ways, but great to know some people really do read their Bible and know fact from fiction.
The Merchant of Venice:
“The devil can cite scripture for his purpose”. — Act I, scene III
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Jan, if anyone tries argue with Sebelius on religion they quickly find he is a know it all. He does have some redeeming qualities but they don’t go very deep most of the time. He likes to bait and switch if you notice his responses on the blog he posts once in a while.
I have got one idea for your website. It seems like there are a number of cascading stylesheet issues when launching a selection of webpages in google chrome as well as internet explorer. It is operating fine in internet explorer. Perhaps you can double check this.
Must be a WordPress issue.