The Devil, quoting Scripture.
Matthew, Chapter 7, that ol’ Sermon on the Mount:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Some of the trees in question: Allen Brill introduces the Right Christians to the latest batch of the Christian Right, who’ll doubtless be spearheading the upcoming Last Stand for Bigotry against gay marriage. David Neiwert does some digging into recent efforts by Richard Mellon Scaife & co. to do to America’s churches what they’ve done to America’s conservative movement. One of Neiwert’s links leads us back to Brill and thence to a connection between black box voting and a particularly nasty brand of Christianist. And y’all did remember to make a copy of this Harper’s article from a while back, didn’t you?
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Which, you know, is fine and dandy for Him. But what about the rest of us, huh? Stuck down here with these corrupt and evil-fruited trees.)
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Ooh, watch those sources! I think you'll find that Sullivan-county.com is a site you aren't totally comfortable taking as an authority.
Sigh. Perhaps I should type up a disclaimer: Sites linked to are not in any way endorsed by the proprietor, but were merely found interesting in some fashion and may themselves provide rhetorical benefit over and above that intimated by their context? --Or maybe I should just point out my abiding interest in psychoceramics and leave it at that.
I tried psychoceramics once, but my brain didn't work so good when it came out of the kiln. It is now pretty and shiny. I keep it on the mantle next to my bowling trophies.
Speaking of which, the Real Live Preacher rant was the Best Thing Ever, and I've spammed all my friends with the link. Thanks for pointing it out.
Mmm, evil fruit.