Progressives at the Pearly Gates

Posted in: News By House Divided on April 15, 2019

Each year at Easter, the thoughts of millions of Americans turn to the subject of God and religion. Whether it’s the Easter Bunny or the relevance of the empty tomb, everyone has an opinion. In this sense, everyone is a theologian. Broadly defined, theology is the study of the nature of God and religious belief. There are good theologians and there are bad theologians. On balance, our politicians tend to be bad theologians.

Take, for example, the theology of New York Governor – and presidential hopeful – Democrat Andrew Cuomo. On March 7th, during a TV interview with Errol Lewis of New York’s Spectrum News, Cuomo volunteered, “I believe that when you go to the Pearly Gates …our Lord says: ‘Have you been a good progressive?’” He then went on to regale his audience with his achievements concluding, “I have accomplished more progressive results than have been accomplished by any [other] administration and I believe that is factually, objectively irrefutable.” It seems Cuomo’s political resume’ has become his righteousness.

As a Floridian, I don’t know whether Cuomo’s self-aggrandizing claims are accurate or not and, for the moment, I don’t care. But as the Governor of a populous state who is reported to have presidential aspirations in 2020, I do care about his theological views.

In Cuomo’s theology, the litmus test to determine whether you will pass through the Pearly Gates is whether you were a “good progressive”. It is not for me to judge where Cuomo will stand with God on the last day. But I can judge whether his theology is good or bad, and so can you.

To prove the point, here’s a thought experiment for people of the progressive persuasion: How would you react if Vice President Mike Pence went on T.V. and said, “I believe that when you go to the Pearly Gates, God will ask, ‘Have you been a good conservative’?” You would have every reason to be outraged by Pence’s theology. By employing this brand of theology, we could imagine Hitler believed when he got to the Pearly Gates, God would ask, “Have you been a good Nazi?” Cuomo’s mixture of political ideology and flawed theology is a toxic brew which always leads to self-justification and self-righteousness, or worse.

In a curious irony, Cuomo’s views on abortion, same-sex marriage, divorce and cohabitation – Cuomo is living with his girlfriend – put him in good standing with his fellow progressives and, at the same time, his views put him at odds with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church he professes to embrace. This is either an example of what George Orwell called “double-think”…the ability to simultaneously accept two mutually contradictory beliefs as correct or an example of political expediency….something you do to advance yourself politically. In the end, we are left to wonder what’s most important to Cuomo: to be in good standing with his political party or to be in good standing with his church?

God is not a Republican or a Democrat. God has a bigger agenda than to “Make America Great Again”. All attempts to politicize God produce a two-dimensional caricature of the God revealed in the bible. As I read that book, God is more liberal than my Democrat friends and more conservative than my Republican friends. For example, he calls his people to be promiscuous in giving their money to the poor and, except within the bond of traditional marriage, chaste when dealing with their sexuality. Today, these positions are virtually certain to offend almost everyone.

Martha Stewart once said that religion and politics are two topics which should never be discussed at a cocktail party. Most civilized people abide by these immutable laws of social etiquette. As it relates to the subject of religion, it may be time she extends these rules to prevent the discussion of religion by any politician at any time.

Can I get an Amen?!