The Political Chase

Hagee repents

Sen. John McCain and Pastor Hagee

John Hagee has apologized for referring to the Catholic Church as the “great whore.” It is good to see that Pastor Hagee has finally been enlightened with a theological perspective that not every verse in the Bible was intended to be interpreted literally. An epiphany at 68, is better than no epiphany at all. Unfortunately, Hagee’s repentance is limited to his remarks against the Catholic Church.

[...] I better understand that reference to the Roman Catholic Church as the “apostate church” and the “great whore” described in the Book Revelation is a rhetorical device long employed in anti-Catholic literature and commentary.

I hope you recognize that I have repeatedly stated that my interpretation of Revelation leads me to conclude that the “apostate church” and the “great whore” appear only during the seven years of tribulation after all believers — Catholic and Protestant — have been taken up to heaven. Therefore, neither of these phrases can be synonymous with the Catholic Church.

Since Hagee makes no apology for his other bigoted remarks, such as Katrina was God’s wrath against gays and lesbians in New Orleans, maybe John McCain could persuade him to revisit Romans and Leviticus

I also see that Pastor Hagee could benefit by reviewing the terms “evangelism” or “evangelical” in his lexicon, especially as applied in this sentence.

Both Catholics and Evangelicals have been engaged in an effort to assert the primacy of faith and values in our increasingly secular society.

I’ll probably get a lot of rebuttal on flack on this, but evangelism is a unique talent and skill. It is not something bestowed based on membership to a church or personal beliefs. Moreover, it is probably one of the most misused terms in the Protestant lexicon.