Recently elected Speaker of the House, Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, has come under scrutiny from various left wing media figures due to his outspoken Christian faith.
Johnson, an Evangelical Christian, has not shied away from acknowledging the role his faith plays in his political and personal worldview.
However, this open declaration has led to a series of criticisms from notable personalities in the media, to which Johnson responded this past Tuesday.
Among the critics were MSNBC host Jen Psaki and HBO host Bill Maher, who expressed their disapproval of Johnson’s religious stance.
The conversation surrounding Johnson’s faith escalated during a segment with Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany.
McEnany highlighted remarks by Psaki, who referred to Johnson as a Christian “fundamentalist.”
Johnson, in response, noted that political leaders often face such criticisms, stating, “Look, there are entire industries that are built to take down public leaders – effective political leaders like me. I’m not surprised by that. I mean, it comes with the territory. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Johnson clarified that his objective is not to make Christianity a national religion, but to foster a culture of love and peace, as guided by Biblical teachings.
He expressed a desire for his critics to understand his position better, stating that following the Bible’s teachings inherently promotes love and compassion towards others.
He emphasized, “If you truly believe in the Bible’s commands, and you seek to follow those, it’s impossible to be a hateful person because the greatest command in the Bible is that you love God with everything you had, and you love your neighbor as yourself.”
The criticisms took a harsher tone when Johnson was compared to extremist groups and a mass murderer.
A piece from the Daily Beast labeled him a “Christo-fascist,” likening his beliefs to those of the Taliban and “mullahs in Iran.”
Moreover, Bill Maher drew a parallel between Johnson and a mass shooter in Maine, which Johnson denounced as “disgusting” and “absurd.”
He expressed his outrage not just for himself, but on behalf of the broader Judeo-Christian community, stating, “Of course, our religion is based on love and acceptance. So, to compare that worldview with the Taliban, who seek to destroy their enemies, or with some deranged shooter who murders people is absolutely outrageous.”
Johnson acknowledged the inevitability of such criticisms in political leadership but expressed concern over the derogatory remarks aimed at many Americans who share his beliefs.
He remarked, “But what really hurts me is that it really is a statement about everyone who believes in this, that the country was built upon – our Judeo-Christian foundation is the heritage of our country.”
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