Speaking at a Christian Family Camp Meeting last weekend, Lauren Boebert, U.S. representative for Colorado's 3rd congressional district, revealed her mangled interpretation of Christ’s crucifixion:
“On Twitter, a lot of the little Twitter trolls, they like to say, ‘Oh, Jesus didn’t need an AR-15, how many AR-15s do you think Jesus would have had?’” The Colorado congresswoman added, “Well, he didn’t have enough to keep his government from killing him.”
(Matt Lewis. “On Guns and Jesus, Lauren Boebert Is a Complete Ignoramus.” Daily Beast. June 17, 2022.)
Boebert's incredibly twisted Christian understanding likely stems from a view that has gained popularity during the Trump era: the hunger for a political savior. And, this view supports a savior who will smite the enemy while overlooking the spiritual imperative of changing hearts while wearing a crown of thorns.
A historical parallel? Writer, blogger, podcaster, and columnist Matt Lewis writes …
“Indeed, most of Jesus’s disciples were anticipating a savior who would rule over Israel and liberate them from Rome. Today, a lot of evangelicals are making the same mistake. They are so desperate for a political savior that they are missing the real-life spiritual savior.
“Some are attempting to Trumpify Jesus—to change Him instead of letting Him change their hearts. Others are steering their passionate adoration toward an earthly king: Donald Trump. This, of course, is a form of idolatry.
“This trend is being perpetuated by Trump disciples like Boebert, who advance this perversion of the faith – and by Christian organizations who baptize this warped worldview when they give it a platform.”
(Matt Lewis. “On Guns and Jesus, Lauren Boebert Is a Complete Ignoramus.” Daily Beast. June 17, 2022.)
Lauren Boebert Arming Up
Boebert's Unsettling View
First, Boebert assumes that Jesus wanted to prevent his own crucifixion. Second, as Jesus told his disciples, he could have summoned “twelve legions of angels” to save himself and kill his captors. He didn’t. And the idea that Jesus simply needed more firepower denies one of the central tenets of Christianity – which is Christ’s divinity and omnipotence.
Boebert, as a Christian believer, should be thankful that Jesus did not take the easy way out of an excruciating death. As Jesus said, “how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled?”
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."
Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
– Matthew 26:47-57
Far-right Lauren Boebert supports Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, voted to overturn its results during the Electoral College vote count, and supported the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Boebert opposes measures intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and posted misinformation related to face masks and COVID-19 vaccines. She opposes transition to green energy, abortion, sex education, sex-reassignment surgeries for minors, and non-heterosexual marriage. She supports an isolationist foreign policy and minimizing immigration to the United States.
In short, she is both a conspiracy theory nut who has faced calls for House censure over her offensive remarks and a terribly misguided gun-rights activist – one of so many in Congress.
On January 5, the day before the storming of the United States Capitol, Boebert urged people to "remember these next 48 hours,” saying they would be among the most important in American history. The next day, in the hours before the Capitol was attacked, she compared the upcoming assault to 1776, a reference to the American Revolutionary War.
(Catie Edmondson, Luke Broadwater. "Before Capitol Riot, Republican Lawmakers Fanned the Flames.” The New York Times. January 12, 2021
Some of Boebert's gun-love shenanigans …
On January 1, 2021, in a letter co-signed by more than 80 Republicans, Boebert asked Speaker Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to uphold the 1967 law exempting members of Congress from a Capitol Hill ban on firearms, which allowed them to keep arms in their offices.
After saying that she planned to carry a gun while working on Capitol Hill, Boebert published a viral video advertisement showing her placing a handgun in a hip holster and walking through the neighborhood, near federal buildings and through alleys.
(“Republican Lauren Boebert vows to carry handgun to Congress". BBC News. January 5, 2021.)
On January 5, Boebert refused a bag check after she set off the newly installed Capitol Hill metal detectors, and entered the Capitol. She did the same on January 6, refusing to stop for a wand check after she set off the metal detector. Boebert called the metal detectors "just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi.”
(Rachel Brodsky."Congresswoman Lauren Boebert 'was in stand-off on Capitol Hill after refusing bag search.'” The Independent. January 12, 2021.)
A New York Times profile of Boebert characterized her actions as "a made-for-Twitter moment that delighted the far right." The article said that although she had only been in Congress for a few days, she had "already arranged several episodes that showcased her brand of far-right defiance as a conspiracy theorist" and that she "represents an incoming faction of the party for whom breaking the rules—and gaining notoriety for doing it—is exactly the point."
35-year-old Boebert has been a born-again Christian since 2009. She evidently has zero tolerance for other religions. In September 2021, Boebert told attendees at a Republican fundraiser that she and an aide were joined by Democratic representative Ilhan Omar on a Capitol elevator and that Boebert then said to her aide, "it's the Jihad Squad ... She doesn't have a backpack, she wasn't dropping it and running so we're good.” Also that month, Boebert called Omar "a full-time propagandist for Hamas" and an "honorary member of Hamas.”
(Andrew Kaczynski. "Another video shows Lauren Boebert suggesting Ilhan Omar was terrorist.” CNN. November 30, 2021.)
Conclusion
Christian representatives who believe in gun-toting saviors, conspiracy theories, and full-blown hatred – why are these people elected? The truth is they represent a sizable ultra-conservative constituency that – according to organizers of the Family Camp Meeting at Charis Christian Center in Colorado Springs – “have proven God's word.”
I'll close with a little more information about this holy lady from a June 14 report …
“Rootin’ tootin’ Lauren Boebert’s primary in Colorado is right around the corner. That’d be June 28 to be specific, and she sure grew awfully quiet (practically sticking her head into the sand) after fellow far-right incendiary Madison Cawthorn was unseated during his North Carolina primary. That loss went down largely due to GOP embarrassment after the American Muckrakers PAC devoted themselves to his political demise and leaked damaging videos to that effect. The group then announced their intent to unseat Boebert as well. That’s led to a fraud investigation about how Boebert concocted astronomical campaign write-offs, and it’s not over yet.
“We’ve also heard Boebert’s ex-employees airing grievances, including accusations of missing paychecks while Boebert allegedly splurged on breast implants, and now, there’s an even more disturbing set of allegations involving bodily harm.
“News of how she allegedly caused a serious auto accident (and fled the scene) will likely not go over well in Boebert’s district. The accident in question (dug up by the Muckrakers) involved Boebert reportedly (according to Daily Mail) crashing an ATV (which “careened down a ravine and smashed into a rock face in Moab, Utah”) mere days before her 2020 primary. She allegedly fled to save her own political tush, leaving her own son (and her dog) behind, and her former sister-in-law (Tori Hooper) was seriously injured.
“The accident, which was never reported “
(Kimberly Ricci. “Lauren Boebert Has Been Accused Of Covering Up A Serious Injury-Causing Accident Days Before Her 2020 Primary.” https://uproxx.com/viral/lauren-boebert-allegedly-accident-coverup/. June 14, 2022.)
Isn't this what you expect from Lauren Boebert? According to the Colorado Times Recorder, Boebert participated in a 2021 town hall in Montrose, Colorado, where she was asked about Democratic figures at the center of the "Deep State" myth – including a number of former directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Hillary Clinton – and whether or not they would be held accountable for their unspecified crimes connected to the QAnon conspiracy.
Before hearing the rest of the question, Boebert spiraled into a frenzy with a bizarre theory about the upcoming primary. "I'm going to answer part of this," she said, interrupting the man as he demanded Democratic leaders be held accountable for their so-called crimes. "Yes…I sure hope so."
"So we are seeing a lot of ugliness uncovered, a lot of corruption exposed," Boebert then said as she expounded on the man's frivolous claims. "But I believe that we are going to start seeing gifts and callings of righteous men and women exposed to counter all of this. Gifts that have remained dormant on the inside of people are going to start rising up. People are going to start filling these positions that they never saw themselves in, doing their part to serve their country."
Boebert went on to insist that she has "good sources" who are allegedly "in very close contact with President [Donald] Trump" confirmed that what she is saying is "really good information."
(Meaghan Ellis. “Lauren Boebert's latest bonkers conspiracy theory has Twitter users convinced she is losing it.” https://www.alternet.org/2021/03/lauren-boebert-2651152161/. March 20, 2021.)
And, we all know there's nothing like confirmation from the great Republican Evangelical savior to justify …
QAnon theories and
COVID bleach miracle cures and
Claims that wind farms that cause cancer” and
“It might not be my voice on the Access Hollywood” tape” and
Big Lie claims that a massive conspiracy robbed him of a second term.
“Trump rather imagines his constituents as a beleaguered us who have faith that they will be saved by a powerful, supremely willfull you: Donald Trump.
“That power is condensed in his sneering, shouting, unrehearsed and uncontrollable voice, in his fabulous and flashy money, in his fecundating phallus, in his fists ready to take on the disruptors, in his guns ready to take out the enemies. It is manifest in his refusal to advertise: He does not need to be spoken for; he does not need to seduce. People will come to him, the real man. He is not a messager; he is the message, an angry will to be great again. Drawn from the rural and ex-urban workers who have not thrived in the new global America, his supporters feel that absence of greatness is as much about them as it is about their country. They have been left-behind.”
– Roger Friedland, Contributor HuffPost
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