# What exactly is Rep. Tom DeLay saying or implying with this Bible verse quote? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353 "2005-01-06T05:58:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/1 "2005-01-06T05:58:08Z")
It couldn’t be what it sounds like re implying this is some act of God punishing non-Christians. That’s jut too ignorant and arrogant to be believed. [Choice words…](http://amcop.blogspot.com/2005/01/choice-words.html) > [@](#): > > This (Tuesday) morning at 9am, C-SPAN had a live telecast of the 109th Congressional Prayer Service from a church on Capitol Hill. There were some sentiments shared about the recently-passed Bob Matsui and Shirley Chisholm, and, amidst the scripture readings, reminders from a few Congressmen about the Christian foundation of our government. Others spoke of the Asian tsunami tragedy. > > Then Tom DeLay gets up to the pulpit, and – striking a beautiful note in light of the 150,000 dead from the floods referenced by his colleagues – lets loose with some Matthew 7, beginning at verse 21. > > (Many thanks to ben for the heads up on the exact wording, and to DemWatch for directing us to this transcription of the reading and MP3.) > > Saith DeLay: > > "A reading of the Gospel, in Matthew 7:21 through 27. > > Not every one who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven; but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. > > Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? > > “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, you evil doers.’” > > Everyone who listens to these words of mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man, who built his house on a rock: > > The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew, and buffeted the house, but it did not collapse; it has been set solidly on rock. > > And everyone who listens to these words of mine, but does not act on them, will be like a fool who built his house on sand: > > The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew, and buffeted the house, and it collapsed and was completely ruined." > > He finishes reading, says nothing more, and sits back down. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/2 "2005-01-06T06:35:40Z")
> [@astro](#): > > It couldn’t be what it sounds like re implying this is some act of God punishing non-Christians. That’s jut too ignorant and arrogant to be believed. You don’t have much experience with smug fundamentalists, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/3 "2005-01-06T07:10:14Z")
Ah, but wasn’t that quote connected with the whole Sheep and Goats thing? Where those who treated others as they would want to be treated were let into Heaven, and those who didn’t but just went around saying, “God-Jesus-Lord-Hell-Bible” were told to take a hike? Hmmmm… DeLay has to go down soon. He’s just screwed over way too many people-one of these days, it’s gonna come back to bite him in the ass, and it looks like that day’s coming soon. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/4 "2005-01-06T14:26:21Z")
Well, either he couldn’t have felt too bad about it or he’s just a publicity shill and disaster tourist, because he’s coming here next week. This week we’ve had Frist and Landrieu, Secretary Powell tomorrow, Kofi Annan and Jim Wolfensohn on Saturday, plus three congressional delegations ,the commander of Pacific Command and the undersecretary of defense next week. What’s that curse again , “may you live in interesting times?” ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/5 "2005-01-06T16:27:49Z")
I think he’s saying, “I am a dick.” But we already knew that. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/6 "2005-01-06T16:32:32Z")
> [@False\_God](#): > > Well, either he couldn’t have felt too bad about it or he’s just a publicity shill and disaster tourist, because he’s coming here next week. What would we have to pay you guys to keep him? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/7 "2005-01-06T18:23:41Z")
How touching. It reminds me of his response to the Columbine shootings > [@](#): > > “Our school systems teach the children that they are nothing but glorified apes who are evolutionized [sic] out of some primordial soup.” So maybe God killed all those people in the tsunami because he was taught evolution in our public schools. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/8 "2005-01-06T19:03:05Z")
I think he was saying what I think **Guinastasia** was saying he was saying. I’m just saying. IOW, DeLay is repeating the warning of Jesus, that we might say we are His followers, but we need to follow thru, by doing what He tells us. So we may **say** that we are Christians, but if we don’t follow thru (in this case, by helping the victims of the tsunami), we aren’t really Christians. I don’t think DeLay was talking to the tsunami victims. He was talking to the US. I think. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/9 "2005-01-06T19:17:54Z")
Once again, **Shodan** : > [@](#): > > And everyone who listens to these words of mine, but does not act on them, will be like a fool who built his house on sand: > > The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew, and buffeted the house, and it collapsed and was completely ruined." The floods, and ruined houses, and the people killed, were in the Indian Ocean rim, not the US. For the most part, they were people who were aware of Christianity but weren’t Christians. It’s clear what DeLay meant, rot him and all his fellow smug hypocrites. If he had instead meant to encourage Christians to help the victims, there are many words of Christ available that make the point directly and succinctly. You’re not obliged to jump to the defense of everyone who shares the same claim to party affiliation, ya know. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/10 "2005-01-06T20:33:37Z")
Clearly he disagrees, **Elvis.** ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/11 "2005-01-06T21:20:44Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I think he was saying what I think **Guinastasia** was saying he was saying. > > I’m just saying. > > IOW, DeLay is repeating the warning of Jesus, that we might say we are His followers, but we need to follow thru, by doing what He tells us. So we may **say** that we are Christians, but if we don’t follow thru (in this case, by helping the victims of the tsunami), we aren’t really Christians. > > I don’t think DeLay was talking to the tsunami victims. He was talking to the US. > > I think. > > Regards, > Shodan That is not at ALL what I said. I believe he was deliberately LEAVING OUT what Jesus said about helping others. He was indeed implying that the victims got what they deserve. You ARE familiar with Tom DeLay, right? The man is a mean, petty, spiteful SOB. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/12 "2005-01-06T22:35:51Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > That is not at ALL what I said. > > I believe he was deliberately LEAVING OUT what Jesus said about helping others. He was indeed implying that the victims got what they deserve. > > You ARE familiar with Tom DeLay, right? The man is a mean, petty, spiteful SOB. Well, my apologies for misunderstanding you. I think you are mistaken about what DeLay was trying to say. If you have any evidence that he was saying what you think besides “I hate him”, feel free to trot it out. Sorry to interrupt today’s Two Minute Hate. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/13 "2005-01-06T23:15:14Z")
The very fact that there is confusion about what the troglodyte (Tom DeLay, that is) was saying tells me he has no idea what he was saying or implying. He was just energizing his Conservative base. They really don’t care what he was saying; they only care that he quoted from The Bible. That proves he is a God-Fearing Christian Warrior who is On Their Side. Or, he was changing the headlines to distract the American people from the ethics mess he is currently involved in. He is in no danger of being voted out of office, so he can afford to get the Liberals’ collective panties in a twist while garnering support in his home district. Or, he’s just a dick. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/14 "2005-01-06T23:29:35Z")
It’s a weird passage to pick, if he’s not trying to be a jerk. The first part of that passage is often used to illustrate that it’s more important to live like a good person, helping those in need, even if you don’t go around saying “God this, God that,” as **Shodan** alluded to. But you only need the first three verses for that - not all the stuff about the flooding and storms. And then, if your point _is_ that we need to step forward and act like good people, you need to say that when you finish reading - not just say nothing, and then sit right back down. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/15 "2005-01-07T01:00:10Z")
Moving this from IMHO to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/16 "2005-01-07T01:29:20Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, my apologies for misunderstanding you. I think you are mistaken about what DeLay was trying to say. If you have any evidence that he was saying what you think besides “I hate him”, feel free to trot it out. > > Sorry to interrupt today’s Two Minute Hate. > > Regards, > Shodan Once again, you totally get me wrong. I am not saying that I based my opinion of what he said on the fact that “I hate him”. I recently read _The Hammer_. If you READ this book, you’ll see it’s totally a part of his character. He made his career out of stepping all over people, of going after others in a very nasty, vindictive way, just for crossing him. He is also a very hardcore fundamentalist follower of the _Left Behind_ stripe, who pretty much believes that non-Christians will be “punished” by God. I am basing my opinion on what I’ve read of him, and what I have heard come out of his own mouth. But you believe what you want. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_the\_Plumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Jake\_the\_Plumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_the_Plumber)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/17 "2005-01-07T01:38:56Z")
_blinks_ Wow. What a complete dick. I hope that Buddhism is the true faith and he ends up reincarnated as a farmer’s favorite goat. Seriously, Christians need to be more picky in who they let speak for them… > [@](#): > > And everyone who listens to these words of mine, but does not act on them, will be like a fool who built his house on sand Ooh, at least that did remind me to put House of Fog and Sand on my Amazon wishlist. I’ve been neglecting that for months. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/18 "2005-01-07T01:42:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, my apologies for misunderstanding you. I think you are mistaken about what DeLay was trying to say. If you have any evidence that he was saying what you think besides “I hate him”, feel free to trot it out. > > Sorry to interrupt today’s Two Minute Hate. > > Regards, > Shodan There are plenty of passages in the Bible that note that we must demonstrate charity and good acts that don’t mention people’s houses getting destroyed by mother nature. As people have noted, it’s pretty hard to think of a passage like that, read in the context of a disaster like this, and not immediately assume that the people who get destroyed in the same way as the tsunami victims are being associated with the tsunami victims. If I were to read a passage like that (aside from the fact that I’d pick another passage to avoid misunderstanding) I would probably be careful to explain that that wasn’t what I meant. And let’s be frank here: DeLay’s paricular wing of religion most certainly does believe that sinners and those who outrage God will reap God’s wrath. It may not be politic to come out and say it (and there is lots of groaning about this PC world preventing it from being said without outcry), but that’s not an uncommon or “out-there” belief from DeLay’s neck of the woods. So it’s far from impluasible that he might be toeing the line in this case. There are lots and lots of people in his constituency who would quite litterally consider him brave and a true Christian for coming out and saying something like that. In this case, I would think the burden is on him to explain what very much seems to be a reference to people getting what they deserve. Hey and wow, I could end my post to you with a dismissive insult! But, I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/19 "2005-01-07T01:43:29Z")
**Jake** , I’m putting your up for the coveted Newbie of the Month Aware. You’ll do. Yes, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353/20 "2005-01-07T01:53:01Z")
“Award”, that is [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-rep-tom-delay-saying-or-implying-with-this-bible-verse-quote/283353.md?page=2)