Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is facing criticism after she shared a prayer for President Joe Biden.
On Monday, the account Patriot Takes shared a clip of Boebert speaking at a church.
“I know that Jesus said that he, that we would be blessed. But I just don’t know about this month,” the congresswoman said. “And Jesus is right there at the table with you. Saying, ‘What kind of conversation is this? Why are you talking like this? And why are you sad?’ Jesus, don’t you know we’re out of money? Covid’s hit. They shut everything down. Joe Biden’s president. We don’t know what to do, Lord.”
She continued, “That’s all right. We pray for our presidents.”
“You know, it says, ‘Let his days be few and another take his office.’ That’s why I filed the articles of impeachment for Joe Biden. Unfortunately, he does have a really great insurance policy named Kamala Harris,” she added.
Watch the video below:
A church congregation cheered as Lauren Boebert said she prays for Joe Biden's demise: "May his days be few and another take his office.”
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 6, 2023
Boebert then called Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s “great insurance policy.” pic.twitter.com/KzqT2RFdYb
One user named Mike Brand wrote, “What is wrong with this country??? How are people like this?”
What is wrong with this country??? How are people like this? https://t.co/nyAu4YfVNT
— Mike Brand🕊️💪🏼✊🏼 (@miketheidealist) February 6, 2023
Arkansas Senate hopeful Dan Whitfield tweeted, “Preaching at church for someone to die.. that’s new.”
https://twitter.com/DanWhitCongress/status/1622714437374279686
Sam Youngman tweeted, “Are all the moderate House Republicans we keep hearing about gonna condemn this?”
Are all the moderate House Republicans we keep hearing about gonna condemn this? https://t.co/Nn1jj2wnkf
— Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) February 6, 2023
Another user named Greg, tweeted, “There has been too much Right wing violence for any reasonable person to dismiss this as anything…other than an indirect assassination threat. Republicans want Joe Biden dead and 1/6 taught us that there’s an army of MAGA nuts willing to follow orders.”
There has been too much Right wing violence for any reasonable person to dismiss this as anything in my other than an indirect assassination threat. Republicans want Joe Biden dead and 1/6 taught us that there’s an army of MAGA nuts willing to follow orders. https://t.co/jVw4hRQ47n
— Greg 👻 (@waltisfrozen) February 7, 2023
The verse Boebert is quoting appears to be Psalm 109:8, which reads about an enemy, “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.”
The following verse adds, “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.”
It goes on in the chapter to call for the enemy’s children to become beggars and for his descendants to be “cut off.”
Presumably, Boebert is not calling for Biden to die and Hunter Biden and the rest of the Biden family to be made destitute. She did mention articles of impeachment, after all.
But while this was met with cheers and laughter, it is gross to take a part of the scripture and make it into a punch line.
And it is not in line with how the New Testament guides Christians to pray for government officials. In just one example, 1 Timothy 2:2 instructs Christians to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
This verse was written around the time the Roman Empire was feeding Christians to lions during gladiator matches or burning them as human torches.
Nothing in the Bible says Christians cannot express their true feelings and pray for a change of leadership.
But using a verse calling for someone to die, their children to become beggars, and their family line to die off is not a good look for Christians or Republicans. And it just adds to the list of examples for people to point to Christianity as a crazy religion.
You’re not going to win people over if your religion and party are seen as meshed together and praying for the death of our elected leaders because you do not like their fiscal or social policies.