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Tony Perkins and the Gospel of Punishing the Poor

Tony Perkins and the Gospel of Punishing the Poor

Last updated on: June 18, 2025 at 3:45 am by Stuart Delony

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Tony Perkins and the Gospel of Punishing the Poor 2025-06-03T16:12:11-04:00 Stuart Delony

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A satirical graphic with a red textured background featuring the bold yellow-orange text “HOLY AUDIT” on the left, a distressed white cross in the center, and a grayscale image of Tony Perkins on the right with a stern, disapproving expression. The design evokes religious propaganda with a critical tone.

DALL-E

Tony Perkins is the kind of man who could watch someone drown and offer them a laminated Bible verse instead of a rope. If there’s a spiritual gift of sanctimonious cruelty, he’s got it in spades—and he’s not shy about sharing. His latest sermon-disguised-as-policy-pitch is a reminder that when white Christian nationalism gets bored, it turns to kicking the poor.

In a piece titled “Absent Truth, Fairness in Health Care Is Compromised”, Perkins pulls out his well-worn trick: cherry-pick a few Bible verses, toss in a healthy dose of right-wing talking points, and pretend Jesus would co-sign gutting Medicaid. It’s a tired routine, but like a megachurch sermon, it keeps the checks rolling in.

Let’s break it down.

When in Doubt, Misuse the Bible

Tony opens by quoting Isaiah 59:14—“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street…” Which is rich, coming from a guy who’s turned truth into a political speed bump. But scripture, in Tony’s hands, isn’t about context or compassion—it’s a weapon. A blunt object used to beat the public into submission while preserving the status quo for the powerful.

Then we get Paul’s classic line: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Great. So now we’re building national health policy off an ancient rant directed at a few freeloaders in a small Thessalonian church. If that feels like theological malpractice, it’s because it is. Jesus healed the sick. Tony Perkins wants to audit them first.

“Waste, Fraud, and Abuse” — The Holy Trinity of Conservative Deflection

Perkins trots out Ohio as a cautionary tale: too many people on Medicaid, some with assets, some undeserving (according to state metrics and LexisNexis, naturally). He spins it as a crisis of fairness—because God forbid someone with $100k in the bank gets cancer and lives. But Perkins isn’t interested in nuance. His job is to stoke resentment, not solutions.

Funny how concern for fraud only ever seems to pop up when someone poor might get a lifeline. Meanwhile, billionaire tax cheats remain blessed and highly favored.

Let’s Be Honest About What This Is

This isn’t about justice. It’s not about truth. And it’s definitely not about Jesus.

It’s about punishment. Perkins and his ilk don’t see government programs as safety nets—they see them as moral hazards. To them, poverty is a sign of personal failure, illness a test of grit, and help a form of coddling. They’re not trying to fix systems—they’re trying to teach the poor a lesson. One that somehow always ends with fewer benefits, more hoops, and a lecture from someone with a six-figure salary and a Jesus fish on their SUV.

This is the gospel of rugged individualism with a Jesus sticker slapped on. It’s bootstrap Christianity—where grace is conditional and the Sermon on the Mount is just liberal propaganda.

Perkins Doesn’t Care About People—He Cares About Power

Let’s not pretend this is theological. Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council, which sounds like it should be running bake sales but instead operates as a policy mill for theocratic authoritarianism. His job isn’t to shepherd people—it’s to protect privilege. To weaponize faith for political gain. To make sure the church keeps its seat at Caesar’s table—even if it has to sell out the entire message of Christ to do it.

And the real tragedy? Millions of Christians still think this is what faith looks like.

Final Benediction

Tony Perkins doesn’t preach the gospel. He preaches austerity with a halo. He’s the prosperity gospel’s petty cousin—fixated on punishing those who don’t pass his purity tests. And if Jesus showed up tomorrow healing the sick without checking their tax returns, Tony would be the first one yelling “socialist” from the temple steps.

But sure—tell us more about “truth,” Tony. Just don’t expect us to call it justice.

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About Stuart Delony

I’m Stuart Delony, a former pastor who walked out of the church but couldn’t shake the ways of Jesus. These days, I host Snarky Faith—a podcast and platform that wrestles with faith, culture, and meaning from the fringe. I’m not here to fix Christianity. I’m here to name what’s broken, find what’s still worth keeping, and hold space for the questions that don’t have clean answers. If you’ve been burned, disillusioned, or just done with the noise—welcome. You’re in good company. You can read more about the author here.

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