Senator Babet is a public figure who relentlessly beats the drum of Christian values, presenting himself as a stalwart defender of the faith. Yet, his rhetoric reveals a troubling superficiality – an apparent failure to grasp the profound theological and historical currents that define Christianity, currents that flow from the Hebrew Bible and are fulfilled in the New Testament, particularly the four canonical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Hebrew Bible, widely regarded as the most influential book ever written, underpins not only Judaism but also Christianity and, indirectly, Islam, shaping Western civilisation in unparalleled ways. To critique Senator Babet’s stance, we must first examine the Hebrew Bible’s enduring legacy, then explore how the Gospels build upon it, and finally contrast this rich tradition with the senator’s shallow interpretation of Christianity.
The Unmatched Influence of the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible’s influence is singular, dwarfing even the most revered religious texts like the Quran, the Vedas, or the Buddhist sutras. For over two thousand years, it has remained a sacred text to roughly one third of the world’s population, a testament to its enduring power. In the West, its impact is especially profound, addressing humanity’s deepest questions: How should we live? Where did we come from? Where are we going? Its answers – rooted in monotheism, covenant, and a purposeful sense of history – have shaped Western culture more than any competing vision.
The Hebrews’ greatest contribution was their religious sensibility, particularly their rigorous monotheism: the belief in one God, creator of all, who is the source and guardian of righteousness. This idea evolved gradually, as did the concept of creation ex nihilo (from nothing), but both were firmly established by the Common Era, leaving an indelible mark on Western theology. The Hebrew ethic of righteousness and compassion further transformed moral thought. Virtues like kindness and justice, now axiomatic in Western ethics, stem from this tradition, though other ancient cultures – like the Greeks, who valued honor and wisdom – offered alternative visions.
The Hebrew sense of history is equally revolutionary. Unlike the cyclical, static worldview of the Greeks or most ancient societies, the Hebrews saw time as linear and meaningful, driven by a covenant with God. This covenant – a divine contract with the Hebrew people – implied a beginning (Creation), a trajectory (divine guidance), and a future (redemption). From this emerged the Western notion of progress, a concept alien to antiquity but foundational today. The Hebrews’ emphasis on the Torah and literacy reinforced their influence, likely granting them the highest literacy rate in the ancient world and ensuring their ideas endured.
Historical Context: A Library of Resilience
The Hebrew Bible is not a single book but a one-volume library, blending myth, law, history, and poetry. Its earliest traditions, like the flood narrative in Genesis, echo ancient Mesopotamian tales, predating a distinct Hebrew identity. With Abraham’s story in Genesis 12, the text shifts toward proto-history. Scholars date his migration from Ur to Canaan to the early second millennium BCE, followed by Joseph’s descent into Egypt and the Exodus under Moses around 1250 BCE. These events, though theologised, root the text in a tangible past.
Hebrew history is one of resilience amid peril. Sandwiched between Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Canaanites, they adopted kingship – first Saul, then David, who united the tribes around 1000 BCE, and Solomon, who built the First Temple. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom fractured into Israel and Judah, succumbing to Assyria (721 BCE) and Babylon (586/587 BCE). The Babylonian Exile tested their faith, but their return under Persian rule in 538 BCE reaffirmed their covenantal identity.
The Gospels: Fulfilling the Hebrew Legacy
Christianity emerges as a fulfilment of the Hebrew Bible, with the four canonical Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – serving as its narrative and theological core. Each Gospel builds on the Hebrew foundation, reinterpreting its monotheism, ethics, and historical vision through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. To understand Senator Babet’s disconnect, we must examine how these texts embody Christianity’s essence.
The Gospel of Mark: The Urgent Messiah
Mark, the earliest Gospel (circa 70 CE), presents Jesus as the suffering Messiah, fulfilling Hebrew prophecies like Isaiah 53. Its terse, action-driven narrative – lacking a birth story – emphasises Jesus’ miracles and authority, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection. Mark’s Jesus is deeply tied to the Hebrew covenant: he declares, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15), echoing the Hebrew expectation of divine intervention. His compassion – feeding the 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44) or healing the marginalised – reflects the Hebrew ethic, while his death fulfills the Suffering Servant motif. Mark’s focus on urgency and sacrifice contrasts sharply with Babet’s often triumphalist rhetoric, which lacks the humility and service central to this Gospel.
The Gospel of Matthew: The New Moses
Matthew, written around 80-90 CE for a Jewish-Christian audience, casts Jesus as the new Moses, fulfilling the Torah. It begins with a genealogy linking Jesus to Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1-17), grounding him in Hebrew history. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) amplifies the Law – “You have heard it said… but I say to you” – elevating righteousness and compassion beyond legalism. Jesus’ fulfilment of prophecy (e.g. born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, in Matthew 1:23) ties him to the Hebrew Bible’s messianic hope. Matthew’s emphasis on ethical living – loving one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:39) – challenges Babet’s narrow focus on cultural battles, which often sidelines the Gospel’s universal call to justice and mercy.
The Gospel of Luke: The Universal Saviour
Luke, also dated to 80-90 CE, targets a Gentile audience, portraying Jesus as the savior of all humanity. Its narrative – rich with parables like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) – extends the Hebrew ethic of compassion to outsiders, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham that “all nations will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Luke’s Jesus champions the poor and oppressed (Luke 4:18-19), echoing the Hebrew prophets’ cries for justice. The Gospel’s historical framing, with precise references to Roman rulers (Luke 2:1), aligns with the Hebrew sense of purposeful time. Babet’s exclusionary tendencies clash with Luke’s inclusive vision, ignoring the Gospel’s call to embrace the marginalised.
The Gospel of John: The Divine Word
John, written later (90-110 CE), offers a theological reflection, presenting Jesus as the eternal Word (Logos) made flesh (John 1:1-14). Rooted in Genesis’ creation narrative – “In the beginning” – John ties Jesus to the Hebrew God who spoke the world into being. His “I am” statements (e.g. “I am the bread of life,” John 6:35) echo God’s self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 3:14), affirming monotheism. John’s focus on love – “A new commandment I give you: Love one another” (John 13:34) – deepens the Hebrew ethic, while his cosmic scope (salvation for the world, John 3:16) fulfils the covenant’s universal promise. Babet’s rhetoric, often divisive, misses John’s emphasis on unity and divine love.
Senator Babet’s Disconnect
Senator Babet’s persistent invocation of Christianity suggests a deep commitment, yet his approach betrays a superficial grasp of its roots and Gospel expressions. Christianity is not a standalone ideology, but a fulfilment of the Hebrew Bible’s monotheism, ethics and historical vision, as seen in the Gospels. Where the Hebrew Bible and Gospels emphasise compassion, righteousness and universal hope, Babet’s public stance often veers toward exclusion, retribution, and cultural tribalism – positions at odds with the faith he claims.
Take Mark’s Jesus, who sacrifices for others, or Matthew’s, who reinterprets the Law with mercy. Babet’s drumbeating rarely reflects this humility or ethical depth, instead favoring political posturing. Luke’s inclusive compassion – for Samaritans, sinners and the poor – contrasts starkly with Babet’s focus on narrow cultural issues, which often excludes rather than embraces. John’s call to love and unity is similarly absent from Babet’s rhetoric, which leans toward division rather than reconciliation.
The Hebrew covenant frames humanity’s relationship with God as a mutual commitment, demanding righteousness for divine favour – a theme the Gospels amplify. Jesus’ life from Mark’s urgent ministry to John’s divine revelation, embodies this ethic, calling believers to love, serve, and seek justice. Babet, however, reduces Christianity to a banner for his agenda, missing its transformative essence. His failure to engage the Hebrew Bible’s depth or the Gospels’ breadth suggests he beats the Christian drum without hearing its full rhythm.
Conclusion
The Hebrew Bible’s influence – its monotheism, ethics, and sense of history – remains unmatched, shaping Western culture and finding fulfilment in the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each reinterpret this legacy, presenting Jesus as the Messiah who completes the covenant, extends compassion, and offers salvation to all. Senator Babet, in his relentless championing of Christianity, wields its symbols without grasping its substance. True Christianity, rooted in the Hebrew tradition and Gospel witness, demands righteousness, mercy, and love – not mere sloganeering. If Babet is to beat the Christian drum, he must first attune himself to its melody, one that echoes from the ancient Hebrew texts through the voices of the four evangelists, guiding humanity toward a hopeful, meaningful future.