GOP Gospel: The Good Shepherd

Day 10 of my Lent project. For background, please read this.

A reading from the Gospel according to the GOP:

"Each person must have the freedom of their will, and thereby the freedom to suffer the consequences of poor judgment. If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, why should he leave the ninety-nine on the mountains to go in search of the one that went astray? These ninety-nine trust the shepherd to protect them from the wolves and lions. A shepherd who would endanger the greater wealth of his flock – the good sheep who have done nothing to deserve endangerment – to go search for the one wayward sheep, is a poor shepherd. Indeed, the wayward sheep's lifestyle choices will reap their reward; it is not the shepherd's job to save it from its own stupidity, but rather to ensure the wellbeing of the flock, which will be a stronger and more successful flock for losing its stupid, self-destructive members. When the shepherd and his flock later come across the carcass of the sheep, devoured by lions, the shepherd will say to his sheep, 'Look you, this is why we do not leave the flock.' The will of your Father in heaven is for the sheep to obey the shepherd, and the sheep which contradicts his will, disavows the Father, and casts itself into the outer darkness, from which it will not be saved."

( Matthew 18:10-14 )

I saw this short film on an airplane once, and thought it the most perfect satirical illustration of this side of the Conservative character:

Watch on YouTube