No one politician or political party should claim ownership of the mantle of religious truth. But Ted Cruz has done so. His overtly theocratic candidacy includes this statement, as repeated in The Washington Post:

"It is exactly right that in terms of who I am, I am a Christian first," said Cruz. "I am an American second. I'm a conservative third. And I'm a Republican fourth. And I'll tell ya, there are a lot of Americans who feel the same way."

Being a Christian first and an American second is certainly Ted Cruz's perogative, though I would point him not to a Bible or The Constitution, but to the 2016 edition of What Color is Your Parachute? as a guide to whether he should run for President or Television Evangelist. Take the quiz, Ted.

Those of us who follow a traditional Christian calendar are currently on the sixth day of Lent, a time of reflection and self-examination, as well as self-denial. I have been reading an excellent series on Lent and Social Justice published by the Jesuit-sponsored Ignatian Solidarity Network. Their examination of Matthew 25 inspired this post.

For I was hungry and you gave me food….

Cruz plays huge politics with the food stamp program, not only dissing it for creating a culture of government dependency, but also propping up the lie that "illegals" get benefits from government food aid. "Cruz said that if he becomes president “we will end welfare benefits for those here illegally.” Which don't exist.

He flip-flopped on subsidies to factory farms in time for the Iowa Caucuses, tho. (Politico)

I was thirsty and you gave me drink…

Ted Cruz blamed the Flint Water Crisis on "far-left Democrats."

The Cruz campaign donated bottled water to anti-choice Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Flint to demonstrate “the pro-life values of Senator Cruz.”

A stranger and you welcomed me….

Again, total political opportunism when it comes to immigration, while at the same time his deportation plan can be summed up in three words: Worse Than Trump's.

In prison and you visited me….

Ted Cruz told Hugh Hewitt that most violent felons are Democrats. No, really.

Cruz can wave his so-called "Christian First" banner all he wants to, but it's a false flag (heh). Cruz is an opportunist. And Jesus said about such, "they preach, but they do not practice."

The author has a Master's Degree in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.