"In our denomination are compassionate Christians. 'Compassionate conservatives' is an oxymoron. The Lord we serve is liberal in every way possible, abounding with peace and justice." -United Methodist Bishop Felton May
The above quote is one that I've been familiar with for a while now. I actually tried to see it as valid. But, something in me just kpet nagging and nagging. The more I look at it, the more it strikes me that this just misses the mark. Oh, I don't think Jesus would be a rank-and-file Republican today. And despite my Republican icon, I'm not exactly rank-and-file. I just think they suck less than the current bunch of Democrats in power right now, but that's another post for another day. Sort of.
You see, I think the quote above has a merit in that Jesus, in His Earthly Day, was liberal. He upset the status quo. He told the Pharisees and others, basically, "a new day is here, and I am it." But does that mean Jesus is liberal by today's standards and political dichotomy? I'm not sold on that.
Oh sure, I don't think Jesus is going to call for the harassment of homosexuals or women who seek abortions (though I am unashamedly pro-life). And to be fair, Jesus probably would not (or rather, does not) like the current practice of many businesses. But does this mean He would seek more government control over them? Would He do that? Would He seek to elect a government of men and women to raise taxes on the rich (even the greedy rich, too), only to have those same people pass around the excess wealth as evenly as possible?
I doubt it. Jesus wants us to help our neighbor, yes. But that's just it: He wants US to help our neighbor. Where we have and they don't, we give. That's the teaching He gave. He did not say "elect others to take from you and give to those in need." He told us to get off our lazy butts and go get our hands dirty, helping our neighbor in need.
That said, I don't see Jesus calling for government to regulate moral issues (even one as politically convenient as climate change). He calls us to follow Him, but never calls for us to elect others to make us follow His Way on issues, economic or moral. Perhaps Jesus would be Libertarian (not to be confused with anarchy). While there is good government can do, such as protect its people and offer recourse though law for wrongdoings and such, it is not the answer to life's every problem. In fact, it often is one part of many problems. But then, that will happen when you have people as imperfect as, well... people, running it.
Maybe Jesus was liberal in His day (earthly). Maybe not. Perhaps He is always libertarian, offering us the choice and freedom to let Him guide us, or for us to reject Him and His ways. While He sees a role for government (Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's...), He never told anyone to simply elect others to do our work for us.
Jesus wasn't born so Washington could get bigger or meddle in our lives more. Jesus was born to save and show us the Way. Sometimes that Way means we need to not expect a government to help our neighbor. And sometimes, it means living the moral life as best you can without expecting the government to criminalize your immorality.
The above quote is one that I've been familiar with for a while now. I actually tried to see it as valid. But, something in me just kpet nagging and nagging. The more I look at it, the more it strikes me that this just misses the mark. Oh, I don't think Jesus would be a rank-and-file Republican today. And despite my Republican icon, I'm not exactly rank-and-file. I just think they suck less than the current bunch of Democrats in power right now, but that's another post for another day. Sort of.
You see, I think the quote above has a merit in that Jesus, in His Earthly Day, was liberal. He upset the status quo. He told the Pharisees and others, basically, "a new day is here, and I am it." But does that mean Jesus is liberal by today's standards and political dichotomy? I'm not sold on that.
Oh sure, I don't think Jesus is going to call for the harassment of homosexuals or women who seek abortions (though I am unashamedly pro-life). And to be fair, Jesus probably would not (or rather, does not) like the current practice of many businesses. But does this mean He would seek more government control over them? Would He do that? Would He seek to elect a government of men and women to raise taxes on the rich (even the greedy rich, too), only to have those same people pass around the excess wealth as evenly as possible?
I doubt it. Jesus wants us to help our neighbor, yes. But that's just it: He wants US to help our neighbor. Where we have and they don't, we give. That's the teaching He gave. He did not say "elect others to take from you and give to those in need." He told us to get off our lazy butts and go get our hands dirty, helping our neighbor in need.
That said, I don't see Jesus calling for government to regulate moral issues (even one as politically convenient as climate change). He calls us to follow Him, but never calls for us to elect others to make us follow His Way on issues, economic or moral. Perhaps Jesus would be Libertarian (not to be confused with anarchy). While there is good government can do, such as protect its people and offer recourse though law for wrongdoings and such, it is not the answer to life's every problem. In fact, it often is one part of many problems. But then, that will happen when you have people as imperfect as, well... people, running it.
Maybe Jesus was liberal in His day (earthly). Maybe not. Perhaps He is always libertarian, offering us the choice and freedom to let Him guide us, or for us to reject Him and His ways. While He sees a role for government (Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's...), He never told anyone to simply elect others to do our work for us.
Jesus wasn't born so Washington could get bigger or meddle in our lives more. Jesus was born to save and show us the Way. Sometimes that Way means we need to not expect a government to help our neighbor. And sometimes, it means living the moral life as best you can without expecting the government to criminalize your immorality.
