http://WhatWouldJesusThink.info/AboutGoodnewsOfJesus-1
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or for )|
How can a "Christian" be Conservative, when Jesus Christ was so revolutionary ? Only by ignoring much of What Jesus himself identified as his most important teaching ! |
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There are kudos re: this article
at bottom of page.
Introduction :
When Jesus himself proclaimed
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| According to Luke 4:18,
this is the way Jesus introduced himself to the world: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that the blind shall see, that captives shall be released and the downtrodden shall be freed (i.e. liberated) from their oppressors." | |
Soon, thereafter, Jesus expanded on that definition in similar words addressed to his cousin and fellow preacher, John "the Baptist" :
" When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them."
It would take many centuries and many sources to produce today's fully developed liberalism, but what a shame that, instead of kindling the flame lit by Jesus, and identifying with the poor, the oppressed and the out-cast, so-called "Christianity" has devoted most of its energy over the centuries to promoting itself while identifying with the rich and the powerful (which, in our view, is the very essence of Conservatism) !
The reason that we "Liberals like Christ" are so proud of these words of Jesus is that so many centuries before the word was even dreamt of, these words of Jesus anticipated the ultimate definition of liberalism. There have always been advocates for the liberation of certain groups of people, usually by members of those persecuted groups. However, the concept of "liberalism" that we "liberals like Christ" embrace and promote, is a much more advanced form of "liberation" that has emerged after many centuries, namely one which moves people to strive to liberate not because they are members of such groups themselves, but simply because those groups deserve to be liberated from their oppression.
Ever since the so-called "conversion" of the pagan Emperor Constantine, in 312 A.D. however, Christianity has often become involved in a mutual embrace of the rich and the powerful. And as part of the bargain, Jesus "Good News to the poor" has been reduced to nothing but a promise to the brokenhearted, the captives and the downtrodden of relief in "the next life". And anyone who argues that what Jesus intended was relief in this life has been made out to be a troublemaker, a "rabble-rouser", a "heretic" or, more recently, a "communist".
We have learned from experience that we cannot assume that the reader knows what we mean when we use the terms "liberal" vs. "conservative", which is why we created www.LiberalvsConservative.Org, which is arguably the best breakdown of the true distinction between those competing terms that you will find anywhere.
Compare this matter, if you will, to the eye-test chart that optometrists use to check the accuracy of your eyes. Whereas most people have only a fuzzy idea of what they and others mean when using the terms "liberal" vs. "conservative", after studying that unique website of mine, you will have 20/20 vision, so to speak, about the precise meaning of those extremely important terms, and the way people should use them.
What does "Christian"
conservatism have to
do with Jesus Christ?
"Conservative" Christian preachers promote belief in a very stern God, whose partiality to some people in this world was such that he instructed them in the Book of Joshua to kill - not just fighting men - , but women and babies as well, in order to give their lands and communities to his favored people. Such preachers believe that passages like the ones we highlight at WhatkindofGod.org represent the "Word of God".
We "liberals like Christ", on the other hand, believe that Jesus of Nazareth knew God better than most, and we can't imagine him identifying with a God who would say, as Hosea claims that he did (Ch. 13:16) : "Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped open."
"Conservative" Christian preachers promote the belief that what is important to God is what "little people" think and do privately. The more "private" their thoughts and actions, the more these preachers are ddriven to pry into them. We liberals like Christ, on the other hand, believe that Jesus and many of the other great prophets of the Bible were not nearly as interested in private matters and in people's "private parts" as with public matters. The four gospels largely ignore the thirty or so years of Jesus' own private life and they concentrate instead on the three years of his public life. They either relate his public statements or relate the constant battle that Jesus was engaged in from the very moment that he opened his mouth to challenge the people of great wealth and power of his day, and to proclaim "good news for the poor", until the moment that these people had him executed in order to close that mouth and have his message suppressed. (Actually, if you believe Matthew, the first chapters of the first gospel tell us that King Herod viewed Jesus as a political threat even before Jesus was born, and therefore did his best to kill him while he was still a toddler !)
Although Jesus of Nazareth showed little interest or concern about most mundane issues and about sexuality, today's "Christian Conservatives" claim to speak for Christ on the basis of what they imagine that Jesus might say about such matters. Since Jesus hasn't said much for almost 2000 years, these self-proclaimed spokesmen for Jesus treat him like an inanimate object, a puppet in effect, and they claim to know the answers for all kinds of "What would Jesus do or say?" questions. That is why, in the absence of any proof to support their views, Christian Conservatives were so sure in years past that :
- Jesus would disapprove of dancing, singing, playing cards, wearing bathing suits, viewing motion pictures and drinking any and all alcoholic beverages;
- Jesus would disapprove of playing pianos or organs in churches, because Conservatives assumed that because these musical instruments were mainly played in saloons and brothels, they had to have been created by the devil;
- Jesus would also disapprove of indulging in ice cream treats on Sundays ( which is why this popular Sunday treat had to have its name changed ever so slightly to "sundae" ).
- Jesus would disapprove of masturbation and homosexuality;
- Jesus would disapprove of family planning (birth-control) and abortion, (but NOT slavery, or segregation because good Conservative bible-scholars could find passages with which to defend those practices ) !
In early 2006, I discovered a great web site which lays out the "Christian beliefs" of the heartland of U.S. conservatism, the Old South, and I quote a great deal of this web site on a page I call, LiberalslikeChrist .Org/BibleBeltChristianity.html. Typical of most Christian Conservative sites, while claiming to present "Christianity" this entire lengthy site quotes Jesus himself exactly one time!
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We "Liberals Like Christ", on the other hand, base our beliefs about Jesus on what the Gospels tell us Jesus actually said about God, about himself, and about what he and/or God expects of us, his followers. We invite those "Conservatives" who really want to conserve the teaching of Jesus, to reflect on precisely what Jesus taught and how he illustrated the true meaning of his words by his actions.
the second of Jesus'
greatest commandment
is very liberal :
In response to the question, "Sir, which is the most important command in the laws of Moses?" Jesus explicitly identified his and the Bible's highest priorities :
"This is the first and greatest commandment: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.'
The second most important is similar: 'Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.'
All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others."
this is one of Jesus'
most liberal sermons:
While so-called "Christian Conservatives" are fond of saying : "Charity begins at home," that is about as far from the teaching of Jesus and the Bible as one can get. In his "preview of the Last Judgement", Jesus spells out what he means by "loving" one's neighbor, what it entails, and in the process, he makes it clear that loving neighbors who are hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, imprisoned, or otherwise afflicted is what matters to him, not loving those in, or close to, our own families, neighborhoods, or country - which as he points out elsewhere everyone does naturally.-
"When I, the Messiah, shall come in glory, and all the angels with me, then I
shall sit upon my throne of glory. And all the nations shall be gathered
before me. And I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats, and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at
my left.
Then I, the King, shall say to
those at my right, "Come, blessed of my Father, into
the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.
For I was hungry and you fed me;
I was thirsty and you gave me water;
I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes;
naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison,
and you visited me."
Then these righteous ones will reply,
"Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?
Or thirsty and give you anything to drink?
Or a stranger, and help you?
Or naked, and clothe you?
When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?"
And I, the King, will tell them,
"When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!"
Then I will turn to those on my left and say,
"Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his demons.
For I was hungry and you wouldn't feed me;
thirsty, and you wouldn't give me anything to drink;
a stranger, and you refused me hospitality;
naked, and you wouldn't clothe me;
sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me."
Then they will reply,
"Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and not help you?"
And I will answer,
"When you refused to help the least of these my brothers,
you were refusing help to me." And they shall
go away into eternal punishment;
but the righteous into everlasting life."
[ For those tempted to make an issue of "right" vs, "left", keep in mind that it is the left side of a courtroom who are at the judge's "right hand".]
The conservative commentary below on this important passage of the Gospels is an excellent example of the way so-called "compassionate conservatives" often rationalize their fundamental disagreement with the liberal teaching of Jesus, and heap contempt on the poor instead of assistance :
"That is a terrific passage, but if we are to deal with it fairly we
need to understand that today's poor in the United States are the
victims and perpetrators of illegitimacy and abandonment, family
non-formation and malformation, alienation and loneliness and
much else - but they are not suffering thirst, hunger, or nakedness,
except by choice, insanity, or parental abuse. |
that riches are "blessings" from God,
according to Matthew 5: 2-12 (below),
Jesus proclaimed the very opposite.
the following sermons
of Jesus are all quite liberal :
"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up
the mountain; and his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak,
and he taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'
for righteousness, for they will be filled.
they will be called children of God.
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who went before you."
Conservatives sometimes quote "Blessed are the poor in spirit" to poor people as reason for them not to seek relief from their poverty (at the expense of those more prosperous than themselves). But if Jesus considered poverty itself to be desirable, why would he have urged those afflicted with wealth to share that 'affliction' with those not so afflicted? Isn't it much more likely that when Jesus said
` "Blessed are the poor in spirit", he meant blessed are those who are content with a minimum of material possessions, in contrast to those who are never content with what they have, but are always trying to accumulate more and more, and fighting every effort made to tax them for the benefit of the poor and the needy?
We offer still other great insights about "blessings" in our separate www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/a_Religious_Issue/blessings.html page.
In another of his powerful parables, God sends the
man "blessed with riches" (in the eyes of Conservatives) to hell,
while God sends the poor "loser", Lazarus, to heaven,
( just because the one was rich in this life, and the other was poor!)
"One day Lazarus, a diseased beggar, was laid at the door of a rich man's
house. As he lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table,
the dogs would come and lick his open sores. Finally the beggar
died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the
righteous dead.
The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went into hell.
There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.
'Father Abraham,' he shouted, 'have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if
only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am
in anguish in these flames.' But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember
that during your life-time you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had
nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish."
Is this parable relevant only to rich vs. poor individuals? Or does it relate to the rich Christian nations vs. the many extremely poor nations of this world? What if God cares enough about the multitude of poor people in this world to hold us "Christians" with vastly more wealth than the rest of world responsible for our neglect of those unlucky enough to have been born on the "other side of the tracks" ?
"And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to
come to you from here is stopped at its edge; and no one over there can cross to us.'
Then the rich man said, 'O Father Abraham, then please send him to
my father's home - for I have five brothers - to warn them about this
place of torment lest they come here when they die.' But Abraham
said, 'The Scriptures have warned them again and again. Your brothers
can read them any time they want to.' The rich man replied, 'No, Father
Abraham, they won't bother to read them. But if someone is sent to
them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.' But Abraham
said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen
even though someone rises from the dead.'
Note that despite the remarkable similarity between Jesus' parable about the rich man and Charles Dickens' parable about Scrooge, Dickens is far more optimistic about the prospects for the repentance and salvation of the rich than is Jesus. In contrast to Scrooge, whom Dickens portrays as being moved by the ghostly apparitions to repentance and redemption, the Gospel holds out no such hope for its wealthy villains. On the contrary, the Gospel insists : "If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, ( which the rich man admits is true of his five brothers ), they won't listen even though someone rises from the dead."
When Jesus was asked to clarify what the second of the two great commandments was all about, he explained in one of his the most important parables, that action speaks louder than words, and that GOD is not fooled by professions of faith, nor by what may appear lack of faith. What GOD appreciates and expects in people is a good heart which moves one to "love others as one does oneself", and to "do unto others what one would have others do unto them". Jesus went out of his way, in his "Parable of the Good Samaritan" to point out that GOD often finds what he is looking for, not in churchy people who hold the right "beliefs", but in "non-believers" who do the right "works".
Whoever called this the parable of "the Good Samaritan",
may have missed the point, because Jesus didn't just
highlight the genuineness of the one non-believer.
He contrasted that charitable behavior to the phoniness of the two religious leaders. Why not refer to this as "the parable of the Faithless Churchmen"?
"One day an expert on Moses' laws came to test Jesus' orthodoxy by asking him
this question: "Teacher, what does a man need to do to live forever in heaven?"
Jesus replied, "What does Moses' law say about it?" "It says," he replied, "that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself." "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you shall live!"
But, wanting to justify himself, the man asked, "Which neighbors must I love?"
And Jesus replied with an illustration:
"A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, and beat him up and
left him lying half dead beside the road. By chance a priest
came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other
side of the road and passed him by. A temple-assistant
walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on.
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But a despised Samaritan* came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed
his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man
on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where
he nursed him through the night. The next day he handed the
innkeeper two silver coins and told him to take care of the man.
"If his bill runs higher than that," he said, "I'll pay the difference
the next time I am here."
"Now which of these three," Jesus asked, "would you say was a neighbor
to the bandit's victim?" The man replied, "The one who showed him some pity."
Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."
One of the best ways to see how far fundamentalist ideas are from the teaching of Jesus is to compare their idea of what is "fundamental" to what Jesus considered fundamental or crucial. And that is what we do in great depth at our challenge.html page.
Testimonials I received re: this page
I really like the new layout of your web site.
I sent the page to a friend and she thanked me and loved it. She was very happy to have something to share with her Republican family and friends. Keep up your good work.
Clara
Testimonials I received re: this page
Subject: Liberals Like Christ
Hi Ray,
"I am not a Christian, but I respect and admire your web site because of the honest attempt to represent the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I have fought hypocrisy all my life and find your fight for the same to be inspiring."
Mark R. from Dallas, Tx
Subject:Liberals Like Christ
Dear Ray,
" I cannot tell you how much your website has changed my life in the past two days. I just read the testimonials site, and unlike most of those people, the ideas were new to me. I cannot believe that I thought it was right to not care about the poor and sick.
After finding your site, I read the Gospel with new eyes only to find that what I have been thinking was not from Jesus. . . . Your website has been like a punch in the stomach that knocked my breath out, one that I needed! I now realize why chasing a big business job and acquiring possessions were not panning out for me. In the past two days, I think about Jesus's teaching all the time and have found so many ways to help my family, friends, and others in need that I would have overlooked for less important endeavors.
This will be a bit challenging, since I was once in College Republicans and have shaken George W. Bush's hand! I really didn't realize the indifference to helping those who are in need that the G.O.P. represents. . . I now realize how our priorities are messed up. Can you believe how much value America puts on fashion, cars, plastic surgery, etc. when only 1 out of every 100 people in the world have a computer! I am guilty of it too, but I am changing."
- Leanne ( a young adult in Illinois )
" Subject: THANK YOOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!
Dear Ray,
"I only discovered your website a couple hours ago and have been reading non-stop, and will continue to do so. I just wanted to express my utter and sincere gratitude to you for having the guts, compassion, and intelligence for putting up such an outstanding website in the face of so much opposition. It is so wonderful to finally find a place that identifies just about every single one of my core ideals and beliefs and more for me to learn!
It is a horrible thing to think you are completely alone, when just about everyone around you, and then the majority of your own country on top of that, accept and practice truly cruel and unjust deeds. . I have been saying for most of my short life (I'm only 18) that love is the answer, that Jesus never said a single word about hatred or greed, unless it was in opposition to it. But there are so few that believe that love is the true way, the only way this world can ever be fixed. Regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, age, etc., love is the only way we can unify and make this sad world a wonderful place.
I am going to tell every one of my friends about your website, and furthermore, all those I stand in opposition to. I don't know how many people I can help see that love is the true answer, but maybe your website will help me in doing that.
Thank you so much, and keep up the good work.
S. K. (in Georgia)
Subject: Liberals Like Christ
Dear Ray,
"I was raised a 'hard-shelled' Baptist and Republican. However, as I got old enough to think for myself, I kept questioning my parents about the conflicts between Republicanism and what our church taught about Jesus' love and forgiveness, as well as his 'liberal' attitudes toward helping others, and the problems of wealth presented in the Bible. (Today I'm neither Baptist nor Republican, but I am an active church member at a much more liberal church and I'm an independent (unenrolled) voter who leans Left most of the time.)
"The discovery of your web site was so extremely satisfying because it concisely and intelligently says so many of the things I've thought for many years. I truly appreciate the good work you've done."
Alex B., Massachusetts
Subject: Religious Menu
"Ray, a warm hello to you!
I am over-joyed happening upon your website. A minister, I have been deeply disheartened and given pause by the proliferation of hate, oppression and injustice that we are seeing today. I more often than not now times, find myself on the same playing field - asking the same tough questions many who seek counsel ask. I feel led to Liberals Like Christ. I am finding hope for my concerns, peace in place of frustration, and I feel rejuvinated in spirit and strength. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for the uplifting and ministry-saving context of your much needed, sought-after message of truth and inspiration derived from LLC's material.
Your steadfast and ardent committment to making your web pages virtually available to all seekers of truth and light is equally inspiring and appreciated. In the words of my favorite prayer : "Thank You, God" !
Cordially In Christ,"
John ( a Dr. of Divinity and Pastoral Counselor in Tenn. )
And "Subject: LiberalsLikeChrist.Org
Dear Ray,
"I happened upon LiberalsLikeChrist.org today through a series of links, through articles and blogs on the web. I'm certain you must be swamped with messages from relieved and vexed humans every day, but, to add to the cacophany, I wanted to say thank you.
From the heart of a very agnostic American woman this thanks comes. Your site is infomative, balanced, and brimming with such compassionate reason that I actually wept. I was brought up strictly Lutheran, and have been struggling my entire life with the contrasts between the beautiful, peaceful ideologies I was taught and the burning hatreds I always overheard and sensed throughout the church community. Your words bring me great joy and relief. I am humbled in knowing that there are people still left who live well, who are ethical and who find the peace and true meaning in Christ's teachings. You are a comfort and geat source of inspiration to many, I am certain. May your words continue to reach out to those who are lost, aching and searching for signs that their God still lives and loves and cares for them.
Again, thank you for what you are doing and for what you have already done.
Sincerely,"
L. D. (30 y.o. single parent, industrial buyer, advocate for reason - southern Indiana)"
"I just found your website today and am very glad that something like this is out on the web. Thank you so much for making it.
I'm currently working for the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries as a short-term social justice missionary. Through the program which is much like Americorp,
I'm working at (a University) as Social Justice Coordinator in the campus ministry program. I tell ya, I'm really sick of the Christian Right which seems to have the dominant Christian voice these days. I'm very scared that the true spirit
and teachings of Jesus is quickly being lost and forgotten.
Thanks again for the website, I've forwarded it to all my friends."
- Adam B., (the state of Washington ).
Thomas Gilbert in T-2
Hi Ray !
" How are you? Congratulations on your website! It just gets better and better every time I visit.
To me, "Christian" means following the teachings of Jesus Christ. There are precious few in this day and age who do that. HE taught acceptance (not exclusion), forgiveness (not vengeance), kindness (not vindictiveness), generosity (not greed), gentleness (not hostility), love (not hate). It is clear, therefore, that Judas Goats (intent on leading the flock astray) abound in these times. It's wonderful to encounter those who emulate the ways of Christ, as opposed to those who hide behind his name to shield them as they perpetrate their acts of treachery.
I'm so glad I ran into you out here in cyberland, Ray. Keep it up! Take care."
Peggy
"Your site looks great! It's always refreshing to know that I'm not the only person who defines him/herself as liberal AND Christian.
Sadly, many people consider Christian and conservative one in the same. The conservatives have made "Liberal" a dirty word and liberals have not defended it. And as "liberal" lost its glory, "conservative" gained a glory it doesn't deserve. A friend of mine, who calls himself a conservative, can't explain--and is probably completely unaware of--the "values" embraced by the conservative faction.
I often feel like I'm fighting a losing battle, trying to explain that liberal and Christian are not mutually exclusive. Maybe this discussion will clear up some of the myths about the liberal position and bring it back into the mainstream.
Jeanne N.
Subject: A heartfelt "thank you" from the UK
"Dear Ray,
As an expat American living in London who constantly has to defend America against (legitimately) angry Brits, I am so unbelievably thankful for your Liberals Like Christ website.
Now I have somewhere to direct my friends so that they understand we are not all venal warmongers intent on wreaking havoc whenever and wherever it is in our economic interest to do so.
Please keep your website updated and topical as it is a place I intend to visit often and look forward to a further exploration of your views.
Kind regards,
Tricia (in London, England)
Subject: Liberals Like Christ
"Ray, I have just finished navigating your site. It is awesome!!! Everyone in America needs to read what you have posted and your carefully thought out Christian arguments. I have e-mailed links to everyone I know. I was raised in the Southern Baptist church and my early exposure was not pleasant. All I remember is a vengeful frightening God who promised eternal hell for non-believers. My spiritual beliefs today are now a mixture of (liberal) Christianity and Buddhism.
Thank you for this website,"
T.D.R. (Age 62, Texas)
Subject: (from the evaluation form of) Liberals Like Christ site
(excerpts)
Christian-other = I am a Jesus Christ follower - I do not believe in any denomination.
Leaning = Very Liberal
Time spent = a few hours
Content-other = I LOVE, LOVE this site! So much to look at! More Christians should look at this site and deeply read into this - I believe this site is a Godsend! This will also help non-believers see what Christ was really like and become more interested in true Christianity!
or about Ray's sites in general, on his Testimonials page.)
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