Jesus: The Original Liberal

Many moons ago I wrote a blog called "An Open Letter to Ann Coulter" in response to her book "Godless: The Church of Liberalism". I was outraged as a Christian Liberal that she could suggest that we were, in any way, godless.

This is probably the single most offensive issue to me and one that I feel a personal duty to help eradicate. It's not a battle for the fainthearted. Where the elitist Left such as Bill Maher and his ilk look down their noses at me for having the "stupidity" to believe, the equally judgmental "Right" call my faith into question because I dare to dismantle their pious hypocrisy by using their very own Bible against them.

I take each blow willingly because I know where my faith was founded and my principles cannot be swayed by the likes of either of those groups. I am not, as too many modern American "religious" folks are, spiritually insecure. I could no more sway from my principles than forget to breathe.

Right is right. Wrong is wrong. And Jesus is Jesus. No matter who currently handles his PR.

Point of fact, the Christian values I have are what shaped and developed my Liberal/Democratic/Progressive point of view and have from a very early age. I was raised from the womb in the Southern Baptist church where I was "saved" by age 8 and baptized by age 12. I've read/studied the Bible (various translations, including KJV) for decades and the Jesus I know - if he had a party affiliation - would be more in line with the tenants of liberalism rather than the modern face of conservatism ala Fox "News".

This may come as a big surprise to the likes of Glenn Beck, who has now decided his view alone is the "true" version of Christianity. This must have been bolstered by the fact that people did actually show up at his rally and treated him more like a revivalist than a political talking head.

I personally feel he's not qualified for either position. Especially now that he claims that Obama's faith is a "perversion" of the tenants of Jesus and Christianity as, he put it, "most Christians" know it.

Unfortunately, technically, he has a point. The "Christians" he talks about do consider things like peace and diplomacy before war, inclusion to all and the common good over personal gain a "perversion" of Jesus and of Christianity.

They've trademarked a conservative warrior Jesus, who exclusively draws to him those who believe in holy war (a jihad, perhaps?), capitalism and sacrifice of choice... which is no sacrifice at all.

For some strange reason Beck and his 828 rally have cemented this new type of theology that mocks the very things in the Bible Jesus did. They decry victimization while becoming victims themselves. And Beck is all too wiling to become this voice of the radical fringe who need to mold God and Jesus into their own image rather than the other way around.

Inexplicably people who mean well have been scared or angered into twisting the Bible into things to justify bigotry and war and call it holy. It has nothing to do with Jesus anymore, as this behavior flies in the face of everything in which he ever stood.

There's a reason Conservatives are on a mission to change the Bible to make it less liberal. The gospels at their very heart are nothing but anti-capitalism, anti-war, pro-peace, pro-charity tenants that steal the thunder from under provocateurs like Coulter, Beck, Bush, Robertson, Dodson and all the others who have used believers' faith in God for their own selfish gain. They are not unlike the money changers in the temple, which is one of two instances where we see Jesus get angry in recorded gospel.

The other, not so ironically enough, was the strong words he had against the pious Pharisees, who led their sheep not with their own example but with manipulation and control. I dunno bout you, but I see a theme there.

This isn't just about abortion and gay rights (neither of which Jesus spoke anything about, incidentally). We've all been hoodwinked to believe that just one or two issues divide us - when in fact the literal definition of liberalism is simply this: "A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority."

Sounds pretty American to me. And given the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, it sounds like something Jesus could have supported as well, especially when it comes down to key party issues.

If you don't believe me, then perhaps you should take HIS word for it.

On the issues for which Conservatives generally ridicule Liberals:

Taxes:

Mark 12:

3 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" 15But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at him.

The Apostle Paul went one further in his letter to the Romans, saying:

Romans 13:7

Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.


On "Public Prayer"

Matthew 6:

5"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

6"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you



Capital Punishment vs Rehabilitation:

John 8:

1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" 6This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

On War, Diplomacy and Pacifism

Matthew 5:

9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.


43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

On personal wealth/capitalism:

Matthew 19:

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." 18He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" 21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

On Charity/Socialism/Taking Care of the Disadvantaged

Matthew 25

34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

On the "inclusion" of those considered wicked or sinners:

Luke 7:

37(W)And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

38and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were (X)a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

40And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."

41"A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred [b](Y)denarii, and the other fifty.

42"When they (Z)were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"

43Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

44Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you (AA)gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45"You (AB)gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.

46"(AC)You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

47"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

On the vocal "Moral Authority" and pious "Religious Right" of his day:

Matthew 23:

1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3so practice and observe whatever they tell you— but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

On judging others, for instance basing someone's godliness based on their religious or political doctrines:

Matthew 7:

1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

***

So as you can see, Jesus had some radical philosophies. Jesus was a revolutionary who challenged the status quo, and showed that no one was disposable... that mercy and grace were available to all. Even those the religious authority of that day either condemned or threw away.

This undermined the power of the Religious Leaders. So they stirred up the crowd until Jesus was murdered by a popular vote. Note it wasn't Pontius Pilate nor the Sanhedrin who ultimately decided. It was an angry, fearful, disillusioned mob.

Think about that next time someone uses your faith to make you scared or angry.

If you truly adopt the title "Christian" which simply means "Christ Like", then you must therefore adopt some of these radical, "socialist" ideals.

Love. Tolerance. Mercy. Forgiveness. Compassion. Charity. Without judgment and without begrudging your duty or sacrifice along the way.

Neo-Conservatives like Beck have tried to corner the market on morality by focusing on a few issues to keep us divided because that's the only way a small determined group can control the majority of their followers to essentially vote against their principles and their own self-interest. They have much to personally gain from this behavior and sadly it is all too effective.

That they do it based on fear and division then try to cloak it in evangelical sanctimony makes it even worse.

Before you question my patriotism or my faith, take a look at the man in whom most of those beliefs were founded. If you have a problem with it, take it up with Jesus.

It is said that Liberal Democrats want "socialize" our country. I charge that far more threatening than "spreading the wealth" and ensuring an equal America for everyone is the contrasting idea of fascism... which is a system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Sound familiar?

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis.