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Jesus Was Neither a Conservative Nor a Liberal
In response to a recent editorial that appeared in a local newspaper, which was titled "Jesus Is a Conservative", the scripture seem to suggest that Jesus was neither a conservative nor a liberal based on today's political definitions of conservatism and liberalism.
No label can describe Jesus (other than the fact that he is the Son of God who is the way, the truth and the life.) The only earthly label that comes close to telling us who Jesus was that he was a compassionate humanitarian whose influence and spirit remains as strong today as it was two thousand years ago.
Conservatives and liberals need to be aware that the constituents of Jesus were mostly poor people who had no status or position. Some were prostitutes who were searching for away out. Others were demon-possessed people reaching out for deliverance from a life of torment. The blind, the deaf and the lame who looked for hope and deliverance were also his constituents.
Jesus spent significant time with lonely and disenchanted widows who had no families along with little children who had no hope and women who had no status. These were the people Jesus ministered to. Jesus even put his hands on the runny soars of lepers (who were social outcasts) because his love knew no bounds.
Law and Order devoid of love and compassion was not the style of Jesus although he had a respect for the law when he said in Matthew 5:17-18 "17 Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18 I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved". (NLT)
Conservatives and liberals who have not reached a level of love and concern where they fairly share it to all persons regardless of race, color, or creed cannot wrap themselves in the cloak of Jesus without being hypocritical.
Conservatives and liberals must also remember that Jesus was not part of the establishment. He was critical of the organized religious institutions of his day. Jesus was a radical revolutionary who turned the world up side down because he loved somebody. He gave food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and hope to those who had no hope and he stood up for righteousness and justice, which in the end cost him his life.
Reverend Micheal J. Darby