Thursday, April 21, 2005
Jesus, I-Nazareth?
Christians on the Right tend to think "Jesus, R-Nazareth," to follow the nomenclature of partisan politics in this country.
Christians on the Left tend to think "Jesus, D-Nazareth." (I'm generally with them.)
A lurker friend offered this observation via e-mail (and I do NOT know why he won't leave a comment hisself once in awhile!)
ER,
While reading the various postings on your board tonight, I thankfully
recalled that Jesus stayed away from the "partisan politics" of his day.
He was, however, "conservative" when it came to holding our sins against
us.
He was "liberal" in displaying his love for all mankind and freely
sharing his compassion to those in physical and spiritual need.
Grace and peace,
Lurker
Yes. Well, it goes without sayin' that Jesus was a better man than I am. Partisan politics do add spice to life, don't it? :-)
--ER
Christians on the Left tend to think "Jesus, D-Nazareth." (I'm generally with them.)
A lurker friend offered this observation via e-mail (and I do NOT know why he won't leave a comment hisself once in awhile!)
ER,
While reading the various postings on your board tonight, I thankfully
recalled that Jesus stayed away from the "partisan politics" of his day.
He was, however, "conservative" when it came to holding our sins against
us.
He was "liberal" in displaying his love for all mankind and freely
sharing his compassion to those in physical and spiritual need.
Grace and peace,
Lurker
Yes. Well, it goes without sayin' that Jesus was a better man than I am. Partisan politics do add spice to life, don't it? :-)
--ER
Comments:
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Trixie, you have misread my friend's use of "conservative." He meant it in the dictionary sense, not today's current political sense. In other words, Jesus, as God, could have poured forth his holy wrath on the sinners around him, but he was conservative, that is, careful and limited, in the use of said wrath. At least, that's my reading of my friends play on words. :-)
I agree with you on that, ER. The words conservative and liberal seem formed in the non-political sense.
And the last sentence by PastorTimothy is a fantastic sign for all, I think. "When we are all living in obedience to Him, our politics fall aside."
But how many of us are living in obedience to Him? Read the "Christian" hate of certain authors of the spewings of some people write -- even on this blog -- and you wonder about our obedience.
Partisan politics has its place. It makes for fantastic debates and strong lawmaking and comical reading. But in my heart and soul, extreme right-wingers and extreme left-wingers focus too much on their "beliefs" and not enough about the people surrounding them.
A longtime lawmaker and close friend told me recently that he's long served the Democratic party and long supported its causes. But with his increasing age, he sees the world has changed around him. Ultra-liberals are more the norm in his party of choice. If he were to sign up for a party now, he ventures to guess he'd be classified as a moderate Republican -- "which is what a Democrat used to be."
And as a lifelong Democrat, he sought to serve the people first. Never once did he check the box at the top of the ballot. Never once did he vote for someone just because of the "D" next to his name.
Too bad more people aren't like him, including me.
And the last sentence by PastorTimothy is a fantastic sign for all, I think. "When we are all living in obedience to Him, our politics fall aside."
But how many of us are living in obedience to Him? Read the "Christian" hate of certain authors of the spewings of some people write -- even on this blog -- and you wonder about our obedience.
Partisan politics has its place. It makes for fantastic debates and strong lawmaking and comical reading. But in my heart and soul, extreme right-wingers and extreme left-wingers focus too much on their "beliefs" and not enough about the people surrounding them.
A longtime lawmaker and close friend told me recently that he's long served the Democratic party and long supported its causes. But with his increasing age, he sees the world has changed around him. Ultra-liberals are more the norm in his party of choice. If he were to sign up for a party now, he ventures to guess he'd be classified as a moderate Republican -- "which is what a Democrat used to be."
And as a lifelong Democrat, he sought to serve the people first. Never once did he check the box at the top of the ballot. Never once did he vote for someone just because of the "D" next to his name.
Too bad more people aren't like him, including me.
Follow-up from my friend:
Yes, ER, you were right on in your interpretation of my little
play on words. The "conservative" nature I see in God relates to
biblical references that acknowledge His being "slow to anger" and the
description of perfect love in Paul's letter to the Corinthians as
"keeping no record of wrongs."
There were, as you know, plenty of political movements in Jesus' day,
and there was always pressure on the Lord to be a part of that. Barrabas
was involved in one of the more radical sects.
I did not intend to say this should prohibit us from enjoying our own
modern-day political pursuits.
I was more trying to point out Jesus wasn't out leading a petition drive
for better treatment from the Roman authorities. When it comes to
partisan politics, I don't believe he picks a political party any more
than he would pick a side in a football game.
He is, however, on the side of people -- all people -- and calls
believers to see to their physical and spiritual needs just as He did
personally when he walked the Earth.
Grace and Peace,
Lurker
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Yes, ER, you were right on in your interpretation of my little
play on words. The "conservative" nature I see in God relates to
biblical references that acknowledge His being "slow to anger" and the
description of perfect love in Paul's letter to the Corinthians as
"keeping no record of wrongs."
There were, as you know, plenty of political movements in Jesus' day,
and there was always pressure on the Lord to be a part of that. Barrabas
was involved in one of the more radical sects.
I did not intend to say this should prohibit us from enjoying our own
modern-day political pursuits.
I was more trying to point out Jesus wasn't out leading a petition drive
for better treatment from the Roman authorities. When it comes to
partisan politics, I don't believe he picks a political party any more
than he would pick a side in a football game.
He is, however, on the side of people -- all people -- and calls
believers to see to their physical and spiritual needs just as He did
personally when he walked the Earth.
Grace and Peace,
Lurker
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