Tag Archives: Jesus

Conservative Christianity

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Life, Uncategorized

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I’ve been thinking about conservative Christianity lately.  I’ve been thinking that I don’t find it in the Bible so I wonder why it is such a big deal with politics and those professing to align with the “Christian-right” or “right wing evangelicals”.

Jesus was radical but not political.  That was much of the confusion of his day, that he was here to do business at the local/national level when he was here to do business at the spiritual/supernatural level.

He was off being tempted by Satan.

He was healing and forgiving people.

He was telling people who wanted to follow him to GIVE ALL they had.

It just seems a bit strange to me that a political movement today that evokes self-responsibility and “good stewardship” is aligned with Jesus who told stories about the Prodigal Son (forgive without limits), the Rich Young Ruler (give and give some more), the Lost Sheep (the one who needs the most help is important), the story of the workers (the guy who showed up last got paid the same amount as the guy who had been there all day).

In Acts 2 we find the church coming together daily and selling all their possessions and giving to everyone as they had need.  That doesn’t sound anything like the Republican Party’s evangelical platform to me.  It doesn’t sound like socialism either.  It sounds like a group of people who were compelled to act individually because of Christ’s love, mercy and grace.  They didn’t wait on the government to act on their behalf and they didn’t tell those who were in need to get a job…they just helped.  Again, we see a theme of Christ-followers giving and giving generously.

I can’t align politics, Christianity and conservatism.  At the same time I don’t align with the liberal politicians either.  While I don’t think they should take my money and force giving, I also don’t think politicians need to legislate Christian teaching.  Take Roe v. Wade.  You see, I’m naive enough to believe that if the church really loved on single women who were pregnant, we would see abortions go down.  If we saw the church start adopting these babies and loving on them I believe we would see abortions go down.  I guess I see love as the way to combat abortion instead of the Supreme Court.  The people who do this now are people who are compelled to act because of who Jesus is, not who has political power.

We could also talk about the poor and immigrants.  I have had the conversation already with others and there are many different views.  I always leave it with them as “what do you think Jesus would have to say about immigrants if you were having the conversation with him?”

I can’t align Christ-likeness and this thing called conservative Christianity in political circles.  I’ve tried but as I really study Jesus I cannot imagine him giving a hoot about our political scene and I’m even further from seeing him line up with Ted Cruz or anyone else using the banner of Christ for a political office.

Call me crazy.  Call me soft.  Call me whatever…just please do not call me a conservative Christian.

Grace and peace.

Outrage to Action

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Faith, Life

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It’s easy for me to see and analyze the world’s problems. I mean, they are all so obvious that it isn’t hard for me to see them and pick them apart.

Yes, I am that guy. I go to a retail store and I can pick apart the service or cleanliness or merchandising. Twenty years in retail will do that to you. I go to a restaurant and I can quickly analyze all the things they could do to serve me faster and better. Eating too much will do that to you. I can go to a car dealership, a movie, wherever, and I can quickly analyze the problems and come up with a list of solutions. I simply know what I like and think everyone should cater to me.

I can do it with churches too. And, best of all, I can do it with people. Yes, I have the ability to look around, see everyone’s problems and have answers for how they could all live better lives. As long as it doesn’t affect me of course. Or worse, cause me to look in the mirror.

I wrote a post recently about “the church’s” outrage at government and how misplaced I think it can be at times (see it here Outrage for What?). Here’s the thing with outrage. It’s a good emotion when it leads me to do something about it. You see, it’s when I take the outrage and do something about it that I gain credibility. Complainers are not credible people. Resolvers are credible people. Sure, complainers can stand on their soapboxes that look like pulpits or blogs or books or podcasts or social media and get noticed yet their complaining rarely resolves anything.

The other day, I ran across a blog post from 2003 and the writer was “debunking the myth of Mother Teresa.” He had reasons why she wasn’t really healing the sick or protecting the poor and he certainly blasted her for her Catholic faith. He gave examples of things she said and wrote to cast her as a non-Protestant at best and a non-believer at worst. As a bit of a radical in my faith tradition, I found myself agreeing with much of her thoughts the author was castigating and found others to be insignificant. He did mention some of what he reported was said or written in 1984. Oh my, if people went back 30 years on me to find out what I was up to they may bolt and chain the church doors to keep me out.

For a moment, I was outraged at the blog author and sat in my chair questioning what efforts he was making first-hand with the poor and sick. However, the longer I thought about it, the more I thought it was me who needed to examine myself for my outrage. What have I done recently to help the poor? How have I reached out lately to touch the sick?

I pray my outrage will continue as long as it drives me to right wrongs, to help others and to see with the eyes of God so I can be his instrument of peace and hope on earth.

Grace and peace.

This post was originally written and posted at Word For Today.

 

 

Emphasis His

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Christian Living, Faith, Life

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I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. – 1 Timothy 1:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

As I read the words of Paul, I am often thinking about how his words connect with me, how I connect with his sin.  As I read these words recently, I focused on what Paul states Jesus has done in his life, all that Jesus has poured into him (Paul).  It’s easy for me to be introspective about my faults but I do not focus enough on looking at what Jesus has and is doing inside of me.  As I emphasize the words of Paul’s writing in this section of scripture, it becomes more obvious to see the emphasis Christ puts on, and in, me.

Grace and peace.