LABELS AND MEDALS
They carry the labels like a trophy or a gold medal. The labels of Conservative Christian or Right Wing Christian seem to be badges of honor, much the same way, Liberal Christian or Progressive carries the same badge of honor.
The problem I have with either title is how to define them. The right, or conservative love to take the bible literally. “If the bible says it, I believe it, so be it. The world was created in seven days, the bible says it, therefore it must are true.” However, when one looks closely at the bible and especially the words that Jesus is to have spoken very seldom does he take things
or speak in a literal sense. His words are poetry, often exaggeration and parables. It is hard to take a story literally. Even some of his statements, he didn’t expect people to take literally. For example take the ones about your hands causing you to sin or eye causing you to sin and foot causing us to sin. If we are to take it literally many churches would be half, blind, in need of a helping hand, jumping on one foot. He obviously over stated to make his point.
So if we follow the definition of being conservative, those who label themselves thusly are actually liberal in their interpretation of much of Jesus’ teaching as most of the BIble. They insert what is not there, which is much of the accusation they make of liberals.
On the other side, the those who are labeled or call themselves liberals, do the same in an opposite form. They claim that the bible states that none of it is to be taken literally and therefore the interpretation can be what we decide. This happens because of all the biblical criticism realizing that most of the red lettered words Jesus didn’t say, but are rather the words of the early church. They too cherry pick what they like and exclude the verses that do not speak to them. They push social action and responsibility. But rarely looked at are the verses that say it is time to work on one’s self or look within. If anyone has something against you, fix it first before you bring your gift to the alter. Jesus said the kingdom is within so look there for what you need to know.
The liberals quote versus too. They really like Matthews’ as you did it to the least of these, the prisoners, the thirsty, the naked, the hungry is a favorite. Jesus being with the poor, the prostitutes and tax collectors, (while said is often not emulated) reminds us what we are to be about. Looked at and if followed it sound much like the conservatives. So we must wonder if liberals are conservative and conservatives liberal. Much like our cultural situation these days we have assimilated in the church nationalism. We only see two sides and war between them as to whom is more Christian. Yet both stances seem to miss the mark.
If Jesus were to be asked was he more conservative or liberal he most likely would laugh and shake his head. You have missed the point. One the one hand he always broke the rules of the sabbath, he broke the cleanliness laws, touching and eating with cast away people. But he also reminded his hearers that the sabbath was still a thing to be kept holy, that the law of Moses was not to be thrown out but followed.
Perhaps what is missing and what he is trying too bring to us is a third way of seeing and doing. It is not either or but both liberal and conservative and more. It appears that Jesus was bringing about a new alternative to the back and forth. He was offering a way through the bipartisanship to being in the kingdom where both have their place in a new form. The form would be that of community. A place where the common good was lifted higher than tax breaks for some, a people who understood that if justice is denied anyone, it is a threat to justice being denied to all. A vision where all people could sit under their own fig tree and enjoy the fruits of their labor, and then come together for a huge potluck to share the bounty of God.
The labels of conservative and liberal are a regression into the working of the state. It is hard to define what each really is. What is being offered however is a different voice outside the rhetoric that we have been taught for so long. How difficult it is to accept it, to believe that it can be true. But then that is the way Jesus taught and the way that he lived. No wonder they killed him, he didn’t know how the game was to be played. He changed it too much. And until we see it, the blind will remain blind, the lame will remain lame, and we all will fight and struggle for that which does not bring life. We are close, however, to seeing the new, the alternative that is offered when we can let go of our medals and labels and be born in to a new vision