I have always been intrigued with this question, "If Jesus were alive today and living in America, how would He vote? Would Jesus vote with the Liberals? Or would He go with the Conservatives instead?"
For some Evangelical Christians, the question is clear cut. "Of course, Jesus would vote________", they say. So these brothers and sisters in Christ, do such things as conduct voters drives and voters registration in their church buildings. Others are much direct: They endorse one candidate over another. Some pastors make it clear by their words, which way they want their church members to vote. Even more bluntly, some preachers tell their parishioners in so many words, "I don't see how you can be a Christian and vote for so and so."
To me, the answer to the question, "How would Jesus vote?", is not that cut and dry. Not that I'm chicken, or don't want to take a stand. It's just that from the written accounts (Gospels) we have of Jesus in the New Testament, we cannot give one certain answer to the question, "Was Jesus Conservative or Liberal?"
The record shows that on moral issues, Jesus was clearly Conservative. Jesus believed in a standard of right and wrong set forth by God. He did not shy away from using the word "sin" for bad behavior. In some of His parables, Jesus recommended doing business for profit. He preached about Heaven and Hell. Jesus believed there was only one way to God, and He claimed to be the way, the truth and the life. Jesus believed in a literal resurrection of the body. Like a conservative, Jesus believed in creation and in God as the Creator.
Yet on social issues, Jesus remained Liberal. He saw part of His mission as liberating the oppressed of society. His compassion drew Him to the poor. He never spoke one word in favor of war. Instead, He taught His followers to turn the other cheek, to overcome evil with love.
At times, Jesus blended His Liberal and Conservative sides in perfect balance. One example was when He asked the woman accused of adultery, "Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?", and the woman answered, "No one, Lord." Jesus told her, "Neither do I condemn you; from now on, sin no more." The Liberal Jesus did not condemn the woman, but the Conservative Jesus called her behavior "sin", which she needed to stop.
When it came right down to partisan issues, Jesus decided to be Independent, choosing only to represent the Kingdom Of God, which is higher than our politics. Throughout His life, Jesus did not allow Himself to be pinned down by the parties within Judaism. He refused to choose sides with the Conservatives (Pharisees) or Liberals (Sadducees). They asked Him if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman government; He answered, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and give unto God what is God's." When some people told Jesus that Herod was planning to kill Him, He replied by calling Caesar "that fox". Governor Pilate asked Jesus at His trial, "Are you a king?" Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world."
What's my point? Simply this: Anyone who claims to follow the Jesus of the Gospels will find it hard to remain just a Liberal or Conservative in every election cycle. The politics of Jesus requires us to search our hearts every time, forcing us to stake our hopes not on any particular party or candidate but on the Lord and His Kingdom. I wish that on Election Day, the options were as simple as which candidate is pro-choice or pro-life, which candidate has compassion or lacks compassion for the poor. But frankly the Lord has not made it that easy on me, though I respect those who think otherwise. So I cast each vote, with the faith that Christ will be well pleased with me. And if He's not, well, then I'll just have to throw myself on His mercy...once again.
For some Evangelical Christians, the question is clear cut. "Of course, Jesus would vote________", they say. So these brothers and sisters in Christ, do such things as conduct voters drives and voters registration in their church buildings. Others are much direct: They endorse one candidate over another. Some pastors make it clear by their words, which way they want their church members to vote. Even more bluntly, some preachers tell their parishioners in so many words, "I don't see how you can be a Christian and vote for so and so."
To me, the answer to the question, "How would Jesus vote?", is not that cut and dry. Not that I'm chicken, or don't want to take a stand. It's just that from the written accounts (Gospels) we have of Jesus in the New Testament, we cannot give one certain answer to the question, "Was Jesus Conservative or Liberal?"
The record shows that on moral issues, Jesus was clearly Conservative. Jesus believed in a standard of right and wrong set forth by God. He did not shy away from using the word "sin" for bad behavior. In some of His parables, Jesus recommended doing business for profit. He preached about Heaven and Hell. Jesus believed there was only one way to God, and He claimed to be the way, the truth and the life. Jesus believed in a literal resurrection of the body. Like a conservative, Jesus believed in creation and in God as the Creator.
Yet on social issues, Jesus remained Liberal. He saw part of His mission as liberating the oppressed of society. His compassion drew Him to the poor. He never spoke one word in favor of war. Instead, He taught His followers to turn the other cheek, to overcome evil with love.
At times, Jesus blended His Liberal and Conservative sides in perfect balance. One example was when He asked the woman accused of adultery, "Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?", and the woman answered, "No one, Lord." Jesus told her, "Neither do I condemn you; from now on, sin no more." The Liberal Jesus did not condemn the woman, but the Conservative Jesus called her behavior "sin", which she needed to stop.
When it came right down to partisan issues, Jesus decided to be Independent, choosing only to represent the Kingdom Of God, which is higher than our politics. Throughout His life, Jesus did not allow Himself to be pinned down by the parties within Judaism. He refused to choose sides with the Conservatives (Pharisees) or Liberals (Sadducees). They asked Him if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman government; He answered, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and give unto God what is God's." When some people told Jesus that Herod was planning to kill Him, He replied by calling Caesar "that fox". Governor Pilate asked Jesus at His trial, "Are you a king?" Jesus replied, "My kingdom is not of this world."
What's my point? Simply this: Anyone who claims to follow the Jesus of the Gospels will find it hard to remain just a Liberal or Conservative in every election cycle. The politics of Jesus requires us to search our hearts every time, forcing us to stake our hopes not on any particular party or candidate but on the Lord and His Kingdom. I wish that on Election Day, the options were as simple as which candidate is pro-choice or pro-life, which candidate has compassion or lacks compassion for the poor. But frankly the Lord has not made it that easy on me, though I respect those who think otherwise. So I cast each vote, with the faith that Christ will be well pleased with me. And if He's not, well, then I'll just have to throw myself on His mercy...once again.
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