Isn't there a way to be Christian *and* Liberal?

Question

Every time I hear a statement made about Christians, it's about the Christian Right. I even created a post to try and stir up some thinking calling the Christian Right the Christian Rote.

However, all joking aside. Whatever happened to the Christian Middle and the Christian Left? Do they exist?

To me, it seems an embarassment to all of the Christians who *aren't* conservative and who tread the middle, and especially an embarassment to the Christians who are on the left. It almost seems like for someone to accept Christ and become a Christian, they have to become a right-wing, pro-gun, anti-education, anti-choice, xenophobic, homophobic Republican. (Pat Robertson says God is a Republican - who apparently calls for assasinations)

Even if I wanted to become a Christian (I don't, thanks in advance for the offers), I would think twice because of the general image they have given themselves as anti-thought, robotic, rotely repeating conservatives. I'd really like serious responses!

Answer 1

Well, the last time I checked Jesus was neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

He accepted everyone: women, children, criminals, sinners, etc.
He was very tolerant and understanding of people of other cultures and backgrounds. He didn't tolerate hypocrites. He stressed love and acceptance. He didn't call for death of his enemies- he forgave them. He didn't call for punishment for sinners- he forgave them. (You see a pattern here, right?)

So, I guess it is possible to be a Christian and a Liberal.
Follow the 10 Commandments, forgive your enemies, and be tolerant of people and things you do not understand.

Answer 2

The Christian left is alive and well. What is being a Christian? True Christians live the Word. The goal of Christians is to attain a "Christ-like" state. Jesus helped the needy, loved his enemies, and spoke of compassion on understanding. I se very little of this coming from the Christian Right (Pat Robertson being an excellent example). The Godless liberals actually seem to do a better job following the New Testament than the "Christian" conservatives do. They seem to be stuck on the Old Testament laws rather than the New Way.

Answer 3

Its hard to be liberal and christian at the same time because so much of christian values are about doing what "the father" wants, and supporting another agenda we dont know much about. Have you heard the teams "its in gods hands" "its gods plan" "its gods will" all of these things point directly to christian followers not believing they have any power or voice. they are just "gods" voice. Being liberal often means doing something to make change, thinking critically, and acting out of humanity rather than fear. Fear is a big part of mainstream christian religion. Our nations "right" leaders manipulate a great many people in our nation into believing that the republican agenda is gods agenda. Christians also believe that god has the power to put certain individuals in place and that it is "gods plan" that people like GW are leading the nation. Remember, the basics of christianity are thngs like being a sheep in gods flock and crap like that. Dont be surprised that there is a population of people who look up to GW and other right wing folks who baptize their agendas in the name of god and say with drool flowing forth "baaaaaaa". Following the true teachings of christ, allah,&the buddha, (they, for the most part are the same) usually means going it alone and not being a part of organized religion. Corruption lies around every corner. Im sure all those men who remember being molested as children by the priests in their parrish church can attest to that.

Answer 4

I think Jesus would be ashamed of most conservative Christians because for what I know he was very firm with Hypocrites. You see it is obvious that if you go to the extreme you are an unbalance individual (like Pat Robrtson). Jesus walked the middle path all the time, God but Human, eloquent but quiet, rich but poor, dead but alive always in the middle path.Like the strings of a guitar not to tight not to loose just in the right tune. Oh darn what was the question again?

Answer 5

It's not easy, because those on the right will tell you that you're not Christian at all (never mind that I attend a church that has 4.5 million members).

I think most Christians find themselves in the middle - maybe fewer on the actual left. It's just that those on the farthest right are so vocal a minority that they make it seem as if they control all Christian opinion.

There are many of us who take God with us internally every day and don't see every encounter with someone unlike us as an opportunity to teach - we take it as an opportunity to learn.

I think it's time for Christians to reclaim the name. Time magazine recently called for use of the word "Christianist" when referring to those that wish to use government for the imposition of their own form of religion. I like it because it allows those of us that are Christian to lose the "shame" that comes with being associated with a radical right that could not possibly have less to do with what I believe.

**NOTE**
I saw someone refer to being "born again". I just thought I would share a bumper sticker that I saw last week:

"I was born right the first time!"

Answer 6

I think that's a great question. Personally, I find that many of the policies of the right are a little closer in line with Christian values. Not 100%. Just a little closer than the left.
And BTW: Pat Robertson does not speak for me or any of the other Christians I know. Every time he opens his mouth, I think, "Oh, God, please don't let him say something stupid."
P.S. If you can call pro-life anti-choice, should I can call pro-choice anti-life or pro-death?

P.P.S. Yes, it's definitely possible... I forgot to actually answer the question the first time.

Answer 7

Yes, there are some who actually read what Jesus is purported to have said (in their Bibles) and care about their neighbors and the poor and shun personal wealth. I'm no christian but I am DOWN with these folks because they actually practice what they preach. They love everyone, just like Jesus supposedly did and they really don't care what color you are or if your gay.

This sounds like a ringing endorsement for Christianity but I swear I'm an atheist. There are actually several religions that consider Jesus a prophet. He can't have been that bad if so many religions separately revere his teachings. Personally I think of him as a great man, but not god.

Answer 8

I am a christian and a liberal, I believe in Jesus and I do not think that the conservatives really do, all they want to do on Sunday is show off their $1500 suit and rub elbows with other important people. How can you believe in Jesus if you care so little about people that you hate to pay taxes because, somebody that needs it might get some and yet it is ok to use the tax money for war. Don't make any sense to me.

Answer 9

I can tell you right now that it is VERY possible to be Christian and not be a right-wing conservative with all guns blazing... I happen to be one of them. The message of Jesus Christ says (forgive me for not citing chapter and verse, I don't have a Bible in front of me) that you are to obey god through th message of Jesus, and I don't recall Jesus attacking the tax collectors and sinners he dined with, verbally or otherwise. How are we going to convince people that we are to love our neighbor when we shun those in or own country because they lead a different life than we do? Homosexuals are a good example. I don't support homosexuality in any form, but how does it fit into God's message of love to shun them? If you have ever told "white lie", the Bible states you are just as evil. We aren't any different than the ones we claim to be against, it's just that our sins come in different forms. I support the majority becuse I support democracy, not some hpocrites that think they have it right.

Answer 10

I agree with the Baron!! Supposedly Jesus and all the prophet's were "Liberals". Seems the main thing they preached was about the gap between the rich and the poor. Somewhere it got lost, I think most are just so against the thought of abortion and gay marriage that they're blind to everything else. I also thought that it was written in the bible somewhere that your not supposed to force your beliefs on others. They must've forgotten about that as well since it's a person's CHOICE to have an abortion and be gay(to them)...

Answer 11

"What was once the fringe - the embarrassing cousin they saw only when they had to (special occasions, especially the ones held every four years in November) - has now become the heart of the Republican Party. They've finally got the real power, and, like Bush with the phantom "political capital" he claimed to have earned after the 2004 election, they intend to use it."
They are the Rapture Right.