Jesus: Conservative or Liberal?

Introduction: Political Dissension in America and the World Matthew 16:24

Was Jesus white? Was Jesus black? Was Jesus conservative? Was He liberal? Does Jesus accept everybody just like they are? Does He hate us if we aren’t exactly perfect? The truth is we are trying to fit Jesus into a box of what we think He should or should not think. The truth is Jesus’ physical appearance doesn’t matter as it plays no part in our salvation. The truth is He was neither conservative nor liberal. The truth is Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves and follow Him. Matthew 16:24. In reality we should be putting our political ideologies to the side and following Jesus. Today we will look at two apostles who did exactly that.

Jesus Calls Many, No Matter Our Background or Past

Much like Paul, many people have been called by God who have had questionable pasts or backgrounds. While most of the apostles were fishermen, carpenters, or some other humble occupation; Matthew and Simon stood out in this regard. Matthew was a publican, or a tax collector.

Matthew 9:11 tells us all we need to know about how the Jews of the time felt about tax collectors. Tax collectors worked for the Roman government, who was currently a conquering nation of Israel. Many tax collectors took great pleasure in their occupation and often took more than necessary, even filling their own pockets. They were considered some of the worst sinners imaginable, and most Jews hated them. The Pharisees often talked derivatively toward them.

One group who would hate the publicans more than most were the Zealots. They were Israelite political extremists who very vocally and sometimes violently opposed Roman rule. They hated publicans even more than they hated Romans because they considered the publicans to be traitors to their own people. Simon the Zealot was called by Jesus just like Matthew was however.

Jesus Calls Matthew the Publican Matthew 9:9

Even though Matthew is among the most despised in Jerusalem, even though he works a job considered very sinful by almost all of his countrymen, even though his job was to take money from God’s people and give it to the conquering Romans, Jesus called Matthew, and Matthew answered that call. He denied himself and put aside his occupation just like Peter, John, Andrew, and all the others.

Jesus Calls Simon the Zealot Luke 6:12-16

We do not learn much about Simon, or the Zealots from the Bible itself, but we have learned about the Zealots from other historical documents of this time. The Zealots were a very outspoken political extremist group. Sounds sort of familiar right? Are modern liberals not considered very outspoken political extremists by many today? However, just like Matthew and the other apostles Simon set these political aspirations to the side to follow Jesus. He doesn’t spread the message of the Zealots after the death of Jesus. No, he helps spread the church of Jesus Christ and the message of salvation offered by Jesus.

Jesus Has Brought All of Together Into His Image Ephesians 2:1-6

The truth of the matter is once we are called by Jesus and accept salvation, we should strive to follow Him in all we do. Politically, physically, with strangers, around friends or family, or by ourselves we should imitate Christ in all that we do. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are new creatures and the old is dead. So why is it that we continue to try to put Jesus into a box of personal beliefs? We must follow His teachings in all matters. Republicans are not correct in all of their beliefs, but neither are Democrats, or Libertarians, or any of the other political factions. We must allow our faith in Jesus to guide all of our actions, words, and even thoughts. This includes our opposition of the people in the world. It is much easier to become angry and argue with people who disagree with Jesus’ teachings, but getting angry and confrontational is no way to guide them to salvation.

Like Jesus, we should focus on spreading the Gospel, and we can correct those that are saved when they make mistakes. But the first sin that MUST be corrected before any others is the sin of disbelief. Remember, however, that God instilled in all of us free will. So everybody has the right to deny Christ if that is what they choose. Don’t be angry with them because anger only guarantees they’ll die lost. Instead practice understanding and be available if they ever respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.