In the Haggerd thread, a side thread started regarding the political leanings of Jesus. NJ wrote in
Message 56:
quote:
Jesus isn't a Conservative and He isn't a Liberal.
I replied, in
Message #64, by writing:
Jesus was a pretty radical Liberal in a lot of ways.
He was anti-business wealth and greed.
He was big into compassion and "he who is without sin can cast the first stone" is pretty famous.
He blessed the peacemakers, and admonished his followers to turn the other cheek to those who would do us evil.
He commanded, "love thy neighbor as thyself" and encouraged people to support the poor, even saying that his followers should sell everything they have and give it to the poor.
He encouraged people to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's"
Faith then replied, writing in
Message #65:
quote:
Jesus is different from a Liberal in that He never suggested that people should be FORCED by the government to do all those good things. Obedience to God is an individual thing.
To which I replied in
Message #67:
But he believed in all of those Liberal principles as good and righteous things to do, which would earn great rewards in heaven. They should therefore really be called Christian, as well as Liberal principles, I suppose.
Maybe you should remember that the next time you start to slag off on Liberal values.
To which Faith replied in
Messgae #70:
quote:
All those "liberal" values are for individuals, not for the state to enforce. That's all I'm saying. They are certainly Christian principles for believers to obey.
And finally, I responded, in
Message #72:
OK, now I'm confused.
I thought that you WANTED the state to enforce christian principles?
There was no response.
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The question I have is regarding this seeming contradiction in what Faith is saying.
On the one hand, she agrees that all of those Liberal principles of compassion and not being judgemental, paying your taxes, being peacemakers and turning the other cheek, etc. are all good Christian values.
She then claims that Jesus shouldn't be thought of as a liberal because he didn't advocate those principles being imposed upon us through the government.
What I'd like to understand is why she, or any other Christian, would be opposed to these Christian principles being imposed by the government but completely support the governement imposing other Christian principles, such as banning gay marriage, banning embyonic stem cell research, stopping FDA approval of certain drugs because they have a religious objection to their uses even though those uses are legal, etc?
Social issues, please
Edited by schrafinator, : No reason given.
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