by Dawn Ford
Now wait a minute, before you get all riled up and angry, hear me out. In our day and age, the term “liberal” has been hijacked to describe a political ideology, taking on a very negative connotation in conservative circles. But if you look up the true definition of the word, it means a lot more than its current usage.
Liberal: adjective
• Free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant,
• Open-minded,
• Characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts,
• Given freely or abundantly; generous.
Not the picture we normally conjure up is it...and how does Jesus fit in? In the 400 years of silence between the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, a ruling political and social class rose in the nation of Israel. These men were known as the Scribes, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They each had specific jobs, and rarely got along with one another, but together they twisted Mosaic Law into an impossible set of rules and regulations. Couple this with Roman occupation and the Jewish people where under constant oppression. In first century Palestine, they were primed for a Messiah to rescue them.
On to this backdrop, Jesus enters the scene. Not preaching a military overthrow, but still radical in his ideas for the time. Imagine how crazy his first public sermon recorded in the Gospel of Matthew must have sounded? Jesus was bold and he spoke to his Jewish audience, challenging everything they thought was truth. With statements like:
• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matt 5:11-12.
Bless are those who persecute me? What? I’m suppose to take that? You’re tell me I must bless the Romans?
• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment,” Matt 5:21-22.
Anytime Jesus says, “You heard that...” He is quoting Jewish Mosaic Law (from Moses) back to them, scripture they already knew, and radically changing it. Being angry is sin? That’s not what the 10 commandments say, and not what they were taught. And come on, for hundreds of years and what’s happened to us, we have a right to be angry.
• "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” Matt 5-38-39.
We deserve to be able to take revenge on our enemies.
• "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matt 5:43-44.
Can you imagine, all those people listening to this sermon...ruling class, worker bees and slaves...Love your enemies, pray for them....His guy is a nut! And there is even more; the sermon goes on for two more chapters, but you get the idea. Jesus came at the right time not to mock what the law, but to make them realize how far they had twisted it. No one including the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were the religious leaders of the time, could possibly live up to the rules and regulations that they had created and no one should. They were missing the point and Jesus was calling them on it.
For the next three years he didn’t just preach about what they need to change, he demonstrated what he meant. He didn’t just preach about being loving, or serving others, he generously, “liberally” if you will, gave of himself to the crowds, to his disciples, to people he met on the street. He was open-minded (liberal) in his love for others. He hung out with, broke bread with sinners, tax-collectors, lepers, prostitutes and the marginalized. He was patient and tolerate (liberal) with those who disagreed with him. Though he always spoke truth, and never was so tolerate that he watered down his message, he never did in a way that would disgrace His Father in Heaven. And though he was is Father’s son, he abundantly, generously, liberally, gave of himself for us and died on a cross.
How about us? As His followers, as people who claim to know Him, love Him and speak in His name...How “liberal” are we, with our love, our generosity our tolerance. I used to really enjoy the song, “They Will Know We Our Christians by our Love.” Sadly I fear, many of us are known more for the fish on our car, the cross on our neck or the T-shirt we don, instead of how we radically love others in His name. We play on “the team,” of Christian, but how many of us actually get off the sidelines and get our jersey dirty. How many of us really know the Word of God for ourselves and not just have it fed to us by someone else. How many of us can present the truth and love of the gospel message not, by how we “preach” it to others, but by how we live our lives?
If we want Jesus to radically change others, we need to let Him radically change us. We need to dive into His Word and read about His liberal love first hand, so we can in turn generously love others. Now is the time my friends, not to be “conservative” with your knowledge of Christ, but serve and love others with a liberal compassion that mirrors who we serve. Jesus my loves is calling you out...how are you going to answer?
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director of Infinite Love Ministries, INC. a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. For more information visit www.infiniteloveministries.com
