Some would have said Jesus was liberal after He quoted the Bible and said, “You have heard it said, but I say unto you…” They accused Him of not believing the Bible. Some would have said He was conservative with His stricter interpretation of murder and adultery. Some might have called His interpretation of fulfilling the law and the prophets by loving God and loving neighbor too progressive. Labels of liberal and conservative have little value when applied to Jesus and to each other. Be sure of this, Jesus will chip away at your conservatism and liberalism if you will just sit with Him long enough. He did not come to fit our categories, though we try to make Him fit ours. He came to make us like Him. He came to upset our categories, our systems, our comforts with the radical message of cruciform living. He came to bring us into union with His Father, in fellowship and mission. He came to make us like Him, by giving us His Spirit. If His Spirit dwells within, and is active in our thoughts, words and deeds, we will look liberal to some folks and conservative to others. Go be like Jesus, no matter how they tag you; further, feel no need to tag them.
“You have heard that it was said,’ An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:38-39, 43-45 (ESV)
