The Gospels tell the story of Jesus' life and relay his teachings. In a nutshell, Jesus taught that humanity should love God and God expects us to treat others with love, kindness, mercy and generosity.
Jesus emphatically instructed his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, tend to the sick, tend to the needs of children and take care of orphans, widows and the handicapped. Jesus taught humility and kindness and love. Jesus said you should pray quietly and privately with deep conviction. Jesus said to turn the other cheek and love your enemies. Jesus instructed his followers to forgive people who have wronged them, over and over if necessary, and always lend a helping hand.
Jesus abhorred violence and warned the one who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Even in his time, he described the trappings of power and wealth as obstacles to a Christlike life. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter kingdom of God, Jesus said, adding to whom much is given, much is expected. Jesus viewed the world as two separate realms—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of nations. He told his followers to render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar's and to God what is God's.
Jesus taught equality, saying the first shall be last and last shall be first, and all people are equal. There is no male or female, Jew or Gentile, slave or freeman, rich or poor in the eyes of God. Jesus said those that believe and follow him will have eternal life.
In the Gospels, these messages are repeated many times. Jesus is identified as the Messiah, the Christ; he was God's own son. To over-simplify Jesus' teachings is to to marginalize the depth and breadth of his beliefs. But the instructions I have cited represent the core foundations of understanding the teachings of Jesus. There are dozens of other peripheral teachings as well. However, among 99 percent of all Christians, the admonitions I have quoted are not in any way considered controversial.
Recently, we have seen attempts by both politicians and religious leaders to influence support in the name of God. America is politically divided into two basic philosophies—conservative/Republican and liberal/Democratic. Christians occupy the ranks of both parties, and they largely adhere to each group's philosophies respectively. Both believe much of their party's beliefs have scriptural foundation and adhere to Jesus' teachings.
Most evangelical Christians, which include Baptists, believe adamantly the conservative/Republican perspective is unquestionably the stronger claim to Jesus and his teachings. The fact their political, or nonreligious, beliefs also fold in well with political conservatism is convenient. Much the same can be said for liberals.
This makes me wonder if most people's primary interest is in the political realm, and they justify their faith beliefs as a secondary exercise. For example, in the 1980 presidential election, the religious right overwhelmingly supported a divorced, relatively unchurched Hollywood movie star over a born-again Baptist deacon and Sunday school teacher.
In no way am I advocating that Christians should not participate in the political process. But what I am saying is politicians, sincerely or not, use faith to manipulate support, and Christians are very susceptible to this manipulation.
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Suppose we were to ask Jesus, "Who do you like, Republicans or Democrats?" I suspect both groups would be disappointed with his response. He would ask us, "Why are you trying to put me in your ideological box?" The Pharisees and the Sadducees tried to trick Jesus into taking a position on irrelevant ideological issues. To their frustration, he refused to play their game. Today, Jesus would say to us: "You are asking the wrong questions. You are missing the whole point. After 2,000 years, why is it you still don't get it?"
He would be right. We still don't get it, do we?
Ray Atkinson is a businessman and a member of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, where he is a deacon.
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