Jesus: Republican or Democrat?

Everybody loves Jesus don't they?! People are always invoking Jesus name to promote their ideas.

I had a friend once who was a big drinker. He drank often and one time he said to me 'If Jesus came down to earth today I think He would go into a bar because that's where all the sinners are.'

I've seen bumper stickers recently that proclaim 'Jesus is a liberal'. I'm sure there are a decent number of Democrats who think that if Jesus were in the United States today He would be a Democrat. And I'm sure there are the same number of Republicans who are convinced that Jesus is a Republican.

Everybody wants Jesus on their side! But I wonder if people really knew what Jesus said, would they still want Him on their side?!

I think that what both Christians and non-Christians often forget is that Jesus was and is counter cultural! When he was on earth He upset the religious order. He called the religious leaders of his day 'whitewashed sepulchres'. He put politicians in uncomfortable positions.

We think we know Jesus and we think we know what He was really like, but so often those opinions are based on our own ideas and not on the historical documentation which recorded Christ's words and actions.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah recorded for Israel God's messages. In that scripture God says ...

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways." declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Jesus claimed to be one with God the Father. John records that Jesus is eternal and was present with God at creation. So to be a follower of Jesus we have to understand His thoughts and His ways.

Jesus was counter cultural. What Jesus said was out of the mainstream. And Jesus specifically told His disciples what following Him would entail ...

Jesus told His disciples that if they want to be great in God’s kingdom, they have to be everybody's servant. Jesus modeled servanthood by wrapping a towel around His waist and washing His follower's feet.

Peter, selected by Jesus to be the leader of the church after His ascension into heaven, records these words which reflect Christ's spirit: '... all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.' (1 Peter 3) Jesus talked about constantly forgiving and 'turning the other cheek'.

The faith and community started by Christ is counter to man's inclinations. Our tendency is to devise a set of rules and then attempt to follow them to gain God's favor. The world's religions rely on this premise. The five pillars of Islam, the eightfold path to enlightenment, all of these religious disciplines are based on the idea that man works to achieve favor with God or spiritual enlightenment.

But Jesus' views on salvation are upside down. Jesus talked about people and the sinfulness that we all have. Jesus talked about forgiveness and that all of mankind needed to be forgiven of their sins. Jesus didn't just teach about ways to earn God's favor, He Himself claimed to be that way! He claimed to have the authority to forgive our sins and the New Testament records that Jesus frequently forgave people's sins when they had done nothing to earn that forgiveness!

Jesus said that the way to have a relationship with God wasn't through works but by trusting in Christ Himself, that Jesus' personal sacrifice, His death on the cross, paid the penalty for all of mankind's sins.

Jesus claimed to be God and He claimed to be the ONLY way of salvation. He said:

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also ... I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.' (John 14)

Jesus said that He loves us so much that He wants to have a relationship with us. The New Testament records that Jesus calls out to us: '... I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.' (Revelation 3:20)