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Jesus is Ambidextrous
Terry Jacobson
I have to confess –- I am tired of the conservative Christian “right” and the liberal Christian “left” claiming to speak for God.[1] I may be wrong about this but I think God is tired of it too.
The conservative Christian “right” claims to speak for God on a number of issues –- who is the best candidate for Supreme Court Justice, what laws best promote social order and harmony, and even what is wrong with America. When speaking on moral issues, they can often cite biblical precedents for their positions. Life begins at conception and so abortion is wrong -- Psalm 139. Homosexuality, like all sexual experiences outside of marriage between a man and a woman, is sin -– 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Timothy 1, Romans 1 and Leviticus 18 and 20. On the other hand, when the conservative Christian “right” speaks on things that God doesn’t directly address -– such as tax cuts or tort reform, their voice loses its power. So long as the conservative Christian “right” speaks on issues the Bible directly addresses, their voice is loud and clear. And, because they say the same thing God says about immoral behavior -– it is sin -– their message is very powerful.
There is also a liberal Christian “left” that claims to speak for God on a wide variety of issues –- who is the best candidate for President, what laws promote fairness (racial, economic, sexual identity, etc.), and even what is wrong with America. When they speak on issues such as feeding poor people, debt relief for Third World countries and providing health care to those who have great need, they speak with a powerful voice because God is passionate about those very things. Sometimes, the liberal Christian “left” embraces an issue that requires them to explain away or ignore what the Bible has to say. For example, when the liberal Christian “left” campaigns for gay and lesbian rights, they have to do something with those passages in the Bible that tell us what God thinks about homosexuality and lesbianism. Pretty clearly, He thinks it is sin. And, once they abandon the Bible as the source of truth, or try to explain that it doesn’t mean what it clearly says, they get into a bit of a conundrum. If the Bible isn’t the source of truth, then what is? If the words don’t mean what they say, then how can we have confidence that any other biblical passage is a source of truth? Some theologian or church body has reinterpreted the words to mean something other than what they plainly say. Well, I don’t think God needs an interpreter –- He communicates pretty well all by Himself. In the end, if their message is not centered on biblical truth, it is devoid of the authority or power that can change our culture.
You can see why both sides have some success in selling their respective messages -– they are both half right. The conservative Christian “right” has mastered the political expression of the holiness of God. Right is right, and wrong is wrong -– holiness is absolute. They are correct as far as they go, but is it far enough? What about the grace of God?
On the other hand, the liberal Christian “left” has successfully captured the political expression of God’s lovingkindness -– His love being poured out on needy people, regardless of race or even nationality. They are also correct, in so far as they go, but again, is it far enough? What about the holiness of God?
Most Recent User Comments
ThatGuyTom
3/1/2007 4:33 PM
This is one of the dumbest articles I've read in quite some time.
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spicy_nugget
3/1/2007 9:47 AM
It is easy forget that there exists a "Third Alternative" initially discussed by Bill Burtness, author of "The Third Alternative, Christian Self Government" that addresses the ambidexterity issue. This article should be commended for the fact that it points out the flaws in the left thinking that result in relativism, however, I would contend, that an equally notable flaw would be the left's philosophy of governemnt.
The left actually believes that they own your children. This is evidenced by recent bill proposals that would make it ILLEGAL to give your two year old a "time out". What does that say about the way they view control of your children?
It does not stop there. Couched in "care for the poor" are myriads of LEFTIST arguments that sound really good - at first. They say Jesus cared for the poor - therefore, the government needs to care for the poor. RED FLAG - when we give government the control to do every thing that we are supposed to be doing, what limits are there?
The left actually believes that they own your children. This is evidenced by recent bill proposals that would make it ILLEGAL to give your two year old a "time out". What does that say about the way they view control of your children?
It does not stop there. Couched in "care for the poor" are myriads of LEFTIST arguments that sound really good - at first. They say Jesus cared for the poor - therefore, the government needs to care for the poor. RED FLAG - when we give government the control to do every thing that we are supposed to be doing, what limits are there?
adamdstocker
2/28/2007 9:58 PM
The real difference between the Christian "right" and "left" is in the way the poor should be helped. The "left" (Christian or secular) feel that government is the solution, whereas the "right" feels it is the responsibility of individuals and private charity. This has been very well documented in Arthur C. Brooks newest book "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism". In his book he demonstrates conclusively that conservatives really are compassionate; far more compassionate than their liberal counterparts. Strong families, church attendance, earned income (as opposed to state-subsidized income), and the belief that individuals, not government, offer the best solution to social ills; all of these factors determine how likely one is to give. The "right" puts it's money and time where the "left's" mouth is.
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