Who are the "Real" Christians?

I just read an article entitled "Dear Conservatives: There are Millions of Christian Liberals and We’re A Lot More Like Jesus Than You" from the Forward Progressives website.  I then read a related article entitled "10 Ways Conservatives Don't Act Like Christians" from the same site.  Both upset me greatly.  Yet not because I was necessarily offended as a conservative.  They upset me because of the generalizations, assumptions and stereotypes that are too often used to characterized people.  They upset me also because of the misinformation about Jesus and his teachings.  Especially when it comes to painting Jesus as a 'I-don't-care-what-you-believe-and-I-accept-everyone-as-they-are' kind of person.  Like a typical liberal might like to be painted.  But that is so off base.  Anyone who has read the Gospels knows that Jesus reached out to the poor and the forgotten and the neglected of his society.  Yet He also called to repentance those caught in sin.  To the woman who was about to be stoned for her adultery he said: "Go and sin no more."   Those who were already convicted of their sins He absolved.  As for those caught in sins more prevalent in our current time Jesus may have said nothing.  Like homosexuality, where Jesus' silence is touted as acceptance. But that is a stretch, to say the least.  Jesus also did not directly address beasteality, or polygamy, or bisexuality, or transvestism, or transgenderism, or a whole host of practices prevalent in our modern society.  However, He did underscore timeless principles that do speak to these practices.  Jesus very directly supported the traditional arrangement of the marriage of one woman and one man and spoke very directly against wrongful divorce (which in some cases was affected by overly liberal views of what was accepted).  And He grounded His teaching in the Old Testament.  Obviously homosexuality was roundly condemned in the Jewish culture in which He lived.  While it was practiced in the Roman culture in some quarters, it was probably not widespread in His area.  That said, based on today's outspoken approach to minority sexual practices, it would seem we should be critical of Jesus for not speaking up for these people, if indeed, they were in a "loving relationship" as currently defined.   If Jesus knew there were people who found love in relationships and arrangements that deviated from the majority, why didn't He speak up for their acceptance?  Was He afraid of the repercussions?  Liberals, who wish to invoke Jesus as the grand example of acceptance of all sexual practices need to explore these questions before they heap criticism upon those who claim the opposite. 

As to the other items spoken of in these articles, it occurred to me that we all major in highlighting stereotypes of all sorts.  If I support capitalism and criticize those who abuse public assistance, does this mean I care nothing for the poor?  If I support gun rights and capital punishment, yet speak against abortion, am I a hypocrite for condemning death in one case but not the other?  Admittedly broad and over generalized characterizations abound on both sides of the political spectrum.  I am sure there are liberal minded people who care deeply for the same people I do, and both of us extend an arm of charity.  But we need to stop the mud slinging.  It does nothing for the public dialog on the issues that need to be addressed. 

O.k.  I'm done with my rant for now.  Thanks for listening, if, indeed anyone reads this.....
10 Ways Conservatives Don’t Act Anything Like Christians

Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/10-ways-conservatives-dont-act-anything-like-christians/

Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/dear-conservatives-millions-christian-liberals-lot-more-like-jesus/
Dear Conservatives: There are Millions of Christian Liberals and We’re A Lot More Like Jesus Than You

Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/dear-conservatives-millions-christian-liberals-lot-more-like-jesus/
Dear Conservatives: There are Millions of Christian Liberals and We’re A Lot More Like Jesus Than You

Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/dear-conservatives-millions-christian-liberals-lot-more-like-jesus/
Dear Conservatives: There are Millions of Christian Liberals and We’re A Lot More Like Jesus Than You

Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/dear-conservatives-millions-christian-liberals-lot-more-like-jesus/

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