According to the Bible...
LIBERAL equals NOBLE and GENEROUS!
You: Huh?
Me: You heard me. The Bible says a liberal is
generous and noble!
You: Oh, really? I keep hearing that liberals are:
• Atheists
• Agnostics
• Heretics
• Socialists
• Communists
• Bleeding hearts
• Big spenders of government money.
Me: Okay, I’ll give you those last two. Generous people usually
spend big. Noble people often feel compassion for others—that’s
what “bleeding heart” means, doesn’t it?
You: Well, where in the Bible does it say that liberals are…wow…noble and generous?
Me: Look at these words:
Proverbs 11:25: The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that
watereth shall be watered also himself. (KJV)
Isaiah 32:5: The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the
churl said to be bountiful. (KJV)
Isaiah 32:8: But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal
things shall he stand. (KJV)
“Liberal” in the King James is, in the New King James Version and the
New International Version, translated as “noble” or “generous”. In
the KJV we even have Isaiah saying that a liberal by liberal things
will stand! Therefore, according to the Bible, a liberal is generous and noble!
You: Oh, come on! Aren’t you just playing with words?
Doesn’t “liberal” mean different things in different times and settings?
Me: Sure it does. But I’ve done some hunting on the Internet (at
Biblegateway.com), and I haven’t found yet a single Bible passage in
modern translation using “liberal” in a derogatory way! Oh, the
American Standard Version and the Amplified Bible say that “many will
entreat the favor of a liberal man” (Proverbs 19:6). The Darby
translation warns the rich of the “present age” to be “liberal in
distributing” (1Timothy 6:17-18)!
Think of the word “Christian”. These days, you’d think “Christian”—
especially “born-again Christian”—means “right-wing Republican”.
You: Doesn’t it?
Me: No. “Christian” means “follower of Jesus Christ”.
You: Hold it! Are you telling me that all those liberal-bashing
conservatives—they’re not really Christians?
Me: That’s not for me to say.
Romans 14:4: Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own
master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to
make him stand. (NIV)
James 4:12: There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able
to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (NIV)
And they can’t judge me either. Only God knows for sure who’s a real
Christian and who isn’t.
You: So, is Jesus a liberal or a conservative?
Me: Well, Jesus does have a “bleeding heart” of compassion for the
masses. (See Matthew 9:36, Mark 6:34.) (He also had a bleeding
head, hands, side, and feet!) He did say to a woman caught in
adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
You: But that doesn’t answer my question.
Me: Jesus is not a Democrat nor Republican, nor an American, nor
European. He’s a Jew from Israel in Western Asia, the Middle East.
Born to a first-century working-class family (Joseph was a
carpenter), Jesus said he was the Messiah, the Son of God. He came
not to call the self-righteous, but sinners (Matthew 9:13). Really,
we all need a Savior: liberal or conservative, rich or poor, male or
female, black, white, brown, yellow, or red.
You: Isn’t the Bible against abortion and homosexuality?
Me: Yes. But the Bible is for justice for the oppressed, healing
for the brokenhearted, freedom for the captives, caring for the poor
and hungry, protecting the earth, treating animals well, and
welcoming foreigners and immigrants. The Bible sees the worth of all
people of every ethnicity, gender, and class.* The Bible condemns
favoring the rich (James 2)! Don’t forget the parable of the Rich
Man and Lazarus. Also, the Bible supports restoration for outcasts
and forgiveness for sinners.
You: So, if I become a Christian, will God change my political beliefs?
Me: That’s between you and God. But God will change you—he will
come to you and love you intimately and individually. He will make
you more like Jesus: more compassionate, more loving, more self-
controlled, less fearful, more patient, with greater power to do
right. Oh, and did I mention an eternal life of love, joy, and peace?
You: Aren’t you going to tell me that I’m a sinner going to hell
unless Jesus saves me?
Me: Heck, you know that. I want to emphasize that God loves you and
he’s waiting for you to turn to him!
You: And if I want to become a Christian…?
Me: Just ask God! In your own words. Now, if you want. Believe me,
he’ll hear you!
You: And then I have to join your church.
Me: You can if you want…but find a community of believers that love
Jesus and will love you and help you grow in your relationship with
God. Make sure you make lots of time to talk to God in private,
too. He has things to tell you specifically! And find a Bible
version you’ll enjoy and understand; those are things he’s saying to
his people in general.
You: One more thing. Whom should Christians vote for in the next election?
Me: Hoo-boy…!
You: Just kidding!
Written by M. N. Lee, Queens, NY
[email protected]
28 Jul 2008, 1:35 pm
