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In the first place, the common depiction of the long-haired, bearded Jesus probably isn't accurate. That's from the Middle Ages and he was painted in what was then the norm. In reality, he probably had short hair, maybe a crewcut after the Roman fashion, and was clean shaven.
As for the orignial question? It's a little more complicated than you might think, but the simple answer is the actions of the Evangelical's, beginning in the late 1970's and early '80's.
Evangelicalism (as opposed to Evangelism) is a political movement created by the likes of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for the express purpose of literally taking over a political party to ensure a Christian government. The expected outcome is a more "godly" America, where laws based upon the Bible are enforced by that Christian government.
They began working at the precinct level decades ago and, utilizing their own and friendly media sources, pretty much took over the Republican Party to the extent that only "their" candidates got the nod for federal office and a lot of state offices as well. That's not to say that all Republican's are Evangelical's, but it is saying that for several years, they held all the power in that party because of their control of donations and media exposure.
Part of their campaign was aimed directly at Protestant churches via controlling the debate and through willing pastors, especially at some very famous mega-churches. The reason was that the bigger their base of supporters was, the more power they could wield.
They've been very successful at muddying the waters and blurring the line between Christianity and Republican politics. In reality, operatives in both the movement and the party were using each other, but the end result was the elections of Ronald Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and G.W. Bush, along with a host of other politician's who now hold high and influencial offices because of tenure. Using their connections, they reward politician's who go along with campaign money, a committed core of workers and voters and high paying positions in think tanks, influence groups, and public opinion organizations when they are out of office.
Though they've lost some influence in the past few years and, though the original leaders have died or lost their minds, and the leadership has passed to a new generation of Charismatic's and Pentacostal's such as John Hagee, Jan and Paul Crouch, Kenneth Copeland and Rod Parsley, they are still a potent force to be reckoned with.
For Christian's, though, it's another matter.
Unfortunately, most Christian's aren't very familiar with their Bible and far too many don't understand that what the Evangelical's are selling is un-Biblical. All they know is that they talk about social issues such as abortion, gay rights and other things which trip their emotional triggers and they think opposing such things makes them "good" Christian's. They're being sold snake oil and are lapping it up out of Scriptural ignorance. I think this is the manifestation of what Paul warned Timothy to look for during the latter days, when devious and un-Godly teachings would come from within the church and would be received by those with "itching ears," who want to hear what they want to hear.
It has reached the point that for far too many Believers, the idea has taken root that your political leanings define your Christianity, instead of the other way around.
I could go on all day about this, but that's the gist of it. Suffice it to say that some few of us in the Church aren't buying it, but we're suffering ostracization and being cut out of the loop because of it.
The teachings are about living frugally, to help the poor, to only live with what you need and give your unneeded wealth away. To open your doors to the needy and that greed is evil.
Exactly, he encourages private charity, he does not encourage government seizure and theft. This is why Republicans and Conservatives all give generously. Not only in money either, Conservatives give more blood and volunteer more often than their stingy left wing counterparts. Conservatives even give more to secular charities per capita than Liberals.
On the other hand, Liberals hate private charities with a passion, they believe the government should seize money and property then redistribute it based on who they judge to be deserving.
This is a phenomenon I've never really understood is why those that are heavily christian, are also heavily republicans. If you really think about it besides abortion views, Jesus was a liberal. Not a leftest republican or democrat, but a full-blown green party tree hugging flaming liberal.
The teachings are about living frugally, to help the poor, to only live with what you need and give your unneeded wealth away. To open your doors to the needy and that greed is evil. Even how Jesus is depicted in looking, long hair, beard, sandals, pretty much exactly like hippies of the 60's.
It just seems to make sense that if you are a true follower of the bible, you would be a hardcore liberal, not a conservative.
Did he ever mention that the government must enforce his ideas? If he didn't he wasn't a liberal.
I wouldn't say that really. most bl;acks are christian afterall and they are predominately Democrats. Name one president that has npt claimed to be Christian fact.
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Originally Posted by janelle144
Republican party is more family friendly. Pro-life and pro-independent people. By the way Jesus never said we should live off the government, in fact He wanted us to separate from the government---give to God what belonged to God and to government what belonged to government (many today think more and more of out things belong to the government.) Those who did not work would not eat kind of thing. St. Paul wrote that to Christians in his letters.
This is a phenomenon I've never really understood is why those that are heavily christian, are also heavily republicans. If you really think about it besides abortion views, Jesus was a liberal. Not a leftest republican or democrat, but a full-blown green party tree hugging flaming liberal.
The teachings are about living frugally, to help the poor, to only live with what you need and give your unneeded wealth away. To open your doors to the needy and that greed is evil. Even how Jesus is depicted in looking, long hair, beard, sandals, pretty much exactly like hippies of the 60's.
It just seems to make sense that if you are a true follower of the bible, you would be a hardcore liberal, not a conservative.
Were you not paying attention this last election, the entire country is heavily Republican now.
Seriously though, can you think of a country, or even a state that is full blown liberal, and embraces Christianity? I think you can be arrested in San Fran if you say "Merry Christmas", or "God Bless you" as a government employee, or as a shop owner, or cashier.
Tree hug'n, full blown libs, don't really care about the poor, they just despise the wealthy, and want to steal their money, so they can lord their power over everyone else, and tell everyone how they will be allowed to live their lives.
Last edited by Wapasha; 12-23-2010 at 07:11 PM..
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