With the extent of Jesus's emphasis on social issues, I see no reason why one should shy away from the question of what his role in modern-day politics might be.
Personally, I think that many people do this because it would be dificult to justify their own positions and opinions if they applied them to a what-would-Jesus-do type of test.
Example: Would Jesus strap on his U.S. Army uniform and go "kick some Iraqi ass"?
LWG, of course he wouldn't. If everyone acted as Christ guided us to then no war would ever be needed. But men act like monsters sometimes and we have to deal with it. I find it amusing that I, of all people, would have to point out that we are not a theocracy, but a demcracy. We have to deal with man on a secular level, not a religious one. Thus war. Sadly.
But socialism is politics and Christ had nothing to do with it. They even tried to goad him into with questions about Ceasar. He said " Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, but give unto God what is God's."
And when Christ was telling us to take care of the poor he had every opportunity to refer to that govt. to do something about the poor and he didn't. He repeats over and over to CHRISTIANS that it is OUR responsibility to take care of the poor.
No. Christ was no socialist. He was not political. He was simply our Savior. His words teach us how to love Him and each other. That's it.
"We have to deal with man on a secular level, not a religious one. Thus war. Sadly."
You seem to be implying that we cannot strive to emulate Jesus in our world, imperfect as it is.
I would have to strongly disagree. Does Christianity not hold that Jesus represents a divine, perfect example for how human life should be lived? Was Jesus not a human? Was Jesus not perfect? What reason is there for us to not try to imitate the example of a perfect human?
I understand why one might say it would be dificult/impossible to discern what form of government Jesus would support, so I wasn't really contenting your comment about Jesus and socialism. However, on specific issues, I think Jesus's example speaks volumes about the action we should take in our own lives.
We certainly agree on that last sentence. (mark it on your calendar!) We CAN strive to emulate Jesus. But do we? I can't make others do the same.
I am glad we agree. Now let's apply that concept to a specific issue: the War in Iraq. Since putting a hypothetical Jesus in an entire government's shoes seems to complicate the issue, let's try it with indivduals, specifically soldiers.
So again, would Jesus strap on his U.S. Army uniform and go "kick some Iraqi ass"?
All I know is that Christ was surrounded by Roman soldiers. They arrested him. If he wanted to condemn the military, he could have done it then.
Although we are to try and act like Christ in a personal way, there are positions in life in which that is impossible. Most of us are parents. Christ wasn't that either. Doesn't mean we aren't suppose to be. I think Christ realized that there would always be war just as he said there would always be the poor. Not because he wanted it that way, but because he knew human nature.
And as Christ actively worked to end poverty, would he not actively seek to end war?
Also, I beleive that it is important to note Jesus's behavior to those the arrested him. That would be regarded as just plain cowardice in the military.
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