i'm no longer part of the conservative church.... because they seemed to be more concerned with the traditions of the church than the teachings of jesus.
jesus said the way things have always been is not enough.
jesus saved his worst criticism for the religious conservatives of the day. he didn't condemn the oppressive roman government. he didn't condemn the woman caught in adultery. he condemned the pharisees who kept the letter of the law to the extent of ignoring the purpose of the law.
... like how women and children were property.
this attitude was completely supported by jewish history and law. men were totally within the law to divorce their wife for burning the bread.
a divorced woman had no means of support. she was dependent on charity or prostitution. when jesus talked about becoming one flesh, he was once again talking about loving your wife as you love your body..... this was not a conservative perspective.
jesus broke the rules.
the pharisees had it down to a science what you could and couldn't do. you could rescue your animal from a ditch but you couldn't rescue a human being from a disease.
the commandment begins remember the sabbath to keep it holy..... it starts with the purpose, to rest from work and think on god.
what could be a greater obedience than to heal?
my evangelical friends, liberals are not your enemy.
they follow the teachings of jesus more than some of your conservative peers, whether they profess to be christians or not. god can, and does, work through anyone. if these people are doing what jesus wanted, who are you to oppose them?
they will know we are christians by our love was a theme song from my days as an evangelical christian (which actually, i still think i am).
love is never about condemnation. love is about compassion. this was the example that jesus gave us. this is the example we are to follow.
and the only way to teach anything is by example, example, example. 32 years of teaching and 63 years of living has taught me this well.
sex is not the problem.
notice that jesus did not condemn her for this.
the conversation was political until the end.
the samaritan woman immediately addressed how he was breaking the law by asking her for a drink.
and then she gets sarcastic...
who are you to give living water? are you greater than jacob who gave us this well?
she sees jesus as a typical jewish man. he condemns her for both being a woman and being a samaritan. she doesn't think this is fair. i think she's still being sarcastic when she asks for him to give her this water so she doesn't have to perform this tedious task ever again. she certainly doesn't believe that he can.
so he asks her about her husband, and she answers that she doesn't have one.
she is honest when she doesn't have to be.
she is honest because that is part of who she is. she tells the truth.... which jesus acknowledges as he tells her he does know.
surprised, she calls him a prophet and then wants to talk theology.
no wonder she was divorced five times. this woman spoke her mind.
she wants to know why the samaritan traditions are inferior to the jewish traditions. she wants to know why their form of worship is not acceptable. she is right that they share most theology and traditions... but no deviation is allowed.
and then jesus tells her that it is not tradition. the need for tradition has passed. god is to be worshipped with the spirit. it is what is in the heart that counts.
jesus tells her that he is the messiah that is to come.
the messiah who brings to earth the kingdom of heaven.
the kingdom of heaven is about compassion.
almost all of my family are conservative christians, and they are full of love and compassion.
this is because we were taught by example, example, example.
children, and everyone, learn to love by being loved.
the kingdom of heaven is about how you live, not your politics.
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