If Jesus is considered to be liberal, then why are many church denominations so conservative?

[smahala1991]

Is this more of an American ideology or is it most churches?

Updates

+1 y

Considered Liberal by many scholars and theologians today

[BCRanger10]

If you mean in the sense of modern social and economic liberalism (leftism, Marxism, whatever you choose to call it), He most certainly was not a "liberal". The idea is, quite frankly, utterly preposterous and these so-called "scholars" and "theologians" have, to put it bluntly, no clue what they're talking about. They're just taking a few sayings of Christ, isolating and spinning them, and then claiming support for their own ideologies.

Now there are those who claim that Jesus wouldn't have been a conservative either because He didn't say anything about abortion or same-sex marriage. My response then would be to have them read Matthew 19 and then ask if that sounds like a ringing endorsement for same-sex marriage or, for that matter, transgenderism.

I also don't seem to recall Him saying anything about climate change, open borders, universal health-care, calling for socialism or gun control, or calling everyone He didn't like a racist, misogynist, or insurrectionist. He didn't say that people are good enough as they are and that they didn't have to change a thing about themselves.

So no, in the political sense, Jesus was not a liberal.

Neither was He in terms of the tradition vs. progress dichotomy, as someone on this thread has already mentioned. Again, I'd point to Matthew 19. This is also a good article from Catholic Answers that might help shed some more light on that discussion.

[lightbulb27]

He was qutie liberal in some ways. He'd help people to stop bad behaviors and problems, but he didn't force them. He walked past people tossing babies out, the rulers were murdering people... he saw that and didn't stop it. He walked around almost naked, rarely paid for anything... stuff was given to him. He wasn't growing or making food, thus expected others to feed him. When he had food, he shared it so everyone had some. That's quite liberal.

Conservatives read what was communicated and want to hold others to it.

[strateguy632]

really? "When he had food, he shared it so everyone had some. That's quite liberal." which liberal soup kitchen exists any where in u. s? you mean he "gave liberally" but liberals do not do nor teach that.

[lightbulb27]

Humm… i know liberals that do but not fair to say all. I thinks they all believe in forced distribution

[Sirenboobzilla]

You have to look at the definition of conservative/ conserve/ conservate. It means to be adverse to change and innovation while holding on to traditional values. By the standards of the time, Jesus would be a liberal. He changed the traditional system. Now, 2k years later, the system of beliefs put in place by/because of him are considered tradition. So anyone that goes against that is considered a liberal.

One other thing to note:
One of the definitions of liberal is one who is willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas.

[jennifer_bloom]

I believe people view Christianity through the idea of correctional adjustments rather than proactive kindness because correctional adjustments seem to bind better with the idea of eternal punishment and temporary grace. I think coercive control for the purposes of religious obedience is how many interpret the teachings of the bible because they do not have known methodologies for achieving holiness without coercive control, since those are more implicit and uncommonly acquired in the study of the bible.

[Jackblue]

What Jesus preached was voluntary charity and kindness to those less fortunate. Some churches (aka liberation theology) have turned that into the idea that though shalt not steal and though shalt not covet aren't real commandments even though in Luke 12:13 he specifically refuses to force people to give up their money. To be fair there are certainly some conservative Christians who use religion as an excuse to be haughty and selfish, examples are the evangelicals at restaurants who thinking that the wait staff (being largely young working women) must be "immoral" give them bible tracts for tips.

[LiamJHayden]

Liberal and conservative are fluid terms with their meaning relative to the current culture. A liberal in the UK in the 1650's might support firearm ownership by common people. A conservative in 1950's USA might support 50% top tax rates. So Jesus's liberalism must be judged by the culture of being under the heel of the Romans as well as the religious orthodoxy of the time.

[SoJust]

Because Jesus was not understood, if Jesus was really understood, sheep would live with coyotes, and there would be no wars in the world, everyone would love each other, everyone would be happy, everyone would forgive each other, no one would hurt anyone with words, words

[NamerOfStars]

Because those who embrace more theologically liberal ideas are less likely to subscribe specifically to Christianity, and those more ideologically liberal are less likely to cling to specific doctrines in general.

[Dargil]

Jesus' "policies" were Classical Liberal and Populist. So is (Oh, Nooooh!) Donald Trump. If you think, there is no contradiction here.

[genericname85]

liberal and conservative is a spectrum. jesus was liberal compared with the people of his time. but compared to society these days, he's hella conservative.

[Lara_Croft]

I don't think he's considered liberal. He's the son of God

[236color]

Because organized religion is not about God, it's about control.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

These are values that some kids are raised with and when they get older they get away from all of that stuff.

[WhitneySnow]

Because they’re not following the intent of Jesus’s word

[slatyb]

Because many thoughtful people have left religion behind.

[strateguy632]

but not the smartest. for a hundred years most of the smartest people rejected atheism and chose chroistianity. see my mytake for sources.

[slatyb]

@strateguy632 A hundred years? I've been in high tech my whole life and almost everyone is secular. Academia is largely secular. The fellows of the AAAS, the top scientists in their field, are over 90% secular. I don't care about the past when there was a social cost to being openly skeptical. Today there isn't, and secularism is rising rapidly in the developed world. Here in Seattle professionals are majority secular, and it's similar in other west coast cities.

[RealMarek]

Many scholars and theologians project themselves onto their interpretation of Jesus.

[Tomisworthless]

I agree Jesus would be for a lack of Sovereign nations, gay sex, discrimination against people of another race, lies, transgenderism and anti semitic sentiments

[strateguy632]

1, jesus did not avoid the issues of "soveriegn nations" he said give ceasar taxes. so he was "for soverieng nations" not lack. jesus taught paul men with women. opposite of your words.

[Tomisworthless]

@strateguy632 yeah it’s called sarcasm bud, that’s why Jesus wouldn’t be a liberal.

[OddBeMe]

Because it’s about control and it’s easier to control conservatives versus libs.

[strateguy632]

i agree with siren here.

[Pterodon]

I’ve never considered him liberal

[ohsheeT]

You're a puppet.