How to Follow Jesus and Offend the Left and the Right

Those who follow Jesus faithfully and strive to live biblically can offend those on the political left and right by proclaiming the following:

  1. Left: that God promises prosperity to those who walk in his ways,
  2. Right: that Jesus told his disciples to give all their riches to the poor if they wished to be his disciple.
  3. Right: that Christ calls us to love our enemies and turn our cheek.
  4. Left: that Jesus is returning as a warrior who will destroy his enemies.
  5. Right: that those caught in sin like the woman caught in adultery should not be condemned.
  6. Left: that adultery is sin.
  7. Right: that creation is good apart from its usefulness to man.
  8. Left: that God has given humankind dominion over nature.
  9. Right: that the pollution of God’s creation is a sin against God.
  10.  Left: that our idolatry and sexual immorality also pollutes the land.
  11. Right: that God judges nations on how they treat the poor, alien, orphan and widow,
  12. Left: that some poverty is the result of sloth and foolishness.
  13. Right: that real faith in God means trusting in Him, not in weapon systems.
  14.  Left: that God really does destroy His enemies or even judge his people through armies with weapons.
  15. Right: that God desires to deliver the oppressed like He delivered Israel from Egypt.
  16. Left: that God will destroy some of the oppressed for idolatry like He did Israel.
  17. Right: that God is love,
  18. Left: that God is holy.
  19. Right: that God loves everyone without partiality,
  20. Left: that people can only come to the Father through his Son Jesus Christ.
  21. Right: that God loves the world.
  22. Left: that friendship with the world is hatred toward God.
  23. Right: that Jesus ate with sinners.
  24. Left: that Jesus referred to those he ate with as sinners.
  25. Right: that laws and government won’t create a moral society
  26. Left: that laws and government won’t create a just society.
  27. Right: that Jesus did not call us to judge the world.
  28. Left: that Christians are called to judge one another in righteousness.
  29. Right: that God calls us to forgive everyone.
  30. Left: that those who refuse to forgive others will not be forgiven by God

About Mark

I live in Myrtle Point, Oregon with my wife Teckla and am the father of four boys. Currently I teach writing and literature at Southwest Oregon Community College. I am a graduate of Myrtle Point High School, Northwest Nazarene College, and have a Masters in English from Washington State University.
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