Does the Religious Conservative Willfully Misrepresent Jesus?

Most religious conservatives probably do not willfully misrepresent Jesus; rather they are on auto pilot, afraid to think beyond what they've been taught, even when the object of their worship clearly states the exact opposite in His teachings. Religious conservatives' beliefs are based in and defined by fear of what they have to lose by opening up their minds to what Jesus has to say, and they're right to be afraid. Jesus doesn't mince words when it comes to the almighty dollar.

His main message threatens all of us because He is very clear as to how He feels about money. Some of us, like me, admit we know what Jesus is talking about but rather than follow Jesus the way he instructed us too, we feel the guilt and/or rationalize that we are following Him when we shove a $1 into the poor box.

On the other hand, religious conservatives resort to the Old Testament, searching out any Biblical verse that will set them free from Jesus' instructions. Not only that, they will turn around and preach chapter and verse on what they've found and try to convince others that this is what Jesus wanted, condemning anyone who does not conform and usually those non conformers are practicing what Jesus taught in some form.

As Peter Gomes points out in his book, Jesus’ parables all point to a standard that has not yet become the norm, and appeal to a moral reality that has not yet become the cultural social or political consensus. He is very consistent about this. Jesus preaches about a new truth which he calls the “good news” or gospel. He is not encouraging us to hold on to the "truths" of old; He is describing a truth He wants us to seek out.

Yet, the word conservative means to preserve existing conditions, to limit change as much as possible...the exact opposite of what Jesus is all about. Jesus indicts contemporary culture encouraging radical change and challenges the status quo. He hangs out with the wrong people, antagonizes the establishment and resists anyone who attempts to tame his message. Jesus is anything but conservative and ironically succumbs to a fate avidly promoted by so many of those who now worship Him.

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"Reconstructing Bibleland Doesn't Cut the Mustard"

Jesus' words: Feed the hungry; Clothe the naked; Love your neighbors; Pray for the coming of the Kingdom; Live as if the Kingdom were already here; Love your enemy, etc. do not require a genius IQ to understand, yet so many people who vociferously claim Jesus as their savior are often times the least likely to follow these simple instructions.

They are, as the Rev. Peter Gomes, Harvard professor, pastor and author of The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus says, more likely to try and "reconstruct bible land", speak in tongues, obsess over the horrors of sex...anything to take the focus off of what Jesus really said.
Pentecostal ecstasy is not the confusion of tongues. It is understanding of what the Gospel is all about.

Rev. Gomes answers the question, "What would Jesus do?" with the response,

"Who do you think you are?

Jesus can do all sorts of things, you can't. Sooo...when was the last time you turned water into wine? When was the last time you walked on the water? When was the last time you brought somebody back from the dead? Probably a very long time ago, if ever. Soooo...what would Jesus do is an excuse to do nothing and a pious loop or way out from any responsibility.?

The question should be, 'What would Jesus have me do?' You have certain talents, skills, means, motive and opportunities... given what was given to you and where you were at the moment, what did you do with what you had?

Not, what would Jesus do...invariably Jesus would do the right thing, being Jesus means you are always doing the right thing...that's great...hooray for Jesus! But the rest of us who have to cope with circumstances and difficulties and opportunities and resources...how do we use the talents that we have?
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How, when and where do we apply the teachings of what we know to be the teachings of Jesus to the world in which we live.

The challenge is, can you live as fully and faithfully now with what has been given to you and what has been presented before you as Jesus did in his time. Not doing what he did but doing what you are called to do. -- Rev. Gomes

What we are meant to do is not a great mystery. It is at the heart of the teachings of Jesus. The first step is admitting that we do understand what Jesus said, instead of purposefully creating smoke and mirrors to distract from His teachings, and then we can admit those same instructions that are so simple to understand are practically impossible to live every day...all we can do is try our best .

Jesus knows that what he's telling us to do is tough...that's why he invented forgiveness.

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