My curiosity was peaked recently when I saw a bumper sticker that read “Jesus would have been a liberal democrat.” Although it is one thing to make a statement like that, it is another to prove it, so I set out to find evidence of liberalism in the Bible.
What I found were several examples of Jesus advocating giving to the poor. “But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you” (Luke 11:41). “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13-14). I also found examples that advise against the love of money. “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:4-5). These are all good examples of verses that promote generosity, but the problem is, that is where the author of the bumper sticker stopped reading.
The Bible tells us that if someone is poor because they refuse to work, we should allow them to be hungry. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-14). The Bible reiterates this in the book of Proverbs. “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son” (Proverbs 10:4-5). So with regards to the needy, the first step is to use discernment about who is truly needy.
The second step is to understand who specifically has been made responsible for their care. It is not the government via welfare. Rather it is their relatives who are responsible for them. “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:3-8). If someone has no relatives and is in need, the church should step in to care for them. But for those who have relatives, they should primarily depend on them for help.
The only legitimate Biblical purpose for government is to punish wrongdoers via law enforcement and a judicial system. “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience” (Romans 13:4-5). Note that we are to pay taxes to fund these activities. “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:6-7).
Perhaps the reason why the Bible only entrusts one responsibility to government is because large, hierarchical governments had already failed as early as the Old Testament. “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still” (Ecclesiastes 5:8). One thing we learn from the gospels is that government tax collectors were known for being corrupt. “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick'” (Matthew 9:10-12).
Regarding taxes, it is clear that progressive tax rates do not have any Biblical support. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15). Other over-reaching laws, such as anti-gun laws, also find no support in Scripture. “He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.’ The disciples said, ‘See, Lord, here are two swords.’ ‘That’s enough!’ he replied. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him” (Luke 22:36-39).
Once you have established the Biblical perspective on all of these issues, especially when you add the pro-life and pro traditional marriage perspectives that are expressed in the Bible, one thing is clear: Jesus would not have been a liberal democrat. He would have been a conservative republican.
Truth Pressed 