JESUS: PROGRESSIVE, LEFT-WING
Whether you are a Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, atheist, or any flavor of Christianity, we live in the United States of America, a country that is heavily influenced by pseudo-Christians and fundamentalist-Christians. They often use the Bible for their authority and have become very skilled at pulling out of context certain passages that support right-wing perspectives by twisting and falsifying the words.
The New Testament, especially the so-called direct quotes of Jesus of Nazareth, is clearly progressive. It is far easier to offer support for left-wing philosophies than right-wing philosophies using Jesus and the Gospels for guides.
Personally, I do not claim to be a Christian. And I am not a member of any organization or group, political or religious or whatever. But the words of the New Testament are clear. Jesus was definitely speaking of progressive approaches to life. Right-wing and so-called fundamentalist "Christians" love to carefully select passages and then reconfigure them to fit their own selfish motives.
I would suggest that you actually read the New Testament, especially the four Gospels, and especially the direct "quotes" from Jesus. Some New Testament editions present the words of Jesus in red or some different color than the other words. Read them carefully. You will find an egalitarian, a man of peace, a man who tells you to love our enemies, a man who with his family became an illegal immigrant from Egypt into Israel, a man who chastised people who love material things, and Jesus blessed the common man. Jesus believed in healing ALL people.
It would be impossible to give a comprehensive list of Bible quotes to clearly emphasize how progressive Jesus was, but following are some examples. Please read the Gospels yourself, and cringe at what is written there, and what we have done with our bullying, and with a guy who got many votes running for President [Pat Robertson] saying we should use the CIA or other agency to kill the democratically elected leader of Venezuela. Read the comments I receive here from people who seem to hate everybody and want to kill every Moslem in the world. Listen to how carefully selected and out of context right-wingers are in "quoting" Jesus. Compare that to the Jesus of the New Testament. And remember, please, that I am NOT a member of any religious group, any political group, and I do not receive money from anybody to express my views [unlike most political hacks from both sides].
[Illegal immigrant] "Joseph got up and with the little child and his mother with him, journeyed toward the land of Israel. . .he was afraid to enter the country." Matthew 2:19
[Jesus tempted by the Devil about greed] "Man does not live by bread alone." Matthew4:1-11
In chapter 6 of Matthew, Jesus gives a sermon... [re the rich, powerful, arrogant] "How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs!" "Happy are those who claim nothing for the whole earth shall belong to them!" "Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them!" "Happy are those who make peace, for they will be known as the sons of God!" "Don't pile up treasures on earth..." "You cannot serve God and the power of money at the same time." [In chapter 7:] "Treat other people exactly as you would like to be treated by them -- this is the essence of all true religion." "Be on your guard against false religious teachers, who come to you dressed up as sheep but are really greedy wolves." He admonished us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's [taxes].
[Matt chapter 11:] "Come to me, all of you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls." [chapter 16:] "For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul?" [chapter 18:] "Who is really greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a little child to his side and set him on his feet in the middle of them all. 'Believe me,' he said, 'unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. It is the man who can be as humble as this little child who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven."
It is clear that humility, forgiveness, peace, love, tolerance, egalitarianism, etc. are all part of the direct comments of Jesus of Nazareth. In a nation that often announces its Christian faith, why is it then so difficult to offer help, health care, support, tolerance, acceptance, etc. for everybody? Why do we focus on whom we can persecute and put in jail and have the state murder [capital punishment] and promote guns and be militaristic and be a nation of bullies? We are hypocrites.
[Quotes above from "The New Testament in Modern English" translated by Biblical scholar J.B. Phillips]
