Name calling, liberal and socialist

‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’  

       To me, this is one of the most foundational lines of all Scripture. In saying that Jesus is God's beloved son, we are also being told that we too are beloved children of God, with Jesus as our brother. In fact, this is how I came up with the title for this blog, Beloved Gay Disciple. We are all beloved children of God in whom She is well pleased. 

       Much of my own theology is based on this as well. When the name calling started assigning guilt for being a "liberal", I proudly stand with my head held high. Yes! I am a proud liberal, aiming to 'foist' the agenda that all people should have equal rights and generosity of the fruits of this magnificent nation because it is God that has given all of us freely of the generosity we so richly deserve as 'beloved children of God'. I want everyone to have at least as much as I have been graced with, spiritually and monetarily. Radical no doubt to some but God's abiding and limitless love is a radical notion that Jesus was the first to espouse by His life, actions and willingness to die for us.

        The charge that is being levied now so nonchalantly, yet as if it was a fatal and horrific one, is that someone is a 'socialist'. They are no doubt hearkening back to some of the most horrific examples of 'government' and 'leadership' humanity has so far exhibited. Whether it was the governments of Hitler, Mussolini or others. The evils are bad governments and the attempt to associate that irrevocably with the socialist nature with which they served their citizens. The failure there is that some of the best and most, dare I say 'Christian' policies and programs of these United States are socialist in nature. I recently read a meme on Facebook that listed some of the glowing accomplishments of this country for its citizens and they are socialist in nature. Let us not through out the baby with the bathwater.

       Dare I even point out that the Scriptures that many of us hold so dear where the Apostles and early church lived in the basic paradigm of a communist commune? All things were held in common and individuals properties and possessions were sold to support the community at large for the common good. ( Acts 2: 44-46 ). So now you can levy the claim that I am a socialist and again I will stand up with my head held high. NO, I am not looking for a Hitler, and hells no, I don't want Trump - but I would like our government to exhibit the same abundant and generous love that Gd gives us as beloved children in our policies.  Single payer insurance? Yes.  Equality in taxes? Yes. Equal rights for all? Abso-friggin-lutely!

       Call me a liberal, call me a socialist, call me a gay radical? Call me a beloved child of God. I want everyone to know it, feel it and live it.

          

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’