There’s a bit of debate about Jesus’ politics these days.

“Jesus would send all these right-wing pseudo-Christians straight to hell,” writes Jack Clark.

“I can prove Jesus was a Republican,” writes Darrin Yaeger....

“Many of us feel that our faith has been stolen, and it’s time to take it back,” writes Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine. “An enormous public misrepresentation of Christianity has taken place. Many people around the world now think Christian faith stands for political commitments that are almost the opposite of its true meaning. How did the faith of Jesus come to be known as pro-rich, pro-war, and pro-American? And how do we get back to a historic, biblical, and genuinely evangelical faith rescued from its contemporary distortions?....

Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Its meaning is obvious for anti-war Christians – Jesus was against all war.

However, He was also against evil – so, the same verse is very effectively quoted in America’s intervention against the Nazis as they undertook to exterminate every non-blond “Aryan” in Europe. Today does it also apply to the Taliban in Afghanistan burning schools for girls and growing opium in support of jihad? What about Saddam Hussein in Iraq? Muamar Khadafi’s Libya? Syria? Egypt? Pakistan? Nigeria?

But say the anti-war Christians, what about “Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39) and “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)? Obviously Jesus was anti-war, right?....

“Jesus’ life is not an abstract subject to be debated by experts,” writes Ortberg. “It is an invitation. Do you know what Jesus said about anything? Try living accordingly. Take a stab at removing contempt from your life, and see how life runs. See how well you are able to do it. Try living as if there is a heavenly Father who cares for and listens to you. Try living ‘without worry’ one day at a time.”