I was having lunch this week with two friends and in the course of conversation, both mentioned concerns about their local churches shifting a bit too far towards “liberal.” The emphasis on caring for the poor and the marginalized competed, in their minds, with the centrality of the Great Commission. I could tell that both of my friends care deeply about protecting the integrity of the gospel. They want to be sure that the church is influencing our culture, and not the other way around.

For most of my fifty-five years—first in my family of origin, then in my conservative schooling, and later in a number of different faith communities—just about the worst thing you could call anyone was a liberal. Whether the context was political, social, or spiritual, the label was damning. And I understand: it’s very human to carry a fear that convictions and values we hold dearly are under attack overtly or being undermined insidiously.

I’d like to talk today about why I have come, relatively recently, to relish the fundamental meaning of the word liberal…and why I think Jesus would relish it as well. Can we go there? What feelings rise as you consider this possibility? Would you be willing to read to the end?

Most of my friends would probably identify more with the label of “conservative” than “liberal”…and the last thing I want to do is offend people or compromise relationships with those I love. And I guess that is a conscious part of my appeal: Can we lean in with those who see the world differently instead of leaning away in fear or distrust? I hope so. I think that Jesus would want us to keep these kinds of conversations going with mutual love and respect.

I want to clarify that I am not using the term liberal to refer to the political machine that represents one of two untrustworthy power structures in our country. Our first associations with “liberal” and “conservative” are usually to political parties…but political power structures have their own agendas that do not always represent the virtues of either liberal or conservative vision. In addition, these power structures specialize in villainizing the other side, which erodes opportunities for respectful dialog that are in such short supply today.

So, if not political, then in what sense am I championing the idea of liberalism?

The essence of the word “liberal” means to be generous. And to be generous (in any ongoing way) requires us to experience life from a worldview of abundance. If I have enough, then I can share some of what I have with you. If I have more than enough, then generosity can actually become a way of life—looking for those who are in need and finding ways to give of myself, whether that be in time or money or prayer or empathy. A liberal person is a generous person.

The origin of the word “liberal” is from the Latin for “free” (liber)…and the connection between generosity and freedom is profound. To be financially free is to allow for financial generosity. To have free space on my calendar allows me to be generous with my time. (And this particular kind of generosity is rare, isn’t it!) To be mentally spacious allows me to avoid the preoccupation, distraction, and mental clutter that chain me to my own small self-conscious, self-referencing world. A liberal person is a free person.

The connotations of the word “liberal” imply compassion. Why would we want to be generous and give freely unless we were motivated to meet the needs of those in distress? Unless we had eyes to see their needs, empathize with their plight, and were moved to bring the abundance of God-in-us into that place of suffering? Our world is crying out for mercy, not judgment. For healing, not withdrawal. Orthodoxy (right belief) is empty and impotent without orthopraxy (right action), so a liberal person is a compassionate person.

The implications of the word “liberal” require optimism. God is a redeemer, not an abandoner…yet some of the more destructive versions of Christian theology have led people to give up on the future of our world. Salvation is only understood in terms of getting yanked out of this world before it goes under, rather than receiving the blessed hope that “the kingdom of heaven has come near”…or, as one translation puts it, “is close enough to touch!” As we study the life of Jesus, we see the furthest thing from a dour, despondent, or pessimistic message. A liberal person is an optimistic person.

Do I want to be generous, free, compassionate, and optimistic? You bet I do. And I’ll bet that you do too, regardless of your political affiliation. The alternative, of course, is to find ourselves stingy, slavish, suspicious, and jaded. Sadly, I have found myself in that condition at times, much to my dismay, and recognized that it amounted to a distress call for help. Fortunately, God is always on standby to rescue the humble heart in such dark places.

Yes, God is vested in our liberality because it is intrinsic in the very nature of God to be generous, free, compassionate, and optimistic…as demonstrated in the life of Jesus. I could take the time to offer many biblical examples to this point, but I think any thoughtful person would acknowledge as much. In fact, if there is one theological concept and term that parallels the essence of liberalism, it is the word grace.

What is grace but a compassion-fueled, optimistically hopeful, overwhelmingly generous, freely-given, freely-received invitation out of oppression and into the all-embracing, all-forgiving, all-restoring arms of the Prodigal Father?

Such liberality stands in stark contrast to the Pharisees with their petty, judgy, scarcity-minded, walk-on-the-other-side-of-the-road, arrogant and even violent ethos. “Woe to you,” Jesus declared, “Because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.” Woe to you because you are not liberal, he might well have said! And woe to the Pharisee that lives in all of us.

Truth is, we’re all recovering Pharisees…and the road to recovery is a liberal road. Being a Democrat doesn’t make you liberal, but being a follower of Jesus should. And if you vote Republican, then be a liberal Republican. May we carry a spirit of increasing generosity, lavish abundance, and compassionate concern for “the least of these” in every facet of our lives…from our secret devotional practices to our church worship to our political discourse to our community service. Let’s redeem the word “liberal” and champion it as the very Spirit of Christ that we get to carry in this world.

The problem with labels like “conservative” and “liberal” is that it’s terribly easy to attach our identity to them and then confuse an important social or economic agenda with our actual, essential selves. Instead, let’s anchor our true identity in the character and love of Christ. This could ease some of the tension we feel with our brothers and sisters across who see the world differently from us.

“Unitive consciousness” is a term used to describe the intrinsic connection we all share as part of the human family. We literally belong to one another, despite any ideological divide. Spend some time this week asking God how to bring this truth more fully into your personal awareness and relational interactions.

In the truest sense, let’s all be liberal.