"The Nurturant and Authoritative ways of life are motivated by very different core values. For instance, Nurturants prioritize traits such as acceptance, empathy, cooperation, perspective taking, and open-mindedness, and they support democracy. Authoritatives cherish obedience to rules, social order, individual responsibility, absolute certainty of the correctness of their views, and lean towards autocratic leaders." (John Sanders)
Jesus taught the Nurturing way of life and sought to get those who follow the Authoritative way to turn around and follow him. He said that this would pit family members against one another (Matt 10:34–39). Religious Nurturants and Authoritatives clashed in the first century and in every century since. Today, we feel the polarization in society and the split in families. (John Sanders)
Jesus came to turn us away from a way of life based on authority, tribalism, and getting what you deserve to one grounded in acceptance, grace, love, and forgiveness…He showed grace to Jews who did not practice the food laws and welcomed Gentiles. He sought to bring people more fully into the Nurturing life and invited those who lived by the Authoritative approach into a more nourishing way of life. He wanted to change how families and institutions relate to one another. (John Sanders)