Q2: How to combat the current events attacking Christianity and conservatism in today’s society? Can you truly be “liberal” as today’s society defines it and an obedient righteous Christian?
CONSERVATIVE?
Christianity and conservatism are not the same thing. Jesus is not a Republican, and He is not a conservative. If a conservative is a person who is resistant to change, then clearly Jesus (and His followers) are not conservative. Jesus calls for a total change in anyone who would follow Him, and this is to overflow into all areas of life. They are to no longer put family, friends, nation, politics or any self-interests before Him. Following Jesus means applying His standards to all areas of life. This changes everything.
Consider, how does Jesus want us to view family? What is God’s purpose for marriage and what standards does He give us for it? When does a human life begin and how are we to protect the weak? These are all issues that God speaks about in His word with great passion and clarity. We are not to simply do what is right in our own eyes.
However, there are other issues that are typically seen as part of the conservative position that may look very different when seen through God’s Word. How should the government involve itself in matters of charity and humanitarian aid, how aggressive and powerful should the national defense be? How should we view our borders and how should we treat refugees? God’s Word has much to say about compassion, mercy and kindness.
LIBERAL?
But, Jesus is not a Democrat either, and He is not a political liberal. The liberal sees individual liberty and rights to be the most important driver of political action. In other words, they think the highest standard for truth and the foundational building block of culture should be the desires of the individual human heart. God’s Word contradicts this notion saying that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked1,” and Jesus takes it further saying, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander2.” It doesn’t seem to me that Jesus would support “follow your heart” as the highest aspirations of a culture.
Those who would follow Jesus must not follow any political ideas without first looking at those ideas through the lens of scripture. We must not trust even our own heart, but instead put our faith in Him.
1. Jeremiah 17:9
2. Matthew 15:9
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
This is a problem where thinking in terms of priorities helps. That is, asking the question, “who has the first claim on my heart, mind, and alegiance?” If you say that it is kind of obvious the answer is Jesus.
But, if you want to get something done, you end up needing to use the political or social structures of the day. So you end up having to take the tag or conservative or liberal even if, as Franks points out, they are not particularly helpful in understanding what it really means to be a Christian.
My own sense is that a Christian can “use” the names conservative or liberal and may need both in his or her life of Christian service. But the first claim on our heart needs to be the Word of Truth. After that everything else is just back chatter.
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I think it also depends on your definition of liberal. This has been a topic I’ve tossed over and over in my head. Generally, I’m drawn toward the republican side because of the typical bible-centered values (pro-life, etc). But I’m beginning to think that it’s more important to vote for the candidate who will best protect people’s freedoms — which might mean a more liberal candidate. Obedience of God’s laws based only on the compulsion of manmade laws is not true obedience, and it doesn’t bring non-Christians into a relationship with God. God gave us free will, but when it comes to political laws Christians would prefer not to extend the same freedoms to neighbors that may not agree with our principles. We’re worried that voting in ways that promote free will somehow condones the behaviors. By God’s example, that’s not true.
I also think Christianity is purer without politics mixed in… and I think that might’ve been God’s point when He tried to tell the Israelites they didn’t need a king.
God’s gift of free will doesn’t mean a lack of influence or opinion. God clearly made his desires and will known to us and built a close relationship with us. Christians should definitely seek to influence their communities for God’s glory, but if we look to God’s model for that, it’s going to happen on a personal, grass-roots level rather than under the constructs of a vast political system.
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
Isn’t communism considered the most extreme form of liberalism? How does communism see “individual liberty and rights to be the most important driver of political action”? Seems like it favors the collective more than the individual. When I think of individual rights, I think of the Libertarian party, because they believe small gov’t and individual rights go hand in hand.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Again, I still think Christians have to deal with the very practical problem of how to achieve political ends which are often necessary and good extensions of their Christian life and walk. If I want to run for a school board position being an “independent Christian” gives me little chance of success. I need a tag that I can live with and other people feel happy voting for.
I dont agree that you can keep politics and religion apart. It is the nature of Christianity to want and desire to shape the world. That inevitably leads to political engagement.
I agree that all parties and various “isms” have a core set of beliefs that drives their actions. Collectivist or individualist it all boils down to whose beliefs system will animate your actions in the real world. We Christians should have a clear answer for that.