Are Conservatives Christians?
Here are some thoughts I posted on a friend’s blog. I’m not sure if they make sense, but they got me to thinking. Maybe they’ll do the same for you. Tell me what you think, if you have time.
Some interesting points in this post, Jason. Certainly worth considering. I do not like labels of any kind. Even the term “Christian” has almost become totally distasteful to me because of the cheap way it is used, and the way so called “Christians” and “Christian ministries” dishonor Christ and pretty much throw out the Bible in so many areas. So when it comes down to “Liberal” vs. “Conservative”, I agree that neither of those terms is synonymous with “Biblical”. We are to be a people that believes the Bible, and believes in the One who wrote it. And we are to apply that filter to the issues of our day. To be precise, we should not ask “what is conservative?” but “what is Biblical?” 
That being said…
Conservative principles frequently fit the Biblical model. Not all people agree with that, but that’s ok, they can be wrong. 
Not all people bathe regularly either, but that doesn’t justify their behavior. Now, Conservative principles are not perfect, and are not always Biblically sound. I know that. But more often than not they do line up with Scriptural teaching, and even on economic issues. (You apparently disagree with that statement.) For that reason I am not sorry to call myself a Conservative. A Biblical Conservative.
On economics, that is a subject where I am probably rather weak. But I do not believe Christ’s teachings fall in line with modern Liberalism. (i.e. a welfare state.) He did teach us to care for the poor and sick, and the widows, etc. but that does not mean it is the governments job to do it. He intended for Believers to do that work. So the real problem here is that Christians have failed in their responsibilities. He taught us personal responsibility.
It’s that old adage, if a man is starving is it better to give him a fish, or teach him how to fish? (Or do both?) A Liberal would pass a law stating that half of all fish caught must be given to the government (a fish tax?) so that they can feed those needy people who cannot catch a fish. We need to ask ourselves if it is really Christian to have high taxes so the government can take care of everything, from giving us our food to planning our retirement. That is essentially the Liberal philosophy for economics.
[Edit to original comment] Conservative, Capitalist economics have been proven by history to be
more effective in relieving and fixing the poverty of mankind. Not the
poverty of their soul mind you, but of their physical conditions.
That’s all the government is supposed to do really. Make a place safe
to live in, and give opportunity for success. But when it comes to
changing people, government has to bow out. Unless you want to live in a Theocracy.
Liberals want to take our money and decide who should get it, and who is the most needy, and basically have the government care for us all. Not many of them will say that, and probably most of them do not go to that extreme. They believe varying levels of that doctrine. But Liberalism is very close to Socialism, and Socialism is only half a step from Communism. Communism is an instrument used by the Devil to bring great wickedness and Godlessness to a people. No thank you. (Some people say that the early church was a communist system because everyone gave their possessions to the church leaders and they distributed it according to who had need. The only problem with that teaching is that the early Christians gave of their possessions willingly, as opposed to being forced, which is what communism requires. They also gave these things to the body of Christ, full of righteous leaders, not to the government.)
But then again, we could also live under Conservative tyranny. As you say, you cannot legislate morality. You cannot force someone to stop sinning through government actions. That is why the founding fathers of this nation said that our nation is doomed if we are not, first and foremost, a Christian nation. That does not mean a Baptist nation, or a Methodist nation, or a Presbyterian nation, but a nation of people who are changed by the power of Christ. They said that unless the people are not morally right inside, and have a foundationally Biblical worldview, then our nation will crumble regardless of what type of government we have. The deeper problem in our country is not the rise of bad laws or leaders, not the fight between Conservative and Liberal, but the loss of Christ in our culture. (Which began to happen long before 1950.) Bad laws and evil leaders are a judgement upon a people. That is taught over and over again in the Scriptures.
So in my view, the rise of ungodly laws and policies in our government is the fault of the people, especially God’s people. As we live ungodly, wicked lives, God judges us with ungodly and wicked leaders.
Wow. That kind of went all over, but those are some of my thoughts. I hope you get a chance to chew on them.
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
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Bravo!! Well said!
(chewing)
mmmmfffmggb. Sorry about that, i was just trying to type with my mouth full. <-bad joke, i’m sorry. 😀
I’m glad that we agree on many points. I don’t know how to respond to your claim about conservative economics having a history of being more effective than liberal economics, because i’m not knowledgeable on the topic…but i’m certain that a staunch liberal would find that statement to be debatable. (aren’t we always debating about which president is responsible for economic upswings? and arent’ there always valid arguments that can be made for both sides?)
you said:
“On economics, that is a subject where I am probably rather weak. But I do not believe Christ’s teachings fall in line with modern Liberalism. (i.e. a welfare state.) He did teach us to care for the poor and sick, and the widows, etc. but that does not mean it is the governments job to do it.”
Here is where you and I have appropriately identified a major difference to our approaches to economics. I don’t think that welfare/medicare/medicaid are by any means perfect systems, but i do believe them to be necessary. I find that we often make judgements of these systems based on the extreme cases of abuse. Imagine if all Christians were judged by the actions of certain heretical and ungodly leaders.
I believe that there is a need for a “welfare state” because without them, people would go hungry, be homeless and die from curable diseases. The governemt by far and large funds a lot of things through our tax dollars. I don’t think that we should cut their economic intervention short when it comes to aiding those in need.
But regardless of our views on what we should do with our government, it’s good that we can come back to rest on God’s word and it’s authority.
Lots of good thoughts Jarod and well said. One point of clarification; Every law passed is an attempt to “legislate morality” ….that’s what laws do. Think about it. We (the legislature) believe people should do or not do these things because they are correct(right) or incorrect(wrong) things to do, etc….(In our opinion…) Laws cannot change the sin nature of man and in that sense they cannot change morality…but they can and do change behavior everyday. You see the difference?
Llroomtemp needs to understand the nature of man better. Would he work for $50 a day if someone was willing to give him $60 for not working?? That, my friend is the “welfare state” ….it takes the sin nature of man and produces irresponsibility by taking from the productive and giving to the deliberately non-productive. Perhaps 90% of the “welfare state” are there because of poor, irresponsible choices. And we, the productive ones, aid and abet that lifestyle through the welfare state. Think about it.
Well said “Papa”.
And you are right about laws and “legislating morality.” Thanks for the clarification.
And RoomTempJ, thanks for the comments. And the joke wasn’t that bad. I’ve given my share of bad jokes, so I feel your pain.
Hmmm….I would have to say that I agree with Jarod on all these points. While all the arguments are valid, the tend to gloss over the fact that we as Christians, men and women who are supposed to follow after Christ’s example have failed to do as He commanded. Would we need welfare if we take care of our parents? If we would teach our sons and daughters to have morals and a work ethic? Medicare/Medicaid…think about it…it is for older people who don’t work anymore and don’t have anyone to support them. Does God teach it is the responsibility of the government to make sure they have what they need to live? No….He says we are to take care of them. Sadly, we live in a day and age when the elderly people all live together in nursing homes and retirement centers and are no longer a part of the lives of thier children. The bottom line is that we all have a choice…we have allowed men to run our nation who we know do not stand upon the very truths our country was founded on. I myself have not done enough to make sure that does not happen I know. Again…I am faced with a choice, the next time around I am going to do my part?
Christ being taken out of our government and decisions is exaclty what the problem is. When you take Him out, when you take out the fact that there are absolutes, that we DO NOT have to be tolerant of sin (was Christ ever tolerant of sin) well….it ends us up right where we are.
There was a reference made to “sin nature”…this is a subject I am currently studying…so I won’t say too much about it. But I will say this…did our nature change when sin entered the garden? God created us in His image…before God allowed Satan into the garden we did not have a sin nature…so did it change when Adam and Eve chose to sin? If so, does that nature change when we accept Christ as our Savior and Redeemer? These are just some thoughts I am pondering…..