CHRISTIANITY AND CONSERVATISM
As we start a new year, it is good to reevaluate our relations with God, with family, with neighbors, with society and with ourselves. We live in times when people make quick decisions about politicians, events, news reports, neighbors and themselves without really critically thinking through the evidence. We consider ourselves liberal or conservative based on what others say and condemn others based on these descriptors. Both terms are vague in accordance with how far right or left within each category you may be. I hope to shed a little information so that we might understand more clearly WHO WE ARE.
Conservatives basically believe there should be moral order in our society and that that moral order is understood to be the principles taught by Christ. That there is a right and wrong which is clearly stated in the Holy Bible. Conservatives stand against accepting liberalism that has set men and women adrift in moral decadence as defined by God: same sex marriage, sexual identity confusion, pornography, sexual perversion and trafficking, and abortion.
Conservatives believe that maintaining our customs, and values including love for our country and its constitution are essential for peace and that any change that needs to be done should be done decently and in a timely manner. Established things should not be changed quickly but be done with great thought and deliberation. We trust in the wisdom of those who came before but also recognize that some change must come because of injustices of the past and nuances of the present time.
We recognize and believe that we cannot accept uniformity and that there will never be equality. Diversity will always exist. Even Jesus said we will always have the poor among us. Attempting to level society will stagnate society. Man is imperfect and there is no social order that will bring eutopia, only God can do that.
Freedom of speech and property make a stable society. When people work for their land, property and possessions they are more appreciative of their accomplishments and are more responsible for them. Those who are simply given housing through welfare programs do not love and care for their gift. Few make the property more valuable, but instead the home is destroyed and the neighborhood property values drop.
Conservatives want successful communities and believe local decision making is necessary. When local organizations are taken over by centralized government and government policies, there is a loss of freedom, dignity and respect for local issues and diminishes efficiency and volunteer charity. Restraint on power and the passion for power should be monitored locally.
All these things form the foundation of conservative thought. There are certainly other things, some more radical than others, that could be mentioned but to keep this short I will summarize here. All of these issues and concerns are only valid and workable if we depend on God. As Christians we understand that we are here to establish the Kingdom of God, therefore we must read his manual for the kingdom. The church has not always been in the right, in particular to the issues of racism and prejudice. We don’t like the sins of this world, but we must love the people caught in it. We can love and speak the truth in love to those who are misled and in captivity to their sins. The Word says in Matthew 7:1-5: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and desire Him to show grace and mercy to us. Let’s start a new year with a new resolve to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Conservatives basically believe there should be moral order in our society and that that moral order is understood to be the principles taught by Christ. That there is a right and wrong which is clearly stated in the Holy Bible. Conservatives stand against accepting liberalism that has set men and women adrift in moral decadence as defined by God: same sex marriage, sexual identity confusion, pornography, sexual perversion and trafficking, and abortion.
Conservatives believe that maintaining our customs, and values including love for our country and its constitution are essential for peace and that any change that needs to be done should be done decently and in a timely manner. Established things should not be changed quickly but be done with great thought and deliberation. We trust in the wisdom of those who came before but also recognize that some change must come because of injustices of the past and nuances of the present time.
We recognize and believe that we cannot accept uniformity and that there will never be equality. Diversity will always exist. Even Jesus said we will always have the poor among us. Attempting to level society will stagnate society. Man is imperfect and there is no social order that will bring eutopia, only God can do that.
Freedom of speech and property make a stable society. When people work for their land, property and possessions they are more appreciative of their accomplishments and are more responsible for them. Those who are simply given housing through welfare programs do not love and care for their gift. Few make the property more valuable, but instead the home is destroyed and the neighborhood property values drop.
Conservatives want successful communities and believe local decision making is necessary. When local organizations are taken over by centralized government and government policies, there is a loss of freedom, dignity and respect for local issues and diminishes efficiency and volunteer charity. Restraint on power and the passion for power should be monitored locally.
All these things form the foundation of conservative thought. There are certainly other things, some more radical than others, that could be mentioned but to keep this short I will summarize here. All of these issues and concerns are only valid and workable if we depend on God. As Christians we understand that we are here to establish the Kingdom of God, therefore we must read his manual for the kingdom. The church has not always been in the right, in particular to the issues of racism and prejudice. We don’t like the sins of this world, but we must love the people caught in it. We can love and speak the truth in love to those who are misled and in captivity to their sins. The Word says in Matthew 7:1-5: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and desire Him to show grace and mercy to us. Let’s start a new year with a new resolve to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.
Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully
to the work of the Lord, because you know that your
labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Tired of getting postcard reminders? Click the subscribe button and we will send you a monthly email notification when the newsletter is posted.
|
|
What you have to say: |