Conservatism vs Christianity

[Bold Believer]

How to handle the situation?

The things of this world and every deception are meant to get us to hope in this life. This world is still in the hands of the wicked one.

Instead of weeping and falling to our knees in the early seventies over Roe v Wade the majority of the church got political. The seventies was the sign that America had slid to far. Roe v Wade was a symptom as was gay activism, new age, the Steelers winning four super bowls etc. A symptom of a nation gone bad.

We can't fix this in the flesh, that was and still is a mistake.

The Jews had physical battles but in the new covenant our battles are spiritual. The Jews had a physical structure, a house of God, but in the new covenant we are the stones that make a holy habitation for the Lord. The Jews had the church state, the place God was worshiped and dwelt on the earth, we like our father Abraham are sojourners looking for a city built by God. America is a nation as are all the rest. God loves the conservative the liberal the homosexual the Marxist, communist, Buddist, Muslim etc. But he hates what draws them into it and the institutions, but he loves the people in them.

We are His servants, ambassadors of His kingdom to come, to bring the gospel of peace, to speak the gospel of the kingdom. Speaking the truth in love.

What can we do? When Paul was surrounded with all the Greek statues and pegan worship in Athens he didn't bind territorial spirits or put on a healing show, he preached the gospel.

America may be to far gone, maybe not, I don't know. But we all know people destined for hell if they don't repent. We can at the least, start there. But first we need to start with ourselves. "Deny yourself, pick your cross and follow Me"-- Jesus

the Steelers winning four super bowls etc. FOUL SINNER! REPENT! (LOL...Go Steelers!)

[Arthur Durnan]

Conservatism seems best by far with respect to upholding Christian principles. UltraLibDems remind this observer of wanting to crush individualism & to alter one's personal relationship with the Higher Power Whom we call Almighty God. Jesus Christ calls individuals to Him, one at a time to exercise his/her faith & trust, and therefore individuals become ultimately a nation of people. Conservatism looks to the power of God in a life. Official Liberaldom underscores Man as Deliverer with Man's philosophy at the helm. God Bless America indeed - not Obama & his rampant socialism - but America & the ideals upon which it was founded.

[Zemke]

Funny, I did it for a bit a humor, thanks for getting it. I am a Steeler fan but know how much people love them to lose.

Good team this year. I liked the mix. Thought they could beat any brand of football thrown at them but the injuries all year kept them from showing how good of a team was put together. O line, line backers, key positions hurt, yet they still won 12 games.

Edited February 12, 2012 by ZEMKE

[ByFaithAlone]

Conservatism seems best by far with respect to upholding Christian principles. UltraLibDems remind this observer of wanting to crush individualism & to alter one's personal relationship with the Higher Power Whom we call Almighty God. Jesus Christ calls individuals to Him, one at a time to exercise his/her faith & trust, and therefore individuals become ultimately a nation of people. Conservatism looks to the power of God in a life. Official Liberaldom underscores Man as Deliverer with Man's philosophy at the helm. God Bless America indeed - not Obama & his rampant socialism - but America & the ideals upon which it was founded.

This observer respectfully disagrees with you. How exactly do you see liberalism as altering your relationship with God? That relationship is personal, so how can it be so affected by the political party or parties which hold office? Conservatism does not, by nature, look towards God's power in life. Certainly, some conservatives are theists, but they do not have to be. Generally, conservatives uphold the free market and "conservative" social values of the past. This in no way, shape or form inclines them towards Christianity. In the same way, liberalism favors a more limited market system with more government involvement and newer more "liberal" social views as compared to those of the past. Again, this in no way, shape or form inclines them against Christianity. As to Obama and his "socialism," certainly he is more liberal but he is not socialist or communist.

[SavedByGrace1980]

We have to be careful when we attempt to find "liberal" or "conservative" tenets (in the political sense) in Scripture. For one thing, the idea that one could have even a tiny voice in secular government was a completely foreign concept in Old Testament times. And, unless one was a Roman Citizen - it wouldn't have been understood in New Testament times either.

Was Moses a liberal? A conservative? What about Kings Saul, David and Solomon? In the eyes of God, any political leanings these men might have held would be irrelevant.

Jesus said we would always have the poor with us (Matt. 26:11a), but I doubt He intended for us to foist them off on the government. In fact, I cannot recall any Scripture where Jesus directed US to get SOMEONE ELSE to do something. His words were always directed at the person or audience to whom He was speaking. For instance, He told one rich young ruler in particular to sell all he had and give it to the poor, but I believe it's a mistake to extrapolate from that that ALL rich people should donate all they have. He - being God incarnate - knew the man's heart and what he treasured. Amazing - some rich people can be generous, and some poor people can be selfish. We are all unique individuals, and Christ deals with each one of us individually.

I believe a case can be made that the Temple system was the "big government" of Jesus' day. Like its present day DC brethren, it was charged with taking care of the poor, sick and less fortunate. Yet its people in charge - the Scribes and Pharisees - were completely corrupt. Jesus called them "hypocrites" and "white-washed sepulchers" (Matt. 23:27). Could He just as accurately have been describing today's corrupt politicians?

Christianity is a PERSONAL relationship with Christ - it has little if anything to do with our political outlook. We grow closer to Him not by priests making sacrifices in a Temple building (or even by paying our taxes to "Caesar") but by sacrificing ourselves to His will - our bodies are the Temple.

I happen to be a conservative politically - but that doesn't prevent me from seeing that some political conservatives are far from God. They love war - they love money - they love oppressing people. But you know what? Some political liberals are guilty of those same sins. How many rich "liberal" politicians have you heard of who rake in millions per year, yet give just a pittance of their personal wealth to charity. Likewise, some political liberals ARE very generous and giving.

So - not to be unkind, but anyone who claims Jesus is a "liberal" (or a "conservative" for that matter) is completely missing His message and what He was about.

My 2 cents.

Blessings!

-Ed

[nebula]

Good word, Ed!

[evergreenjo]

I think he's a one-hit wonder. Christian sites attract the strangest trolls ...

So true! Likely that and not staying around to be informed, enlightened, or changed.

[evergreenjo]

Ed, nicely put...

Just adding:

As for me, I am not into labels as such. It's not too long before I will have lived 3/4 of a century. Having seen many come to and go out of political power and having studied history (used to teach it)..I know that I would be sadly disappointed and uneasy if...

my faith was based in the government alone (especially during these times) ..although I do pray for our leaders and take much interest in and care about what happens. My faith and hope is in the Lord who is sovereign. His kingdom come; His will be done..here and hereafter.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

[JustinM]

I disagree, Conservatism is not on the polar opposite of the political spectrum. I believe conservatism is, for the most part, a uniquely American political philosophy. No other country has a constitution like ours, or our form of government. Conservatives believe that the US Constitution was modeled after the 10 Commandments, but written in terms that all Americans, Christian and Non-Christian can use to interact with each other and their government civily.

Where the Church goes wrong is caring more about this life than the next one, so from that perspective the OP has a valid point. We are instructed to be of the world but not part of it. Sometimes the Church becomes politically active as a substitute for spiritual activism and that is something we need to correct. Yes, we do have to use the political process to protect our belief system, but let's not make it the top priority in our lives.