Often times, I tend to be too opinionated. I'm
very prideful and struggle with accepting others' ideas. So you might think
that I'm following in that vein when I say that I think Christians should be
conservatives. At first glance, it seems bigoted. The Bible says no such thing!
You are indeed correct. Hear me out.
Clearly, the Bible does not say one must be a
conservative. I won't pretend that it does. I would never claim that someone
who votes Democrat can't be a Christian. In fact, some of the things that
liberals claim to champion can be quite enticing to Christians. Love,
tolerance, and helping the poor are absolutely Christian ideals! However, being
a Christian and a Liberal at the same time is inconsistent. The
fundamental foundation of liberalism is at odds with God. God and liberalism
are the antithesis of each other. Admittedly, not on the surface. It's easy to
be fooled. But, the fundamental principles of liberalism are the eradication of
God and the deification of the State. In essence, the goal of liberalism is to
replace God with the government. This is absolutely logical from an atheistic
point of view. With no God, the government is the highest institution of
morality and perfection. If men's minds can define reality than what can the
greatest minds all working in concert with one another achieve? They would be
as gods.
Ever social program, every infringement of religion, every attempt to
control people's minds, is all aimed at elevating the state to fill the role of
God. Upton Sinclair said, "The American people will take socialism without
the label." That's exactly what is happening right now! It's all the
little things. We don't see them as major battlegrounds. But I'll tell you,
this war isn't blitzkrieg. It's trench warfare.
My point is this: liberalism is the champion of these ideals. Whereas, conservative ideals preserve the dignity of man, freedom, and government's proper role. To claim that one is a Christian and yet vote for someone who is liberal is absolutely inconsistent. That's like being a vegan and voting for a butcher. Liberalism is absolutely dead-set on dethroning God and crowning the state. Many liberals don't even know that. They think they're helping the poor. Yes, that's admirable. But ultimately, you're just slowly handing over your freedom so that they can be your new king and savior. That's what the State wants to do. They don't want their people to have freedom! That means LESS power for them. Why would they want that? Hand them all of yourself. They won't stop until they've got your heart, mind, and allegiance. That's exactly what Christ requires. So, I pose this question to you, "Who do you choose? Who's it gonna be? Christ or the State?" That's what it all comes down to. That's what is at stake. It's a lot more than "I want guns." The real issue is "I want Christ to be my King. Not the state."
My point is this: liberalism is the champion of these ideals. Whereas, conservative ideals preserve the dignity of man, freedom, and government's proper role. To claim that one is a Christian and yet vote for someone who is liberal is absolutely inconsistent. That's like being a vegan and voting for a butcher. Liberalism is absolutely dead-set on dethroning God and crowning the state. Many liberals don't even know that. They think they're helping the poor. Yes, that's admirable. But ultimately, you're just slowly handing over your freedom so that they can be your new king and savior. That's what the State wants to do. They don't want their people to have freedom! That means LESS power for them. Why would they want that? Hand them all of yourself. They won't stop until they've got your heart, mind, and allegiance. That's exactly what Christ requires. So, I pose this question to you, "Who do you choose? Who's it gonna be? Christ or the State?" That's what it all comes down to. That's what is at stake. It's a lot more than "I want guns." The real issue is "I want Christ to be my King. Not the state."
If you're reading this and you're a Christian
democrat, I want you to think hard. Consider the implications of what you
really believe. My goal is not to make you ashamed. That is the last thing I
want. I want you see the root of what you really believe. I want you to abhor
it for what it is. It's war against God.
God Bless,
Stanley
This is a really interesting and thought-provoking post Stanley. You wrote: "Often times, I tend to be too opinionated. I'm very prideful and struggle with accepting others' ideas." Yep, I can identify with all that too, because I was very much like that and still struggle with these issues.
ReplyDeleteBeing quite a liberal and lefty sort of person, I can understand where you are coming from but don't necessarily agree with all you said. However, I think that aspects of both conservative AND liberal politics could be attached to Christianity, and Christian thinking. Yes, there can definitely be a problem in socialist societies where the state is supreme; but the fact is that many wealthy Western European countries are socialist in practise and ideology, especially the Scandinavian countries if my memory serves me correctly. These countries are often the envy of both left-wing and right-wing countries around the world.
For me, very much as a Christian, I feel that regardless of the state of the nation you live in, be it more right or left or centrist, or whatever, as long as I can live any way I like and can practise my faith freely and talk about it, I am not so bothered about politics. England is a country where many people are virulently left-wing and on the other hand virulently right-wing, and I personally get fed up with the constant tug-of-war that our country is going through.
Anyway, your post is a really good one and should provoke a lot of genuine intelligent debate.
Stanley; here's a link you might find interesting; I hope!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/Browse%20By%20Category/Blogs/onejesus.aspx
This is a thought -provoking article. I have done some reading on the capitalist/socialism issues in politics, and I think I know where you are coming from. The father of socialism (and communism) was Karl Marx, a radical atheist who firmly believed that it was wrong for a individual or a private company to own property, invest in the property and from it make a profit, a philosophy based on Bible principles. So Marx had set his ideas on the State stealing private property and turning it into public ownership. Marx dedicated his ideas to Charles Darwin, believing that socialism is a move further up on the evolutionary ladder. Darwin rejected Marx's philosophy, but this did not deter Marx from pursuing his ideas.
ReplyDeleteAt present, here in the UK the Conservative Party is in power, the party representing capitalism and the cutting of bureaucratic red tape to allow a greater freedom for us to run our businesses.
But sadly, here in the UK, capitalism has become a dirty word, stained with the word "greed." The banker's bonuses, along with bonuses received by executives for disasterous business failures, as well as polititians making dishonest claims to bolster their own pockets - all these things have turned the public to steep suspicion of anyone now making a profit. Newspaper journalists are now accusing the Government of "sucking up" to the rich at the expense of the needy, especially the diabled, whose rate of suicide is increasing as a result of fear in dragging themselves into a menial job without pay, in order to keep their disability benefits.
We as Christians live in political adversary...as did the Apostles in the first century AD. Paul, for example, did not lobby the Government to have the Temple of Diana closed down. Instead, he offered Jesus as Saviour to all those who were present. The same applies to us. Let us keep our minds focused on Jesus, and on election day, vote on what you think should govern.
Frank
@T-Childs: Thank you for reading! I'm glad to hear you voice your opinions. Iron sharpens iron! I read the article that you posted and found it quite interesting. How I would reply to the author as well as you is that politics does not exist in a vacuum. I am in no way saying that you have to be a Republican to be a Christian. What I'm trying to show is the philosophical roots of two diametrically opposed ideas. The last thing I want is to use the Bible as a club to beat others into "being a Republican." In fact, a lot of the very famous Republicans (O'reilly, Limbaugh, Coulter) I can't stand. My point about politics not existing in a vacuum is this: one does not simply have a religion and then a political philosophy. Your religion fundamentally defines how you view the world. It reaches into every aspect of your thought. So, what I am attempting to show is that a Christian world view demands a view of the government that coincidentally happens to be labeled conservative. It is a view of the government that puts the government in its proper place. Foundational to the idea of a government is protecting its people. Government without God twists this and wants to "protect" its people by controlling them. In essence, protect them from themselves! Basic to humanism is the idea that any evil that man exhibits is simply the product of his environment. It can't originate from man because he is naturally "good" or, at best, neutral. If the government can control the environment, it can make its people perfect! For that to happen, all control must be relinquished to the state. The state must become God. On this subject, I would highly recommend two things. 1. please watch Francis Schaeffer's "How Should We Then Live?" video series. It is a ten part video series that chronicles the history of humanist philosophy. Believe me, you will not regret watching this. It will radically shift how you view things and you will also approach politics and philosophy from a much more solid understanding and foundation. (You can watch the whole thing on YouTube.) And 2. I recommend read "The Foundations of Social Order" by Rousas J. Rushdoony. This book is about the creeds of the church and the fundamentals of Christianity. The focus is on showing how these ideas affect our views on government and society. It is thorough, well done, and very profitable! Thank you for commenting and I'd love to continue this discussion!
ReplyDelete@ Frank - Thanks for commenting! Yes, I think you see where I'm coming from. The foundation of all totalitarian regimes and philosophy is humanism. Karl Marx was not unique. He was simply the culmination of everything that had been realized up to that point. The fact that Darwin rejected Communism shows that even he did not understand his own philosophy. Communism is the absolute logical end of evolution and humanism.
It makes me sad how the free market is portrayed as ineffective. The free market is what essentially created modern society! Without it, we'd be stuck back in Feudalism. However, I think that as Christians, we have a unique and proper perspective on capitalism. On one hand, we can see that the roots of capitalism are essentially the will to survive and man's greed yet, on the other, we also have a framework in place to understand that that is who man is. Supporting capitalism does not mean that greed is good, it means that we acknowledge man's state. If you oppose capitalism, what alternative do you offer? Socialism? A Christian understanding of original sin shows that socialism can never be a reality. We should stop pretending that man is something that he is not. Man is greedy. A system of business based on that works because greed is innate to man. Generosity and love for others is not innate to man. Man abhors those things. Socialism cannot work because that’s not who man is. As Christians, we can understand that and to blindly reject that and pursue socialism is simply tilting at windmills.
Hi Stanley. You made some really good points in your reply. You wrote: "Your religion fundamentally defines how you view the world. It reaches into every aspect of your thought." Yes, I agree entirely. If you have a strong faith, strong belief, then it will or should colour your views on pretty much everything else. For me, I am a little tired of politics, because in England there is a constant battle between the extreme Left and the extreme Right, and there is hardly any meeting in the middle, and a lack of pragmatism too, which I think you Americans have managed to master over us, which I like America for; although you may disagree with me on that. Most people in England would probably separate politics from their faith, however deeply held, and I suppose there are reasons for this. For a long time, for centuries and centuries, Christianity was used to justify the power of the aristocracy and the wealthy, and at the same time to justify the exploitation of the peasantry; this leaves a bitter taste in many people's mouths here. On the other hand, Christianity in America was also about people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and making something of their lives; it seems far less about social control and more about individual dynamism and getting on; which to me is far more attractive than the English brand. With saying this, I view my Christian faith in the same way, in the fact that God wants only the best for me. I think I've gone off the point here somewhat!
DeleteAnyway, I sense within your political framework and reasoning, a strong idea that individuality is of supreme importance; that's something I pretty much hold to too. At one time, I was a very Left-wing sort of person, and viewed anything of the Right with suspicion. But, I now have a more broader and mature outlook, and with a friend who is both atheist and Right-wing, I now try to understand different points of views! And that's a start isn't it? I suppose I am not more or less Centrist in my politics but can see that all political viewpoints, especially those passionately held, have good points in them. I think for me in the final analysis I am a Christian first and a political animal second.
By the way, love the reply you gave to Frank; very good food for thought.
P.s. I'm going to take down those links you gave me and check them out when I have the time.
DeleteI have to agree. I am seriously disillusioned with politics. What I've come to realize is that I would rather talk about political theory or principles but never actual figures. There just isn't anyone who has my views. There isn't anyone in touch with reality! It seems like politicians live in their own worlds.
DeleteYou have an excellent point about the abuse of religion. That is the reason that I don't advocate any government having a national religion. That religion will simply become a means of beating all dissidents into submission. History has shown us this time and time again. Just look at Iran! That's exactly what's happening there right now.
Yes, individualism is a big part of my philosophy. The reason for that is that pagan thought always desires to eliminate the individual. At least, in the political arena. An atheistic philosophy desires to assimilate the individual into the collective and destroy his unique sou. That's why I value the individual. Largely, it's a reaction against the ideas the world is trying to propagate. Clearly, neither the individual nor the collective is more important than the other. The two must interact in perfect harmony. That only happens through Christianity.
Me too! I don't know what the point of political parties in England is about anymore if they all agree; what's the point of voting when they are all the same? And certainly in England politics seems a nice club for white, usually well-bred and privately educated middle class men (and some women) from London! It's another world down there, believe me! Very little to do with ordinary people at all, and more to do with keeping a political class in wealth and high-paying careers. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much a believer in individualism too; I can't see any other way at this time.
You wrote (very perceptively I must say too): "Clearly, neither the individual nor the collective is more important than the other. The two must interact in perfect harmony. That only happens through Christianity." You're absolutely right my friend! There are dichotomies in life that only through Jesus can be reconciled to each other. It's certainly true that people like you and me, highly individualistic, might struggle with a sense of community. Yes, very good point.
Hi Stanley,
ReplyDeleteMy mom sent me a link to your blog - I think she went to school with your dad? Anyway, I really liked this post. I have a friend at college who said offhand that "God isn't a capitalist and we shouldn't be either". I believe we humans shouldn't assign our political ideas and "camps", if you will, to God. However, I liked one of the questions you posed in reply to Frank - "if we oppose capitalism, what other option is there? Socialism?" - and I would love to ask that of my friend at college. :) You definitely provided some great food for thought here with both your post and subsequent comments below. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Autie! My father was wondering if you're the daughter of Ann. I'm glad you like my blog and that you find it worthy of further contemplation. I would love to hear your friend's reply to that question!
DeleteDude, Stan my man...I just wrote a post about this last night. And I came over to your blog because I remembered we were like minded (this is Kameron, formerly of the CollegeIsWar blog). This is eerie, dude. Check out my new blog: therampartreview.wordpress.com
ReplyDelete