In watching and thinking about another election cycle, I’ve recently found myself in an interesting conundrum. I see lots and lots of commentary from friends and acquaintances on Facebook, and because of the circles I run in there is a word that gets thrown around that I am supposed to identify with, but I can’t. I don’t really know whether I am a conservative. Let me explain:
In the American political world, the word ‘conservative’ often is associated with some, or all, of the following policies and ideas:
The word ‘liberal’ (apparently the antithesis of ‘conservative’) on the other hand, is usually associated with things like:
A handy list like this should make it easy to choose a side, right?
If that is the case, then I guess I’m not a conservative. I like more things on the second list than the first. If you ask me to create a government from scratch, I want big lots of social spending to create a safety net for those in poverty, I want fewer guns around1, I want less military spending. It seems to me that Black lives are often treated with less dignity and respect than white ones, and that racism is a very complex, but still very present, problem that needs to be dealt with on many levels of society.
So, if you want to place me in a political camp, I guess it is ‘liberal.’
I believe these things largely based on my reading of the Bible. My interpretation of the values of the Old Testament law, the radical and selfless way of life that Jesus preached about and lived (as found in the gospels), and the continuation of that teaching that took place through his apostles in the rest of the New Testament, all point to a society that has more, not fewer, social programs – especially in light of the systemic nature of poverty. 2
I believe that while the Bible doesn’t categorically reject self defense, that gun culture in America seems far too interested in “shooting bad guys,” and uses language that simply doesn’t sound anything like Jesus telling people to love their enemies and turn the other cheek. For a better and more thorough critique of that kind of gun culture language, check out John Piper’s response to Jerry Falwell Jr. When I read the New Testament, I just can’t find a tone that encourages me to arm myself.
All of this is because I think the Bible was written by humans, but inspired by God, and that it is infallible in matters of faith and practice, that I believe these things. When it comes to how we ought to live, I think the Bible is the final word, and that while it requires interpretation, it is the compass to direct us to what is truly ‘good’. When my own sentiments come in conflict with what the Bible teaches, I believe that I am the one that needs to change. That isn’t automatic or easy, but that is my goal.
You can perhaps see the problem here. On theological grounds, this kind of view of Scripture would probably put me in the ‘conservative’ camp.
Not to mention that I think humanity is, at its core, sinful and in need of redemption and restoration, which comes only through the life and work of Jesus of Nazareth because (using the words of the Creed)
“for us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the virgin Mary and was made man. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. on the third day he rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”
I can say this without my fingers crossed. I really believe this stuff.
The confusion continues: there are a few things in the politically ‘conservative’ list that I affirm, that many consider to be the issues for politics. I think that at least once there is a beating heart, if not sooner, a fetus is a person, a human being, and therefore ought not to be intentionally terminated, except in cases where another human life is potentially at risk. I know that almost a priori kicks me out of the liberal political camp.
I also think marriage was intended to be between a man and woman (although I can’t really make an argument for the state banning any other type of marriage. What the church says at a marriage ceremony and what the state says in a marriage certificate are different things. Let’s keep them separate.) This makes me conservative, I guess. Yet the fact that I don’t think sexuality is a decision, I don’t think gay couples make bad parents, and I don’t think you have to be straight to go to heaven probably makes me not really appealing to that ‘side’ either. In fact, I am pretty sure my position on this makes me anathema to many people on both sides of the issue.
So what am I? I dunno. I don’t think the term conservative is of any use to me any more. It is increasingly a political term, not a theological one. And that’s not me. And that isn’t me largely because of my firm belief in the authority of the Bible. I’ve toyed with saying that I am theologically traditional, but politically liberal. Maybe we need a new term. I don’t want my position associated with cutbacks on welfare and ‘enhanced interrogation’ tactics.
For now, partisan politics and partisan theology are increasingly less useful to me. The way the terms are used, I don’t think I’m “conservative” or “liberal”. I can tell you this: I pray that in whatever capacity I have for effecting change in the world around me, it is done with the love of Jesus for other people first and foremost, rather than with a desire to gain power or be right.
- In fact, if you asked me to write a constitution from scratch, you may not find gun rights anywhere in my draft. But we have the constitution we have, so we’ll stick with it ↩
- I should note that there are plenty of people who read the Bible, who love the poor and marginalized more than I do, who do not think that policies put out by liberal politicians accomplish those goals. On that front, we disagree on how to accomplish biblical values, not what the values are. ↩
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