What Does it Mean to Be a Conservative Christian?

[Knightwolflord]

Thanks in advance! :cool:

[Simon_Templar]

by definition it means you hold to the generally traditional beliefs of the Christian faith.

Conservative means you are conserving something, specifically the values and beliefs that have been handed down to you from previous generations (thus "traditions").

[WordofGod]

by definition it means you hold to the generally traditional beliefs of the Christian faith.

Conservative means you are conserving something, specifically the values and beliefs that have been handed down to you from previous generations (thus "traditions").
I like that definition. Who can do better?:clap:

[Hentenza]

Thanks in advance! :cool:

It's clear in our statement of faith found here (http://christianforums.com/t6377207-cc-statement-of-faith-and-guidelines.html).

[WannaWitness]

by definition it means you hold to the generally traditional beliefs of the Christian faith.

That's my understanding.

[JustBoo]

So is a person a 'Conservative Christian' if they are politically or socially liberal but theologically conservative?

[RND]

I have some questions, if I may:

Conservative Christianity is defined by its allegiance to the Holy Scriptures and the traditional beliefs and teachings of the Christian Church on issues of theology and morality. Central to this worldview is the belief that Truth exists objectively and independently of our perception. Truth is unchanging and absolute.

God is Truth. He has revealed His Truth in the person of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Bible, His written word, and in the Holy Church, which includes all who call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus, submitting their lives to Him in faith.

Which Christian Church are we referring to here?
How is a central and general theology derived?
What are the guidelines used for morality?

[Abashag]

So is a person a 'Conservative Christian' if they are politically or socially liberal but theologically conservative?
I don't see how they could be with the main tenents of liberalism, if they knew very much about the Bible.

Liberalism demands that we change with the times. There's nothing wrong with this. The world does change with time. I am scientifically liberal, fashionably liberal (with modesty), and in other ways also. This is just fine.

Up to a point, at any rate. Political liberalism also seeks to project its sphere of influence into the realm of morality. Morality is dictated by God. All Christians know that God is the same as He was in Eden, and will remain the same when He returns, and for all time beyond that. God has it all together. He doesn't need to change. He has given us His standard that we can live by, that we can trust to stay the same now and forevermore, because He can see forward forevermore, and He knows that His moral law will be valid forevermore. Therefore, any change in His moral law is heretical, and wrong.

Abortion has been wrong since before He created Earth, and it will remain wrong, even when it has passed from all memory. God has stated that life begins with conception. Taking another human's life in anything besides defense of another life is murder.

Homosexuality has been wrong since before He created Earth, and it will remain wrong, even when it has passed from all memory. God loves homosexuals just as surely as He loves any other sinner or even believer, but He has decried that lifestyle as sinful since the very start.

Babying adults (and children) has been wrong since before He created Earth, and it will remain wrong, even when it has passed from all memory. I think I remember reading in Proverbs that it says "He who spoils his child hates his son."

When God says not to do something immoral, it doesn't mean it will at some point stop being immoral, and suddenly become "okay" because of a need for tolerance. Immorality will always be immorality. Immorality will always be wrong.

Don't get me wrong: I approve of various aspects of liberalism, and consider them to be scriptural. They want to help people who are hurting. That's good. However, the whole state of South Dakota gives more during the Christmas season than the city of San Fransico. South Dakota has fewer residents than San Fransico, and it's certainly more conservative, to say the least. There can't be true loving charity apart from dedication to God's Love and Truth.

Then, there's the whole "your religion, my religion" blather. Two contradicting belief systems cannot both be valid. Either one is false or both are false, but both cannot be correct. People are thinking of religion in terms of preference, like that of drugs or polyester vs. wool.
"Crystal Meth gives me the feeling I want, but I don't really like your Marijuana quite so much. Thanks for thes sample, but I'm going to stick with Crystal."
or, "This sweater feels soft, so I like it better than your wool. But I understand that you like the warmth wool provides, and I don't begrudge you for it."
"Your Christianity works for you, but I'm prefer Buddhism myself."

Hold on here... why should the same attitude that applies to narcotics and clothing apply to Eternal Life? Or do the people who say such things even believe in Eternal Life? Is it just a way to get a "holy high"? A way to feel good about yourself to make life bearable? If this is the case, to Hell (a place, not a curse) with religion! "Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die."

Liberalism just doesn't click with Christianity. Mainstream liberalism doesn't, anyway.

[RND]

Liberalism just doesn't click with Christianity. Mainstream liberalism doesn't, anyway.

In His day, Jesus was a "liberal."

[Anglian]

'What does it mean to be a Conservative Christian?'

To hold to the Faith as once given. To accept the Truth of the Risen Lord and His call for repentance and amendment of life; to recognise that it is the job of the Church to preach this message to the world, however little the world wishes to listen to it; that it is the world which needs to change, not the Church. That Truth is not relative, it is a person, the wholly-divine and wholly human Jesus Christ who died that we might live.

I hope it does not mean further dividing the seamless robe of Christ, and that it does not involve casting aspersions on those who call themselves liberal Christians, for they are my brothers and sisters, and since to hate them would be a sin, I hope I recognise in them the same love as I have for Him and He has for them.

I hope it does not mean substituting a political message for the radical call to repentance and the liberal message that God's love is for all of us and that if we will but cease from our pride in our sinful ways and walk in His way, we shall yet be saved, though our sins be scarlet.

His justice is that of the only Just Judge, not that of human limitations; His justice is mercy towards His creation. As a conservative Christian I recognise His sovereignty and throw myself upon His divine mercy in the name of Christ Jesus.

In peace,

Anglian

[Izdaari]

So is a person a 'Conservative Christian' if they are politically or socially liberal but theologically conservative?
Yep!

I am:
theologically conservative
socially moderate
politically libertarianSo, I fit this forum's definition of conservative. However, not being socially or politically conservative, I'm in the minority here and am not always comfortable.

[WannaWitness]

However, not being socially or politically conservative, I'm in the minority here and am not always comfortable.

I've often felt that way myself. My reasons are a little different: I'm registered as a non-partisan and just don't place politics as high in priority as many of the others here. Yet I personally feel I am conservative when it comes to morals and theology, as I go on the whole Bible, believing it to be the infallible Word of God and applying it to my personal life as best I can.

[SILVERNAME]

Conservative Christianity, based on the definition here seem very similar to Fundamentalist Christianity, except for the "sola scriptura" part.

I consider myself to be a Conservative Christian, i am Roman Catholic.

You cannot be a Conservative Christian if you are socially economically or politically liberal, especially since all of those are very much interrelated.

For example to be socially conservative means to be pro-traditional family.

To be economically conservative means to be against high taxes.

Guess what, high taxes have proven to be detrimental to the tradtional family, high taxes are bad for the traditional family, so if you are pro-traditional family then you should also oppose high taxes, which then means should also be economically conservative.

The principles of social and economic conservatism all come from Holy Scripture. That includes opposition to homophilia, support for gun rights and opposition to govt welfare and high taxes.

Political conservatism though is still not so clear to me. But i believe it has something to do with the freedom of speech, responsibilities of govt and rights of local governments which then means political conservatism overlaps alot with social conservatism.

[tulc]

The principles of social and economic conservatism all come from Holy Scripture. That includes opposition to homophilia, support for gun rights and opposition to govt welfare and high taxes.

...really? :scratch:
tulc(I'd be interested in the scriptures supporting gun rights and against high taxes) :sorry:

[MrJim]

...really? :scratch:
tulc(I'd be interested in the scriptures supporting gun rights and against high taxes) :sorry:

Maybe he'll come back...

[ArmyMatt]

I'd say that I look to Christianity first and foremost, and then I look to the US Constitution for my political stance where American politics does not conflict with Orthodox Christianity.

on another note, since Jesus was the Divine Logos of the Father from before the foundation of the world, and He, like His Father and the Spirit are unchanging as God, then He is the ultimate conservative. because He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

[Koey]

What does it mean to be a conservative Christian?
I find that there are no adequate definitions of conservative. It's a nice and simplistic way of defining Christians - fundamentalist, conservative, balanced and liberal - but to be honest, nobody fits perfectly in any one area.

Fundamentalists are often liberal without knowing it - they turn wine into grape juice (that's liberal), and liberally invent man-made rules not sanctioned by Jesus - don't dance, don't gamble, don't ever drink a glass of wine, and the only "right" interpretation of Genesis 1 is a 6,000 year old earth, etc.

Liberals are fundamentalists regarding their own liberal interpretations. If you don't follow their man-made rules of the social order - ordain practicing homosexuals, perform gay marriages, allow women to lead the church - then you have sinned against a cardinal rule of their making.

In short, fundamentalists and liberals are equal in creating more recent man-made legalisms as opposed to conservatives who conserve older legalisms. Are we conservatives legalistic? Yes, at times. Instead of preserving the law of Christ, we often command our choice laws of the Old Testament or the man-made rules of foregone generations - Luther, Calvin, Augustine, etc.

So, am I a conservative? Yes and no! I am not interested in conserving any ism of Christianity. I am not interested in creating a new Old Testament plus the cross form of legalism - I don't keep a Saturday Sabbath or even Sunday Sabbath - because that rule is not commanded by Christ or the Apostles.

And that gives you the clue as to what kind of conservative I am. I frankly don't give a rat's patootie about "conserving" traditionalism, because I believe that there is not much difference between traditionalism and Pharisaism.

I am very, VERY interested in conserving the kind of Christianity found in the teachings of Christ, in preserving one of the last commands of Christ to his church - teach what he taught (Matthew 28:19-20).

If there is a variety of conservative Christianity that is worth the title, that is it.

[MrJim]

So is a person a 'Conservative Christian' if they are politically or socially liberal but theologically conservative?

Yep!

I am:
theologically conservative
socially moderate
politically libertarianSo, I fit this forum's definition of conservative. However, not being socially or politically conservative, I'm in the minority here and am not always comfortable.

Would seem to be a tough thing to be theologically conservative yet embrace things such as abortion and gay marriage...

[nzguy]

I am yet to find another Christain in this forum site that sees the body of Christ as local, not universal.. with the family of God as universal. I was hoping that under the Conservative forum they wouldn't have all believers living and dead as the body of Christ.. but I guess that is the dominant view in all Christian circles. Oh well.. if there are any Christians in this forum who see the body of Christ as an assembly or congregation (local) and not universal.. I would love to hear from ya.

This reply is meant as a search for Christians with this doctrine.. not to cause debate.

[Izdaari]

...really? :scratch:
tulc(I'd be interested in the scriptures supporting gun rights and against high taxes) :sorry:
I'd be interested in that too, especially since I'm a strong supporter of gun rights and a strong opponent of high taxes. If we could find those verses, I'd really like to use them.

[Izdaari]

Would seem to be a tough thing to be theologically conservative yet embrace things such as abortion and gay marriage...
I am pro-life, and I take pretty much the same position on it as Ron Paul (not my candidate btw, but I like most of his domestic policies): That the federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved with abortion at all, pro or con, and that all laws relating to it should be made at the state level.

Neither am I for gay marriage, especially when imposed by judges (as a strict construction constitutionalist, I generally take a dim view of activist courts), though I do think civil union laws might be a good thing. But better yet, I would prefer that government get out of the marriage business altogether, and let churches marry or not marry whomever they choose.

[Izdaari]

I am yet to find another Christain in this forum site that sees the body of Christ as local, not universal.. with the family of God as universal. I was hoping that under the Conservative forum they wouldn't have all believers living and dead as the body of Christ.. but I guess that is the dominant view in all Christian circles. Oh well.. if there are any Christians in this forum who see the body of Christ as an assembly or congregation (local) and not universal.. I would love to hear from ya.

This reply is meant as a search for Christians with this doctrine.. not to cause debate.
It was my understanding that seeing the church as both local and universal was pretty much the universal Christian belief. I'm not quite sure what hairs you're splitting here or for what purpose. :scratch:

[nzguy]

well, it's just I find very few christians who have the same doctrine as I do in chat rooms and forums regarding church, and it would be nice to find someone to get into studying it deeply on the same position. But anyway... the universal for me is the Family of God.. every believer living and dead. The body of Christ is an assembly like a body of water.. or the post office.. or the bar.. or the school. I got this from hearing about the position, and then studying it in scripture in-depth, and it is very sound. Anyway, I'll keep lookin

[Koey]

I am yet to find another Christain in this forum site that sees the body of Christ as local, not universal.. with the family of God as universal. I was hoping that under the Conservative forum they wouldn't have all believers living and dead as the body of Christ.. but I guess that is the dominant view in all Christian circles. Oh well.. if there are any Christians in this forum who see the body of Christ as an assembly or congregation (local) and not universal.. I would love to hear from ya.

This reply is meant as a search for Christians with this doctrine.. not to cause debate.
I agree and disagree. The word church in the Bible is ekklesia, which simply means an assembly - originally a town meeting in Greek. However, it means much more than that. The whole nation of Israel was called the church in the wilderness, so the word can apply to much more than a local assembly. In fact the first time that Jesus uses the word he says that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church - notice that he said church, not churches - i.e. the whole church across all denominations and national boundaries, not just a local congregation in this case.

So, yes, the word church can be applied locally, nationally, and even universally. It really depends on context.

[MrJim]

I agree and disagree. The word church in the Bible is ekklesia, which simply means an assembly - originally a town meeting in Greek. However, it means much more than that. The whole nation of Israel was called the church in the wilderness, so the word can apply to much more than a local assembly. In fact the first time that Jesus uses the word he says that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church - notice that he said church, not churches - i.e. the whole church across all denominations and national boundaries, not just a local congregation in this case.

So, yes, the word church can be applied locally, nationally, and even universally. It really depends on context.

And on an international internet forum the universal aspect of the church is going to be more of a focus than locality~hopefully that is what we focus upon when we are not in cyberspace ;)

[ReformedChapin]

And on an international internet forum the universal aspect of the church is going to be more of a focus than locality~hopefully that is what we focus upon when we are not in cyberspace ;)
you're a baptist again I see

[NorrinRadd]

I'd be interested in that too, especially since I'm a strong supporter of gun rights and a strong opponent of high taxes. If we could find those verses, I'd really like to use them.

Umm, ok... How about the ones where Jesus told some of His disciples to take staffs along on their journey, or when He told them to bring swords? He clearly expected them to have access to the typical personal-defense weapons of the day.

And how about the ones about muzzling the oxen? Confiscatory taxation amounts to muzzling the ox.


Hey, if there's no Scripture that fits, twist one 'til it does! ;)

[Izdaari]

Umm, ok... How about the ones where Jesus told some of His disciples to take staffs along on their journey, or when He told them to bring swords? He clearly expected them to have access to the typical personal-defense weapons of the day.

And how about the ones about muzzling the oxen? Confiscatory taxation amounts to muzzling the ox.


Hey, if there's no Scripture that fits, twist one 'til it does! ;)
Thanks, sort of. Those are good as far as they go, but I won't try to push them farther than that. :cool:

I really don't think God is political in worldly terms, though I do think something on the conservative side of libertarianism is generally in tune with the laws of the universe He made. But I knew that even before I was a Christian: I got it from John Locke and the Tao Te Ching, to pick out just two sources from many.

[MrJim]

you're a baptist again I see

Thanks for noticing,
just wearing the icon again since that's where I've been attending for four years now~sorta gave up the catholic quest for now~reality is I should be back in a mennonite/brethren church or maybe a conservative weslyan church, and leave the baptists to the calvinists ;)

[Canuckmom]

...really? :scratch:
tulc(I'd be interested in the scriptures supporting gun rights and against high taxes) :sorry:

In our family reading the other day I noticed that when the Israelites asked for a king,1Sam.8, Samuel warned that the king would take 10% of their income. Hey, if only we could pay just 10% today!!

[tulc]

Hey, if there's no Scripture that fits, twist one 'til it does! ;)

Ahh! A time honored Liberal and Conservative pastime! :D
tulc(looking for more coffee) :sigh:

[Maranatha27]

I am a conservative christian, I belive the way I understand my Bible and the Holy Spirit within me makes me such.

Doctrines I hold not to be compromised by the enemy:

Virgin Birth of Christ
Sinless Christ
Sacrificial death of Christ
Physical resurrection of Christ
2nd coming of Christ
Inerrancy of scripture (original)
And I love the Jew and believe that God is not finished dealing with them.

I've be in some liberal churches where they said I shouldn't say such things I may offend someone.

[Knightwolflord]

Just wanna say thanks for all the feedback I have gotten so far.

Great to see such inter-denominational love here on these forums. :groupray:

Praise Jesus! :crossrc:

[Koey]

It was my understanding that seeing the church as both local and universal was pretty much the universal Christian belief. I'm not quite sure what hairs you're splitting here or for what purpose. :scratch:
I think he must be a Baptist. That is their view, in order to support their congregationalist theology. i. e. no hierarchies, no bishops, no authoritarianism. It has some merit, but is not the entire story as you rightly pointed out.

[MrJim]

I think he must be a Baptist. That is their view, in order to support their congregationalist theology. i. e. no hierarchies, no bishops, no authoritarianism. It has some merit, but is not the entire story as you rightly pointed out.

I can tell ya that whatever merit there is sure isn't much to speak of~something to be said about having some leadership beyond the congregational level to be accountable to and to help assist a congregation. Sometimes I get the feeling in our congregation that it's just us vs. the world, us being the little 50 person congregation. But I guess most baptists like it that way...

[NorrinRadd]

Thanks, sort of. Those are good as far as they go, but I won't try to push them farther than that. :cool:

Good for you. I was just having a little fun.



I really don't think God is political in worldly terms, ...

I generally agree. But I also think it's a mistake to go as far as some and say things along the lines of, "Well, the NT doesn't show any disciples involved in politics, so Christians shouldn't be entangled in such 'worldly' things." That makes about as much sense as saying, "Well, the NT doesn't show any disciples using computers, so Christians should be involved with such things."

[Izdaari]

Good for you. I was just having a little fun.I thought so. It seemed light-hearted, and that's a good thing. :)

I generally agree. But I also think it's a mistake to go as far as some and say things along the lines of, "Well, the NT doesn't show any disciples involved in politics, so Christians shouldn't be entangled in such 'worldly' things." That makes about as much sense as saying, "Well, the NT doesn't show any disciples using computers, so Christians should be involved with such things."I've always thought people who know and care about politics should be involved with it. And those who don't know or care? Politics will be better off without their participation, so they're excused.

I see it as more a good citizenship thing than a Christian thing. As Christians we should never forget that our primary loyalty is to the Kingdom of God, but at the same time we live in whatever worldly polity too, and if there's anything we can do to make it better without sacrificing our main mission, that's all to the glory of God. No obligation, but paying a little bit of attention to it might do some good.

[BellaSong]

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