This Conservative/Liberal “Me”

I’ve always thought of myself as both a conservative and a liberal in the way in which Jesus expresses these two philosophies in Matthew’s gospel:  “Every scribe, He said, “who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”  Elton Trueblood believed this passage to be “a vivid rebuke both to the one who pines for the good old days and to the one who has contempt for anything that is not strictly contemporary.”

Conservatism is a political philosophy that leans toward tradition (religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs) in the face of change.  I  am a conservative and want to retain those values that have proven to be beneficial to our nation.  Because of this conservative part of me, I have always been slow to buy into any radical political or social reforms. On the other hand, as a liberal, I’ve always tried to be open to new ideas, behaviors, or opinions and have been willing to discard some traditional values if in the light of the “new” they seem “wrong” or “unjust.” 

This conservative/liberal “me” struggles with what it means to be a Christian in the modern world—for as a Christian I hold certain principles and beliefs that are not necessarily accepted by my brothers and sisters of other faiths, nor by many of my fellow citizens, who may claim no religious faith at all.  This conservative/liberal “me” struggles with what it means to be a Christian and a citizen in a democratic society.  A democracy is not a religious form of government.  It is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people (all people according to our Constitution).   These people, who govern in a democracy, are not necessarily of my religious persuasion or yours, or anybody else’s—they are a wide and diverse group with many different philosophies, opinions and behaviors.  A religious (Christian or other) government would be a theocracy (ruled by God—or by the leaders who think they think like God). This kind of government would force everyone (in spite of diversity) to adhere to what those, who think they think like God, demanded.  There would be no room for differences of opinion, behavior, or philosophy.  I much prefer the conservative/liberal struggle both as a Christian and a citizen within a democracy. Why?  Because in a theocracy there would be no room for my conservative/liberal struggle.

The new nationalism is not conservatism.  It is something different—leaning sadly toward a sick kind of theocracy (our way or the highway, we are the only truth, only our type wanted. we are number one). Ronald Reagan was a conservative, but he described America as a shining city on a hill, suggesting that America would keep the world safe, that America “is not turned inward, but outward—toward others.”  The new nationalism says, “America First.”  Reagan’s dream of America was optimistic while the new nationalism is angry and fearful.  This new nationalism is a big change that makes for a more dangerous world, especially for conservative/liberal people like me.