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Conservatism without Christ will fail
by Lewis McNeely on Thursday, Dec 17th, 2009 at 04:52 pm
For years I've relied on the FoxNews.com for my daily news. I've decided to no longer frequent the site. The reason? I'm finding increasingly more sexually related content on the site. At first I didn't think much of it. I prefer Fox News because, yes, I do think it's more fair and balanced than other major news providers. I also appreciate the fact it gives conservative views equal if not more time than other news providers. Let me add I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I simply vote traditional conservative values. By the grace of God I do not struggle with pornography. Sadly, many do. However, when I frequent a site daily such as Fox News, I find it distracting to the point of temptation to be constantly barraged by the likes of stories about celebrities taking it all off. I don't see the fact that some famous person disrobed as news. WHO CARES? I recommend onenewsnow.com for safe daily news. So why write this? Because I've come to believe conservatism without faith is harmful. Let's look at political conservatism in America. Wikipedia describes conservatism as "a political attitude and philosophy which advocates institutions and traditional practices that have developed organically within a nation over a period of time". In the US it includes a variety of ideologies, yet most Americans define conservatism as being a belief in smaller government, fiscal responsibility and traditional family values especially as derived from Judeo-Christian principles. Because we're all broken humans there are those who embrace traditional conservatism and yet cannot truly live by its dictates. Conservative thinking is a mindset that's impossible to fully live without Jesus. For example, a non Christian young man identifies with the conservative movement, opposing abortion, opposing rights based on sexual orientation, basically embracing Christian family values. Yet because this man is not a Christian, the principle the Apostle Paul addresses when he was under old testament law comes into effect. He says in Romans chapter seven, when he was under the law he desired to do good but he did not have the ability. The Bible is clear; no matter how good a person desires to be, we cannot by sheer will power, live up to godly standards. All attempts at right living apart from a relationship with Jesus becomes legalism and ultimately failure. This is why a non believing male politician who espouses traditional family values is caught in the restroom making sexual advances at another man. Does he not believe in what he preaches? I think he does. He just cannot attain true conservatism without Christ working it in his heart. Some label conservatives hypocrites and liars, many times rightly so. What is the solution? I believe the answer is we should focus our time on making Christian disciples rather than on converting people to conservative thinking. Let's lead them to Christ first then let Jesus lead them into a mindset that comes naturally for Bible embracing people. Let's not put the cart before the horse nor conservative thinking apart from a Christ cleansed conservative heart.

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