Political Conservatism Part 1: One of the strangest contradictions in modern Christianity is how loudly many profess total depravity while simultaneously appearing shocked that depraved men behave depravedly. Scripture already explained why societies decline and why men continually corrupt everything they touch. Genesis 6:5. Lost men act according to their nature. That does not excuse evil, but it does radically alter where the believer understands the true battle lies. The apostles lived under conditions far worse than most Christians in America will likely ever experience, yet their confidence remained overwhelmingly fixed upon the gospel of Christ, creating an atmosphere strikingly different from much modern culture-war Christianity.
The issue is not merely that some believers follow politics more closely than others, since we all naturally differ in personality and interest. Many sincere Christians care deeply about such matters, and understandably so. My purpose is not to criticize politically active Christians, but to consider whether the emphasis of the New Testament differs in some important ways from the emphasis often found in modern political Christianity. The deeper concern is how easily political conservatism can gradually blend itself together with Christianity until the distinction between the two becomes increasingly difficult to recognize. At that point, Christians may sincerely think they are defending Christ’s kingdom, while the atmosphere surrounding them increasingly resembles political warfare more than the spiritual emphasis of the New Testament.
Paul certainly did not deny the existence of corrupt rulers, injustice, immorality, or social decay. He lived surrounded by such things, yet continually directed believers away from flesh-and-blood warfare toward spiritual realities. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Ephesians 6:12. Much of modern Christianity, however, appears to blend political conservatism together with Christian faith as though “righteousness” is chiefly advanced through political means rather than through the gospel of Christ.
I am not suggesting that Christians cannot hold political opinions, vote, care about laws, or participate lawfully within society. That is not really the issue. The concern is how easily believers can begin confusing political warfare with spiritual warfare itself. There is a great difference between recognizing political realities and imagining that Christ’s kingdom advances through the same spirit of conflict and outrage that fills the world around us. “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21.
It’s possible that we may sincerely resist evil while gradually becoming shaped more by the spirit of conflict around us than by the spirit of Christ. The apostles certainly confronted error and wickedness when necessary, yet the overwhelming atmosphere surrounding their ministry remained centered upon Christ crucified, reconciliation, salvation, patience, suffering, and man’s spiritual condition before God. I Corinthians 2:2.
Not every public controversy involving Christianity is necessarily the same thing as faithful gospel witness, even when true things are being said. The issue is often not outright falsehood, but mixture. Christianity gradually becomes blended together with political identity, culture-war thinking and continual flesh-and-blood conflict until the spirit and atmosphere surrounding it no longer resemble the Christ-centered emphasis of the New Testament. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17.
Many politically active Christians are sincerely burdened by corruption, confusion, and the future of their families. Those are legitimate concerns. Yet the apostles also lived amid enormous wickedness and corruption, while the spirit surrounding their ministry remained overwhelmingly centered upon Christ and the gospel. And despite all the corruption surrounding them, their confidence ultimately rested in the knowledge that Christ reigns still. Human governments rise and decay, societies corrupt themselves, and rulers continually fail, yet the same Lord remains upon His throne and will glorify Himself in everyone whom He has called. That contrast may be more significant than we sometimes realize. MPJ