Christians, the Left, and the King

Where do the terms Left and Right come from, with regards to the Political Arena?

It started in France, after our Constitution had recently been ratified. In 1789 there was rebellion in France against King Louis XVI. Those who were in rebellion (for rule by numbers) stood at the Kings Left. This who were loyal to the King (for rule by the rule of law) stood at the King's Right.

On April 18, 1775 John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke, a Lexington pastor and militia leader. That same night Paul Revere arrived to warn them of the approaching Redcoats. The next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen; "Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England." The immediate response of Rev. Jonas Clarke or one of his company was:

"We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus."

No King But Jesus - Truth in History

In the U.S. the people had been calling for George Washington to be King. He refused.

There was a debate between the Anti- Federalists, who didn't want a Central Government (Left) and the Federalists (Right) who did want a Central Government. The Right won; but even the Right were for a very limited Central Government.

We ended up with a Constitutional Republic. (The rule of law)

Now let's look at the Political Spectrum:



As we move the Authoritarian Left; we move toward Communism. (Majority rule)
As we move to the Authoritarian Right; we move toward Fascism (Rule of Law)

The more Authoritarian, the stronger the central power.

As we move to the Libertarian Left; we move toward Anarchy
As we move to the Libertarian Right; we move toward Classic Liberalism
(Liberalism has be redefined over the years.)

The more Libertarian, the less central power.

Now let's remove Authoritarianism from the picture.

We are left with no one to rule over us; so every man can do what is right in his own eyes. However, Christians still have a King, who tells us to abide by his law.

When a Christian is in absence of men lording over him; he will stand on the Right with his King.

Proverbs 11:21
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

MIDutch said:

I'm Dutch, and we Dutch more or less invented liberalism, but we also more or less invented modern capitalism (multi-national corporations, stock markets, insurance, global trade, etc.), along with cooperative democracy (the Polder Model, historically, people getting together and cooperatively building dikes and polders, outside of the control of landed aristocracy, to increase land for use and safety). So, Democratic Capitalistic Socialist? If there is such a thing.

Click to expand...

Interesting. I thought that John Locke was English.