What does "conservative" mean to you?

[GreenMunchkin]

Am sort of confused as to what it means to people... both theologically, in terms of your faith, and whether it does have an inherent link with your political viewpoint?

Really interested, because it's only relatively recently I realised am "conservative", so am still exploring that a bit and going "Ooh!" a lot

Thenk you veddy much

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

In some ways I'm conservative, in some ways I'm not.

Theologically, I'm very conservative on the basics of the faith, the Nicene Creed and stuff like that. And I believe in the literal truth of the miracles of the Gospels and of the Pentecostal gifts. But I'm a theistic evolutionist, and though I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, I don't believe it's "verbally inspired" (as in word for word dictated by God) or inerrant. And I tend to be fairly liberal in matters of personal morality and cultural stuff.

Politically, I'm neolibertarian rather than conservative. That is, I'm for maximizing individual liberty consistent with order and the rule of law. I'm for laissez-faire capitalism so far as is practical, and I'm for a traditional conservative Republican type of foreign policy, somewhere in the Eisenhower to Reagan range. I'm also an extremely strict construction constitutionalist: like Ron Paul, if it isn't expressly authorized by the Constitution, I don't think the federal government has any business doing it.

 

[Hishandmaiden]

For me, being conservative means I believe in what the Bible said as the Truth and that the standard of God doesn't change through time.
That God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
And that we don't conform God to our standards but we conform ourselves to His standards.

I believe the Bible is from God, but not word for word. What I mean is, the bible's real author is God. The message is from God. The gist of the bible, is from God. Therefore, its author is God and its message is relevant even if society changes.

But the one who God uses to write it is human authors, and therefore, when translated into different languages, the Word for Word accuracy may not be 100% there.

But the inherent message will still be there 100%.

Being conservative also means that my stand on homosexuality, abortion is according to the Bible's literal meaning of it. That means, they are wrong.

It also means that I believe in miracles, and healings, and what is recorded in the Bible are not mere symbolic stories, but actually happens.

That includes Jesus walking on water, a donkey talking, and the flood.

 

[ReformedChapin]

I'm still trying to figure out why they made this forum while having the fundametalist forum.

 

[Albion]

I'm still trying to figure out why they made this forum while having the fundametalist forum.

Because you have to be a fundamentalist to be in that forum. Many conservatives, theologically and socially, are not fundamentalists because they don't adhere to every one of the specific doctrinal points that always have identified fundamentalism. Would we consider William F. Buckley, Jr., Ronald Reagan, Fred Thompson, or C. S. Lewis to be conservative Christians? I'd think so, but none is a fundamentalist.

 

[ReformedChapin]

Because you have to be a fundamentalist to be in that forum. Many conservatives, theologically and socially, are not fundamentalists because they don't adhere to every one of the specific doctrinal points that always have identified fundamentalism. Would we consider William F. Buckley, Jr., Ronald Reagan, Fred Thompson, or C. S. Lewis to be conservative Christians? I'd think so, but none is a fundamentalist.

Are you speaking of social conservatism? I do think that CS Lewis was a fundie since it was the only person you mentioned that I know.

 

[CyberPaladin]

I'm still trying to figure out why they made this forum while having the fundametalist forum.

I think the better question is why do you have such a big problem with nonfundie conservative christians getting there own board that you feel the need to whine repeatedly about it.

 

[Albion]

Are you speaking of social conservatism?

It doesn't matter. Social conservatives (the original conservatives), Fiscal conservatives, or religious conservatives are not identical to Fundamentalists.

I do think that CS Lewis was a fundie since it was the only person you mentioned that I know.

Well, he wasn't. Far from it.

But if you are unsure of what a Conservative is and don't recognize even the names of some of the most prominent people of our times, a quick reply here can't solve your problem. I'd recommend getting a good book on the subject.

 

[talitha]

The main things for me that make me a conservative are the belief in the Bible as the written standard for Truth and the belief that God IS truth, and everything that is good, right, and true comes from HIM.

 

[nyj]

I do think that CS Lewis was a fundie since it was the only person you mentioned that I know.

C.S. Lewis was Anglican.

 

[nyj]

Posted this to another thread. It's my opinion on the word "conservative":

When I think conservative, I think traditional.

1 Corinthians 11:2 - I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

God is immutable ...

Malachi 3:6 - For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Psalm 102:27 - But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

... and such, since the Bible is His work, His message to us does not change either. Liberals would have you believe that His Church is outdated, and has wrongly interpreted His words for two thousand years. I for one, will not buy that bridge.

To boil it down: Conservatism is letting God place His desires onto us, not us placing our desires onto Him.

 

[SunMessenger]

When the word is used to separate Christians into categories it means trouble. That is what I see being done here. Christians who believe in and love Jesus Christ are just that Christians.

I am far from conservative in many ways. I do however believe that if God said it then it must be true. Is that being conservative ?

 

[talitha]

Yes, Sun Messenger. For purposes of this forum.

And to be clear, I agree with you.

Here's a link to something I posted in SFPC that you might enjoy reading:

Unity

bless you
tal

 

[Lisa0315]

I want to post without having read anybody elses definition so as to not be influenced. Then, I want to go back and read and compare to see how close we all come.

To me a Conservative Christian is somewhere between a Fundementalist and a Liberal. Meaning, we believe mostly the same doctrines as Fundies, but are cautious in forcing those beliefs on others. We believe in moderation rather than an extreme doctrine. It is certainly far from situational ethics, yet, it is not legalistic either.

Moderation in all things would be the motto that I would see as the best description of a Conservative Christian.

Lisa

 

[Simon_Templar]

To me conservative in terms of faith means that a person holds to the teachings and Faith which has been handed down since the beginning.

In specifics it is usually defiend by a belief in objective, absolute truth, the inspiration and authority of scripture, and the traditional moral teachings of the church.

 

[Albion]

To me, it doesn't mean only being temperate or moderate (like the fundamentalists except not pushy, as Lisa said) or catholic (believing theoretically in "everything" as the majority has believed it from the beginning, as Simon said).

To me, it is to believe in the Bible and the traditional application of the Bible's values (as Talitha said) to our society (which hardly anyone has wanted to include).

That incorporates a point (which I am glad WAS made by Simon), that the traditional moral teachings of the
church(es) are held dear to a conservative and are impossible to separate from the meaning of the word conservative.

 

[Simon_Templar]

To me, it doesn't mean only being temperate or moderate (like the fundamentalists except not pushy, as Lisa said) or catholic (believing theoretically in "everything" as the majority has believed it from the beginning, as Simon said).

To me, it is to believe in the Bible and the traditional application of the Bible's values (as Talitha said) to our society (which hardly anyone has wanted to include).

That incorporates a point (which I am glad WAS made by Simon), that the traditional moral teachings of the
church(es) are held dear to a conservative and are impossible to separate from the meaning of the word conservative.

When I say "since the beginning" that is the bible When I say that, I think specifically of Jude and his comment opening his letter.

paraphrased "I would like to write about our common salvation, but I find I must rather call your attention back to the teaching and Faith which was delivered to us by the apostles".

It begins with the bible. I don't believe that the Holy Tradition is infallible, or that it is completely original. I believe aspects of it have been added over time, which is why it is not on the same level as the scriptures. However, I think it is very difficult, if not impossible to accurately understand many aspects of scripture apart from a knowledge of the traditions and historic teaching of the church.

morality is a good example of that. The bible talks alot about sexual immorality, but people today interpet that to mean whatever they want, rather than looking at what the church has always taught it means.

 

[Lisa0315]

When I say "since the beginning" that is the bible When I say that, I think specifically of Jude and his comment opening his letter.

paraphrased "I would like to write about our common salvation, but I find I must rather call your attention back to the teaching and Faith which was delivered to us by the apostles".

It begins with the bible. I don't believe that the Holy Tradition is infallible, or that it is completely original. I believe aspects of it have been added over time, which is why it is not on the same level as the scriptures. However, I think it is very difficult, if not impossible to accurately understand many aspects of scripture apart from a knowledge of the traditions and historic teaching of the church.

morality is a good example of that. The bible talks alot about sexual immorality, but people today interpet that to mean whatever they want, rather than looking at what the church has always taught it means.

What a very, very excellent point!

Lisa

 

[McWilliams]

Conservative, as opposite of 'liberal'.

One who seeks to follow a biblical worldview, is ever seeking scriptural truth, does not conform to this world but is transformed by the renewing of their mind that they may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Rom12:2) They are knowledgable of the Word and what our God expects of them.

A conservative would desire to do all that they do in a manner pleasing to God and to uphold HIs word.

 

[Albion]

When I say "since the beginning" that is the bible When I say that, I think specifically of Jude and his comment opening his letter.

paraphrased "I would like to write about our common salvation, but I find I must rather call your attention back to the teaching and Faith which was delivered to us by the apostles".

It begins with the bible. I don't believe that the Holy Tradition is infallible, or that it is completely original.

Good man! You wrote what you did in language that seemed so much like what is usually said by those of that other line of thought, that I made a mistake about your meaning.

However, I think it is very difficult, if not impossible to accurately understand many aspects of scripture apart from a knowledge of the traditions and historic teaching of the church.

Yes, but that is a different proposition altogether. We're all traditionalists in that sense.

morality is a good example of that. The bible talks alot about sexual immorality, but people today interpet that to mean whatever they want, rather than looking at what the church has always taught it means.

Yep. You've written on that point before, and I agree that to be a conservative means to resist the unproven, the faddish, relative truth, and situational ethics.