Why I am conservative.

[HalupkiMonster]

I want to share a bit of my testimony. Please comment below with thoughts on what I've written.

I can't deny any longer that I am a conservative Christian. I am an Orthodox Christian. I believe that God has given us a way to live and believe. Changing this is ridiculous and prideful. Truth is found within the Orthodox Church. Everyone needs to be reached out to and helped.

It is important for the Church (the Christian community in general) to fulfill the entire message of Christ. Feed the hungry. Clothe the poor. But also we must try to be perfect as is Christ our God. We must reject sin, but not the sinner. We must love all as Christ loved us, however in that love we must help our brothers and sisters to know what God expects of all of us. After all, sin does not define us.

Lastly, individualism is death to the soul. Having a "Jesus is my homie" attitude with sin is not right, but sadly a plague among Christians. We must not make our Christian faith fit our wants and needs, but rather (in our sinfulness) try to fit ourselves to the perfect mold given to us my Jesus Christ our God. We will fall in this, but must get back up and try again, for the love of God.

I grapple with being conservative, but I truly believe this and am tired of trying to hide it so I don't offend anyone.

Also, please let this serve as my introduction. Howdy-do.

 

[Tigger45]

I think it's great when a young person makes a stand for what's right and wrong. It will save you from many pit falls in this life time.

 

[Gentlemantech48]

You certainly have not offended me. I agree with everything you're saying. Christ's church is sick! Most of us are guilty of making friends with the world system. We watch movies and tv shows that we should boycott. We have made the sexual experience between a wife and a husband something that is dirty by helping to promote out-of-wedlock sex. We promote the homosexual agenda by watching movies and shows that try to make that lifestyle "normal". Some of us vote for liberal politicians who promote abortion, homosexuality, Godless public life, and the slow disassembling of the nation that God gave us. Our church services are anemic and more of a live stage show than worship to a holy God. We use language that is offensive and does not give respect to God's creation. We lie and cheat and deceive and act more like our enemy than we do Jesus. We scoff at the "What Would Jesus Do" movement when in actuality that is exactly what we should always ask our self. We are not willing to sacrifice our friendship with the world in order to please our Savior. We are unwilling to change our priorities to fit God's purposes. We need to stop, take inventory, and make plans to be the example to the world that our Lord wants us to be.

 

[Purge187]

Good posts all around.

One of the biggest mistakes we made as a nation was to take the Bible and prayer out of the classroom. It's been downhill ever since.

 

[Albion]

I want to share a bit of my testimony. Please comment below with thoughts on what I've written.

I can't deny any longer that I am a conservative Christian.

Are we to conclude that you weren't a conservative Christian back when you were an Episcopalian? Or is it that you didn't speak openly about it?

 

[HalupkiMonster]

Are we to conclude that you weren't a conservative Christian back when you were an Episcopalian? Or is it that you didn't speak openly about it?

No, but I can see how it would come across this way.

I was a bit naive when I was going to the Episcopal Church. I'm still naive, I'm a kid. However, I could never justify liberal positions on things, I just liked the thrill of believing something that was controversial, so the liberal side of the Episcopal Church sort of rubbed off on me (the Church I was attending was pretty liberal.)

I'm really quite moderate, though I'm a moderate conservative. My beliefs change as I do, however I am starting to think and believe things, and hold opinions that have good foundations, and these are considered "conservative."

I'm just happy to finally be having my own thoughts. I feel a bit like a grown-up, and want to keep learning around others of a like mind.

 

[Albion]

No, but I can see how it would come across this way.

I was a bit naive when I was going to the Episcopal Church. I'm still naive, I'm a kid. However, I could never justify liberal positions on things, I just liked the thrill of believing something that was controversial, so the liberal side of the Episcopal Church sort of rubbed off on me (the Church I was attending was pretty liberal.)

I'm really quite moderate, though I'm a moderate conservative.

Yep. I quite understand. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[HalupkiMonster]

Yep. I quite understand. Thanks for the clarification.

Thank you.

 

[Bjornke]

No, but I can see how it would come across this way.

I was a bit naive when I was going to the Episcopal Church. I'm still naive, I'm a kid. However, I could never justify liberal positions on things, I just liked the thrill of believing something that was controversial, so the liberal side of the Episcopal Church sort of rubbed off on me (the Church I was attending was pretty liberal.)

I'm really quite moderate, though I'm a moderate conservative. My beliefs change as I do, however I am starting to think and believe things, and hold opinions that have good foundations, and these are considered "conservative."

I'm just happy to finally be having my own thoughts. I feel a bit like a grown-up, and want to keep learning around others of a like mind.

I must say I am happy that you are believing and coming to recognize yourself and the role of Christ. I agree with all that you have said, and all that the others have said. I also would lie to say that you're not the only one who believes in liberalism ( or used to believe in liberalism ) just because it is controversial and something of a thrill.

For a little while myself the thrill of believing and following liberalism played around in my mind because it was something of a rush, though I could never find any real justifications for the beliefs. Thus I managed to come back home to my solid foundation in what I believe in Christ.

Love your posts, it is so true!

Blessings all,

Brandon

 

[HonestTruth]

HalukpiMonster,


It is important for the Church (the Christian community in general) to fulfill the entire message of Christ. Feed the hungry. Clothe the poor. But also we must try to be perfect as is Christ our God. We must reject sin, but not the sinner. We must love all as Christ loved us, however in that love we must help our brothers and sisters to know what God expects of all of us. After all, sin does not define us.

Lastly, individualism is death to the soul.

Actually, you have just confessed to be being a liberal.

Freudian slip??

 

[Albion]

Actually, you have just confessed to be being a liberal.

Freudian slip??

Very funny, HT, but HalupkiMonster's OP showed an understanding of the relevant issues and concepts that's uncommon these days.

 

[HonestTruth]

Very funny, HT, but HalupkiMonster's OP showed an understanding of the relevant issues and concepts that's uncommon these days.

You and the OP reminded me that the Social Gospel Movement - which had such a great influence in promoting Progressive Era politics and reform and is now labeled as "liberal" - was started by Orthodox Christians as an answer to Darwinian politics.

Thus, the OP did actually confess to being a liberal!

 

[Albion]

You and the OP reminded me that the Social Gospel Movement - which had such a great influence in promoting Progressive Era politics and reform and is now labeled as "liberal" - was started by Orthodox Christians as an answer to Darwinian politics.

Thus, the OP did actually confess to being a liberal!

No, if he had identified with the Social Gospel movement, I think he probably would have said so. Wanting the church to deal with the physical needs of the poor, etc. is as much part of the history of Conservative Christianity as it is Liberalism. But more than anything, I feel that we have to take stock of the whole of what was said in the OP and not just the middle paragraph.

 

[HonestTruth]

I remember many years ago when a preacher who actually helps poor people was interviewed on the show Focus On The Family. The preacher said that if only society would actually follow Jesus's teachings by helping the poor there would be no need for welfare. This in contrast to all the welfarism given to the wealthy elites. When the host heard those words, he quickly changed the subject because he knew it was true.

 

[lesliedellow]

I want to share a bit of my testimony. Please comment below with thoughts on what I've written.

I can't deny any longer that I am a conservative Christian. I am an Orthodox Christian. I believe that God has given us a way to live and believe. Changing this is ridiculous and prideful. Truth is found within the Orthodox Church. Everyone needs to be reached out to and helped.

It is important for the Church (the Christian community in general) to fulfill the entire message of Christ. Feed the hungry. Clothe the poor. But also we must try to be perfect as is Christ our God. We must reject sin, but not the sinner. We must love all as Christ loved us, however in that love we must help our brothers and sisters to know what God expects of all of us. After all, sin does not define us.

Lastly, individualism is death to the soul. Having a "Jesus is my homie" attitude with sin is not right, but sadly a plague among Christians. We must not make our Christian faith fit our wants and needs, but rather (in our sinfulness) try to fit ourselves to the perfect mold given to us my Jesus Christ our God. We will fall in this, but must get back up and try again, for the love of God.

I grapple with being conservative, but I truly believe this and am tired of trying to hide it so I don't offend anyone.

Also, please let this serve as my introduction. Howdy-do.

I don't see how that makes you either conservative or liberal.

 

[Albion]

I remember many years ago when a preacher who actually helps poor people was interviewed on the show Focus On The Family. The preacher said that if only society would actually follow Jesus's teachings by helping the poor there would be no need for welfare. This in contrast to all the welfarism given to the wealthy elites. When the host heard those words, he quickly changed the subject because he knew it was true.

I don't believe that. For one thing, there wouldn't be any reason to change the subject "because he knew it was true" in view of all the charity extended to the poor by evangelical churches and ministries in this country. You probably misunderstood.

 

[Sketcher]

Actually, you have just confessed to be being a liberal.

I'm not seeing anything liberal in that.