christian conservatism - really, how legit is it?
this may be the second in my series of worldview posts. in fact. i'll deem it that.
as most people have noticed - whether they live inside or outside christian circles - that christians tend to be more conservative. *let me make this note, these opinions are in fact stereotypes and both sides can carry both extremes. i understand that there are many non-christians that are very conservative, and there are many christians that aren't so conservative, but have an open mind.
christians are taught to do things that the world doesn't do. in some circles, this means don't dress the same - wear khakis and collared shirts, absolutely no shorts for guys, and skirts for the girls. other circles (or the same) interpret this as don't listen to music with beat or secular lyrics. more left (or not as far right) circles allow for dress and music but not alcohol or tobacco. so really, are christians supposed to be more conservative from the (secular) "world" or is that a church misleading.
i have seen both sides. i think christians must be careful what they do and don't do. i don't think it is necessary for christians to necessarily be conservative, whatever that means. i think it is alright for churches to have drums and guitars and for the people attending to (modestly) wear whatever they want. i mean really, who is to say what we should wear in church. i hardly think that jesus stood out in crowds with his clothes. people say that we should dress up out of respect. i can see that, but i've also been to churches that the guys are all in suits and the girls are all in dresses with an attitude that screams hypocrite. i've been in churches that the previous church would look down on but have genuine hearts and attitudes of growing spiritually and aiding others around them to do so as well.
isn't worship and church about your heart anyway. who's to judge someone with a t-shirt in church if god is the one to judge.
christian conservatism has gone too far in my opinion. we can't say "the world is doing this, let's do the opposite" and be doing the right thing always. there are so many non-christians that are putting christians to shame with their "samaritan" acts and their hearts and attitudes. instead of worrying about our clothes or our music in church, we need to live lives that portray the life of jesus, that makes us -yes i am a christian- live up to our names. i think christian and conservative can be synonymous, but i think christian and conservative do not have to be synonymous, but rather liberal or conservative can be right if they follow the christian guidelines, in my opinion. i know this is debatable, so i want to hear what you have to say about it. prove me wrong. prove me right.
as most people have noticed - whether they live inside or outside christian circles - that christians tend to be more conservative. *let me make this note, these opinions are in fact stereotypes and both sides can carry both extremes. i understand that there are many non-christians that are very conservative, and there are many christians that aren't so conservative, but have an open mind.
christians are taught to do things that the world doesn't do. in some circles, this means don't dress the same - wear khakis and collared shirts, absolutely no shorts for guys, and skirts for the girls. other circles (or the same) interpret this as don't listen to music with beat or secular lyrics. more left (or not as far right) circles allow for dress and music but not alcohol or tobacco. so really, are christians supposed to be more conservative from the (secular) "world" or is that a church misleading.
i have seen both sides. i think christians must be careful what they do and don't do. i don't think it is necessary for christians to necessarily be conservative, whatever that means. i think it is alright for churches to have drums and guitars and for the people attending to (modestly) wear whatever they want. i mean really, who is to say what we should wear in church. i hardly think that jesus stood out in crowds with his clothes. people say that we should dress up out of respect. i can see that, but i've also been to churches that the guys are all in suits and the girls are all in dresses with an attitude that screams hypocrite. i've been in churches that the previous church would look down on but have genuine hearts and attitudes of growing spiritually and aiding others around them to do so as well.
isn't worship and church about your heart anyway. who's to judge someone with a t-shirt in church if god is the one to judge.
christian conservatism has gone too far in my opinion. we can't say "the world is doing this, let's do the opposite" and be doing the right thing always. there are so many non-christians that are putting christians to shame with their "samaritan" acts and their hearts and attitudes. instead of worrying about our clothes or our music in church, we need to live lives that portray the life of jesus, that makes us -yes i am a christian- live up to our names. i think christian and conservative can be synonymous, but i think christian and conservative do not have to be synonymous, but rather liberal or conservative can be right if they follow the christian guidelines, in my opinion. i know this is debatable, so i want to hear what you have to say about it. prove me wrong. prove me right.
5 comments:
i too have seen the otherside. bang on my friend, bang on.
i second that.
all those stiff, well dressed conservatives should were jeans to church and give all the money they would have spent on nicer clothes to charity.
Okay, I actually gave this some thought. I think that you should define some terms, because you seem to be using conservative/liberal in two different contexts. Conservative/liberal politically is very different than conservative/liberal in the Christian realm. I agree with you for the most part, but I think it's possible to be "liberal Christian" and still be a very "conservative" politically. I agree that God is more interested in our hearts than he will ever be on our outward appearance. Some people are so stuck in tradition that it's disgusting!
my context of conservative/liberal doesn't have anything to do with politics.
Regardless of hopw else we classify the gospel, it has always been and will always be radical. What other person, faith or creed has ever been founded on a paradox as transforming as the paradox of the cross? Christ died so that we may live, and we die to self so that others may live. I am crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, so that the life I now have I live solely by faith in the Son of God who loves me and who gave himself for me.
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