In an earlier post, I commented upon this almost mystical link between Conservatism and The US Constitution.  After some minor debating with some people online, I realized, much to my disbelief, that I was, (gulp), a Christian Conservative….!  I had long resisted that label as I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed into any particular category, but the proof was overwhelming.  This may seem like an odd confession, but there it is. 

I am a Christian Conservative. Now you know the basis for this next opinion piece I am even now typing.

I won’t delve again into the topic of Conservatism and our Constitution, I promise.  I still maintain that there is a link, and I shall leave it at that.  However, the one thought that has been with me for several days now is this link between Conservatism and Christianity.  Very few Conservatives I have met aren’t Christians.  Is there some correlation, some bond, some familiarity between Christianity and Conservatism?  My first observation is that Conservatives do not act like liberals and liberals are not known for their Christianity.  I make that statement based upon my observance of Conservatives during protests and the way Conservatives deal with dissenters and with one another.  Unlike liberalism which promotes name-calling, insults, vulgar language, hateful signage, childish mannerisms of all sorts, and emotionalism to maintain its battle against Conservatism, I find that Conservatives seem to be less so.

Is this to say that Conservatives never act rudely, judgmentally, condescendingly, and just plain old ignorantly?  Of course not.  Even the best apple pies have one or two bad apples in them.  And one only need go to any of the more Conservative websites and read comments posted by some of their visitors to know that even those who call themselves Conservatives can be quite nasty and unrelenting in their rudeness.  Let me be more specific and less obtuse and say that I believe the majority of Conservatives act and behave properly.  And yes, okay, not all liberals are as aforementioned, either.  Fine, you got me.  But I do notice a definite difference in manners and politeness during a protest started and/or supported by liberals and a protest started and/or supported by Conservatives.  Just go to YouTube and search for yourselves if you doubt this.  (Look up “liberal protest” and be prepared to be a bit shocked.)  You may reason that you cannot judge or label a person based on their actions.  Um, then how else would I measure them?

I, for one, have no trust of, or love for, liberalism, yet I can separate the liberal from the liberalism.  Well, okay, I do my best.  In Christianity we have a mantra of, “Hate the sin, love the sinner”, and it works in this capacity as well.  I can honestly say I have no animosity towards Pelosi, Reid, Frank, etc, even up to Mr. Obama.  I even have no hatred or personal anger towards those who align themselves with Planned Parenthood.  No, it is ne’er the person I detest, but the person’s ideals, and any strongmen that rule over these people.  Jesus taught me that.   (On a side note, it sometimes feels like being mad at a liberal is like being mad at a 3-month old baby:  They just don’t know any better.)  But let’s stop with the sermon and get back on topic, shall we…

I know that the word “Christian” means waaaaay too many things in our modern-day society of “cafeteria-styled” churches.  I mean, come on, how many Christian churches do you have in your town?  I live in what would be classified as a small berg in CT, and I can think of 7 churches off the top of my head.  And it’s not like we need 7; there just aren’t that many people living here.  So in the “Christian” label, there is yet division.  But one common thread that binds them all seems to be politics and Conservatism.  So much for separation of Church and State, huh?

What is it about Conservatism that seems to make it the political mindset of choice amongst most Christians in America?  Is it that Christians are all white?  No.  Is it that Christians are all wealthy?  No.  Is it that Christians are all home-schooled and anti-pop culture?  No.  Is it that Christians are all about less government and more personal action when it comes to solving the Nation’s problems?  Hmm.  Well, now, we might be onto something here.  Let’s delve a little deeper.

What is “Conservatism”, really?  Oh, I don’t have enough time in my day to wax on and on about it, but let’s just say it is the exact opposite of liberalism.  Here is a bit of my personal take on Conservatism:  Conservatism is pro-life.  Conservatism is accountability, and also expedient handling of anyone who espouses Conservatism and breaks either the Law of the Land or the unspoken moral law.  (In other words, if you talk the talk, you had best walk the walk.)

Conservatism teaches that the needs of the one can never outweigh the needs of the many.  Conservatism teaches that nothing is free unless the giver wills it to be so.  Conservatism teaches moral character, integrity, diligence, and fellowship.  Conservatism teaches that to be in financial debt to anyone or anything is never a positive thing.  Conservatism teaches that small government is a good thing, with the majority of the daily grind in America being put squarely on the shoulders of its citizens.  Power to the people, for the people, of and by the people.  Conservatism believes that giving a man a fish is never what they need in the long term, and that teaching a man to fish is much, much better.  These principles are to be found within the teachings of Jesus.

I had a fellow tell me that Jesus was the original “community organizer” and “government dissenter”.  I laughed because that was partly true.  However, the community Jesus was organizing was one based on Him and His teachings, not on taking money from rich folks and giving it to the disadvantaged, as deemed by the leaders of that particular community organization.  Jesus wasn’t Robin Hood and his merry men.  Jesus was/is Savior and King, and His “merry men” changed the world with His message that is still talked about and walked out today.  The authors of Robin Hood’s folklore are long since dead and pretty much unable to speak.

As to the “government dissenter” remark, I will only say that Jesus never bucked the system.  He paid taxes and didn’t defy the ruler of His Israel, even appearing before him face-to-face and not once disrespecting him.  I don’t believe He was overly thrilled that Rome was so abusive to Israel, but Jesus wasn’t about actively dismantling any government over Israel and the Hebrews.  (That was more of Simon Zealots kinda thing.)  He knew His Kingdom would topple them all in the end, and that the Roman Empire would crumble.  I know that even as I type that, someone may flinch and think I am saying that Christianity will dominate America one day, become The National Religion, and all the stupid sinners/non-believers will be locked-up, re-educated, or deported.  Um, no.  As a Christian I want my Christianity to influence government, but I do not wish for a Christian government at all.  Jesus never said He wanted  a government to call His own.  It is true that government rests upon His shoulders, but there is still the issue of Free Will to take into account.  Jesus is all about a Monarchy, after all, but one unlike we have ever seen, like as has been done by flawed mankind, this side of Heaven.

In today’s America we have our fair share of sin, to be sure.  In today’s America we have our fair share of those who detest Jesus and His message and especially His Bride, the church.  (I remember seeing a t-shirt that said, “Jesus, save me from Your followers!”  Sometimes even I utter those words.)  In America today we have poverty, crime, lies, manipulations, greed, etc, etc.  Of course we do.  You cannot gather this many people together and expect everyone to be nice to one another.  These sins, however, are taken into account in Christianity.  As odd as this pairing may be, prayer and Law are designed to address these sins.

In today’s America we also have a government that is seeking to take care of all our problems and make us all equal and as one, but at the expense of our liberties and freedoms.  We have a “savior” in Obama who will make the mountains flat and the seas rise.  He will buy you a house and pay your college tuition.  He will make all things right again.  The American people don’t need to make a golden idol; All you have to do is look towards the White House and you’ll see the fruit of man’s desire to abdicate personal responsibilities in favor of the teat of government.  Harshly said?  Perhaps.  But consider if it has any veracity.  Man-made and self-indulgent worship are also taken into account in Christianity.

As a Christian I am painfully aware that there aren’t a lot of us in Congress.  I am also aware that Obama himself has waffled back and forth on this particular issue.  This leaves me with little in common with today’s government leaders.  You could reason that we should have common goals and a common purpose to unite us, but alas, you would be very mistaken.  How can I align myself in any fashion with men and women who seem to have disdain for my God, and disdain and an even dismissive attitude towards morality?  I cannot side with them on America’s issues because I don’t trust their character.  I cannot side with them because they have such a completely different way of viewing America than I do.  I believe that Jesus changes a man’s heart.  Change a man’s heart and you change the man.  He will be a better Father, Husband, worker, leader, Son, Brother, etc.  (I’m using “man”, but I mean to include women as well in this reference.)  You can literally see, hear, and feel that change in the person.  I don’t see a lot of that in Congress or the White House or, also, in the folks Obama has surrounded himself with as advisers.

If the leadership in government I look to is less than moral, (and seems to glory and revel in it when confronted with Godly principles), it doesn’t fill me with confidence in their abilities to properly govern.  Do I expect all my government leaders to be Bible-thumping Christians?  No.  (Although that would give MSNBC something to talk about besides Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.)  But I do hold them up to a higher accountability because they are elected to lead and govern to the best of their abilities.  The Christian that I am wants my leaders to be solid.  Respecting the office is not the same as respecting the person.  I have yet to meet or see any man who exhibits morality that humbles me who doesn’t have faith of some kind in a higher being.  Everyone believes in something.  Even believing in nothing is a belief in something.

I would ask Congress and Obama this:  At the end of the day, who is it that you thank for the privilege of being America’s leaders?  Who is it that you really turn to for wisdom?  In my humble opinion, if it isn’t Jesus, then your words are simply leaving your mouths and falling flat at your own feet.  I don’t see how anyone can govern who has no sense of humility to something bigger than themselves.

As I said earlier, I am not looking for a Christian government.  I am looking to influence my government with my Christianity.  I know I shall never meet any of the people in Congress or in the White House.  That’s fine.  I can live with that.  All I can do, and all I am called to do, is pray for those in authority above me.  I would love to have Christians who were servants of God as my government leaders.  Things would actually get done.  Moreso, however, I would love for my leaders to meet my Jesus and have their hearts changed, even if it meant they had to resign from public office.  It doesn’t always have to be about, “What can Jesus do for me?”, as much as it can be, “I’m so glad to see what Jesus has done for you!”

My name is Donald Borsch Jr, and I am a Christian Conservative.  I hope I made a little bit of sense.