Comments on: Liberal and Conservative Labels http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:28:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: narrowminded http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4568 narrowminded Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:06:51 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4568 Mart, Liberalism is often mistaken or equated with libertarianism when they are polar opposites. Rather than protecting the right of the individual liberslism creates rights that don't exist, i.e. the right to privacy, then forces everyone to conform to the culture that develops. These "laws" are always at the expence of another. Abortion, taxation, environmentalsm, redistribution of wealth, affirmative action, etc. The moral "laws" of God were paid for by the voluntary sacrifice of Christ. Conservatism believes that allowing the individual the liberty to be the best he or she can be, with limited intrusion by a restrictive government, is the best for the greater good. Personal responsibility and self interest(not selfishness) are to be stressed rather than conformity to set standards. Thanks for the opportunity to engage! bgp Mart,
Liberalism is often mistaken or equated with libertarianism when they are polar opposites. Rather than protecting the right of the individual liberslism creates rights that don’t exist, i.e. the right to privacy, then forces everyone to conform to the culture that develops. These “laws” are always at the expence of another. Abortion, taxation, environmentalsm, redistribution of wealth, affirmative action, etc.
The moral “laws” of God were paid for by the voluntary sacrifice of Christ.
Conservatism believes that allowing the individual the liberty to be the best he or she can be, with limited intrusion by a restrictive government, is the best for the greater good. Personal responsibility and self interest(not selfishness) are to be stressed rather than conformity to set standards.
Thanks for the opportunity to engage!
bgp

]]> By: Uneke http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4538 Uneke Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:48:56 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4538 I like this thought especially because we find ourselves describing people or groups of people with labels. A Label I think is the medium by which we identify an object, person or persons. However what I think is an issue is the use of a label as a tool for discrimination and partiality. The apostle Paul warned Timothy of a time when men will no longer love to hear the truth of the gospel and will rather give heed to seducing spirits. It is no longer news that we live in that era. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been given a derogatory label among the governments and the peoples of the nations of this world. It is no longer the words of the master builder of the universe that founded many mighty nations and charted their course to greatness. But it has now been labelled 'old fashioned', 'conservative', 'right hand' or worse still 'hard core' principles. (I sometimes wonder who came up with these terms,; not that it matters) I think like someone mentioned previously Christians should not be worried about what Christ is labelled or what we are labelled. We should rather refrain from labelling others so that we will not forget that they need to hear the gospel from us. That is the greatest help we can offer this world. I like this thought especially because we find ourselves describing people or groups of people with labels. A Label I think is the medium by which we identify an object, person or persons. However what I think is an issue is the use of a label as a tool for discrimination and partiality.

The apostle Paul warned Timothy of a time when men will no longer love to hear the truth of the gospel and will rather give heed to seducing spirits. It is no longer news that we live in that era. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been given a derogatory label among the governments and the peoples of the nations of this world. It is no longer the words of the master builder of the universe that founded many mighty nations and charted their course to greatness. But it has now been labelled ‘old fashioned’, ‘conservative’, ‘right hand’ or worse still ‘hard core’ principles. (I sometimes wonder who came up with these terms,; not that it matters)

I think like someone mentioned previously Christians should not be worried about what Christ is labelled or what we are labelled. We should rather refrain from labelling others so that we will not forget that they need to hear the gospel from us. That is the greatest help we can offer this world.

]]> By: One American http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4536 One American Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:44:28 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4536 Conservative--believing there is a right and wrong answer to most of the issues in life. Liberal--believing it is necessary to be tolerant of any belief system to the point of giving equality to any other belief system. Liberals often say "Well, that is good for you" Conservatives say "Good is good, there is only one truth" I will not label my Savior, but I proudly stand as a conservative under these definitions. I love my liberal friends and will not name-call them. I will not compromise my beliefs with them any more then I would compromise any truth I believe in. What is right is right. Conservative–believing there is a right and wrong answer to most of the issues in life.

Liberal–believing it is necessary to be tolerant of any belief system to the point of giving equality to any other belief system.

Liberals often say “Well, that is good for you”

Conservatives say “Good is good, there is only one truth”

I will not label my Savior, but I proudly stand as a conservative under these definitions. I love my liberal friends and will not name-call them. I will not compromise my beliefs with them any more then I would compromise any truth I believe in. What is right is right.

]]> By: Ted M. Gossard http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4534 Ted M. Gossard Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:43:05 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4534 Wow. Good post and nice thread! I like what Scot McKnight is doing over at his blog, "Jesus Creed". He has posts opting for "a third way." Within what someone called over there something like, "a new framing story," so that what we're looking at maybe ends up being neither liberal or conservative, but something far more. Not to say that there isn't truth within the framing stories on the liberal and conservative sides here and now, because surely there are. It's just that the story is either off, or good within its place as part of the bigger Story of God. Wow. Good post and nice thread!

I like what Scot McKnight is doing over at his blog, “Jesus Creed”. He has posts opting for “a third way.” Within what someone called over there something like, “a new framing story,” so that what we’re looking at maybe ends up being neither liberal or conservative, but something far more.

Not to say that there isn’t truth within the framing stories on the liberal and conservative sides here and now, because surely there are. It’s just that the story is either off, or good within its place as part of the bigger Story of God.

]]> By: rokdude5 http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4532 rokdude5 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:39:37 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4532 Oops Jesus did talk about that slaves should be good to their masters and vice versa. Oops Jesus did talk about that slaves should be good to their masters and vice versa.

]]> By: rokdude5 http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4531 rokdude5 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:38:29 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4531 Jesus didnt lead a political agenda. He made no mention about the environment, abortion, slavery, etc, etc. He did talked about taxes. Jesus said to pay it without qualms. He also to say to love His Father and our neighbors. To me, instead of shaking our political fists at one another, we should really try to figure out how to help one another. Jesus didnt lead a political agenda. He made no mention about the environment, abortion, slavery, etc, etc. He did talked about taxes. Jesus said to pay it without qualms. He also to say to love His Father and our neighbors.

To me, instead of shaking our political fists at one another, we should really try to figure out how to help one another.

]]> By: Kathie http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4530 Kathie Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:50:36 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4530 I usually think of conservative/liberal only when it comes to politics and religion! However, I have never thought of Christ in those terms. I believe I have a good understanding of the nature and character of our Savior and I don't know if we could characterize Him by either word. However, in today's culture, is it really possible to be liberal in your political persuasion and conservative in the outworkings of one's Biblical beliefs? It seems that morally the two just don't go together. Just a thot. I usually think of conservative/liberal only when it comes to politics and religion! However, I have never thought of Christ in those terms. I believe I have a good understanding of the nature and character of our Savior and I don’t know if we could characterize Him by either word.

However, in today’s culture, is it really possible to be liberal in your political persuasion and conservative in the outworkings of one’s Biblical beliefs? It seems that morally the two just don’t go together.

Just a thot.

]]> By: poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4529 poohpity Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:17:28 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4529 Mart you are a hoot! Mart you are a hoot!

]]> By: drkennyg http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4528 drkennyg Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:16:15 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4528 Hello again everyone. I'm for being called just a Christian. I've (we've) taken a lot of heat just for that fact alone. I have been slandered for speaking of Jesus and salvation in public or even privately. But that's the nature of it, eh? Jesus expected it and says we should too, therefore good enough for me. It is difficult daily to be IN the world and not OF the world because of all the distractions thrown at us by Satan. But my own sinful nature laps it up sometimes. So I confess and repent and start again not wanting to go down those paths again. These discussions are good to wrestle with and seem good for Christian growth. Thanks everyone. ken Hello again everyone. I’m for being called just a Christian. I’ve (we’ve) taken a lot of heat just for that fact alone. I have been slandered for speaking of Jesus and salvation in public or even privately. But that’s the nature of it, eh? Jesus expected it and says we should too, therefore good enough for me. It is difficult daily to be IN the world and not OF the world because of all the distractions thrown at us by Satan. But my own sinful nature laps it up sometimes. So I confess and repent and start again not wanting to go down those paths again. These discussions are good to wrestle with and seem good for Christian growth. Thanks everyone.
ken

]]> By: poohpity http://www.beenthinking.org/2009/01/11/liberal-and-conservative-labels/#comment-4527 poohpity Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:12:32 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=3374#comment-4527 Everything was a lot simpler back in the day rdrcomp. The funny thing it is the same thing we do to the bible, try and make it harder than it is. It is really the most beautiful and simple thing but leave it to human beings to confuse it's simplicity to fit into our confusion. Thank God He did not leave the creation to us can you imagine what that would look like. lol :) Everything was a lot simpler back in the day rdrcomp. The funny thing it is the same thing we do to the bible, try and make it harder than it is. It is really the most beautiful and simple thing but leave it to human beings to confuse it’s simplicity to fit into our confusion. Thank God He did not leave the creation to us can you imagine what that would look like. lol :)

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