Recently I attended a convention and struck up a break-time conversation with a Christian sociology professor at a State University. Eventually the conversation turned to creation, which he assumed from his professional background was foolishness, but about which he knew nothing. Imagine his surprise when he learned that my well-formulated scientific position was fully supported by Biblical teaching, literally interpreted.
Feeling the heat, he suddenly changed the subject. "Well, what are you, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican? Why are so many Biblical literalists political conservatives?"
The professor seemed to have a heart for God, but as with most university professors, all his training had been in humanistic thought and he was immersed in a heavily Marxist environment. He could have been a Christian light in a dark place, a guide for young students, but instead, he seemed not to know how to let the Bible form his worldview. He was shocked that I used Scripture as my interpretive framework in science, especially as creation made better sense of the data than evolution. But surely I wasn't also a political conservative!
I assured him that while I had registered with one particular party, I had, over the years, tried to "vote kingdom votes," to select that candidate which best reflects Biblical thinking. I stressed that the Bible should be our guide for every decision, personal, professional, and political.
Biblically, a capitalistic system, where a man lives by the fruit of his labors, where enterprise and entrepreneurism are encouraged, is to be preferred to a Marxist or socialist state where all power is centered in the hands of an elite few. Conservatives are much more aligned with this than liberals.Similarly, a more Biblical approach in employer/employee relations is one where treatment is fair and personal achievement is rewarded. Again, a conservative strength.
Conservatives more often agree with Scripture in taking a high view of human life, at every stage. They also are more consistent at holding a person accountable for wrong choices, and restraining excess governmental taxation, both Bible teachings. However, conservatives sometimes err in cut-throat business practices, leftovers from Social Darwinism—a wicked outplay of Darwinistic thought. "Might makes right" in business cannot be justified Biblically. Neither can a haste to make war. While the Bible specifically teaches that the times and boundaries of nations are ordained by God and that can legitimately defend themselves, war for the monetary gain of the wealthy is not a godly mindset.
Conservatives normally favor strong families, useful education, and religious freedom. However, liberals often seem to do a better job of championing the cause of the poor and downtrodden, a Christ-like attitude. A Christian goal is not just to help the poor, however, but to serve and reach them with the gospel. These are not often compatible with liberal goals. Conservative Christians have, on the other hand, been responsible for many of the hospitals, homeless shelters, and colleges of the country.
All-in-all, I'm a political conservative because I'm a Biblical conservative. As Christians we must submit to Scriptural principles in all things, even politics, and never yield our minds to any other philosophy. Individual Christians may differ from me on specific issues, but our job is to guard and transmit the truth, and foster a godly way of thinking, as based on the teachings of Christ.
* Dr. Morris is President of ICR.
