The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum What is conservatism today?

1. Observation: there is an all too similarity between politics and those involved in it and ecclesiastical policy and those involved in it, i.e., teachers and elders/pastors.

2. I find a gross disparity between the Republican Party platform and those who run on the Republican ticket. Yes, the Democrats have their fair share of hypocrites but most are much closer to the Democratic Party platform which now is to make the Constitution a "living document" vs. a "static propositional document", i.e., the Democrats openly defy the original intent of the Constitution (cf. The Federalist Papers) by either redefining it or outright ignoring it. ALL (with the possibility of one or a very few exceptions") confessional denominations are guilty of doing the same thing. Thus we have, e.g., in the Republican Party "RINOs" (Republicans In Name Only) and in the Reformed-type denominations there are "RINOs" (Reformed In Name Only).

3. Libertarians are basically the political antinomians to one degree or another. So, for me, despite they have some very sound ideas cannot be considered, for without law you have chaos and immorality.

4. Christians need to understand that when one votes in any election, they aren't voting for a pastor but rather someone who is best qualified for the position they are running for, whether local through federal. Their moral values are most certainly to be considered, but again, Scripture teaches that the Church does not have a mandate to establish a world theocracy, aka: Golden Age on earth. Rather, the Church is to promulgate the Gospel so as to gather God's elect out of the world.

5. Voting for the "lesser of two evils" is a difficult subject depending upon one's ultimate standards for political candidates. In the case of the last presidential election, e.g., no candidate, as best as one could discern, was regenerate and thus in that area, all were equal. However, as a secondary authority the U.S. the Constitution should be used to judge a candidate's eligibility for that office. Hillary Clinton was obviously a "deplorable" individual when judged by any moral/political standard. Trump was/is likewise without a solid moral base but he was far more pro-Constitution. His business background and fiscal conservatism was at least one of the major areas that the U.S. needed. To allow Hillary Clinton and the Socialist/Communist Democrats to gain control of the country (I do think this is inevitable) would have most likely resulted in civil war. It's NOT true that such thinking is akin to "Situation Ethics", for the view does not believe that the "lesser of the two evils" is the ultimate good (ala Joseph Fletcher), but rather strategic for the protection of the rights and privileges of the country as enumerated in the U.S. Constitution.

6. Lastly, my personal opinion is that the United States and Canada are under the judgment and wrath of God. The Spirit of God has withdrawn His restraint and allowed evil to progress in both of these countries and their demise is certain. Civilizations and countries rise and fall according to the sovereign will of God. ALL of mankind serves the purpose of God to ultimately show forth His infinite glory, power, judgment, love, mercy and grace. One truth which too many seem to forget or outwardly reject is that only a remnant is going to be saved and this earth is going to be destroyed by fire. True Christians live in the world but they are not of this world for their hope is in the world to come.