The Best Conservative Christian, a Political Myth

As the primary election season begins I note that the Republican candidates have each struggled to demonstrate that they are the most conservative Christian in that race. My problem with that process is that it plants the image in the minds of many Christian and non-Christian observers alike that the more conservative a Christian one is, the better Christian they are. That is an Old Testament concept, out-dated since the time of Jesus Christ. The fact that it gets so much press can misguide today’s Christian base.

The Old Testament is full of God-given laws to be obeyed. The Hebrews measured the quality of their faith by the quantity of laws that they obeyed over a stretch of time. That helped establish a pecking order within their society and within their religious establishment. You could brag about how holy you were and quantify it. It also enabled you to point out the failings of others. This is a perfect situation for politicians on the campaign trail. However, it has nothing to do with an individual’s personal relationship with God.

Jesus turned that Old Testament system upside down when he said that the most important thing was to love the Lord your God and the second most important thing was to love your neighbor as yourself. Then he added to the shock to the old system when he said that everything else flowed from the first two! In doing so Jesus threw the holy measuring stick, the bragging rights and finger pointing onto the junk heap of Christian history. All that Christianity was left with was love – love that put the Savior on the cross for our sins.

So where does this leave those hard working politicians on the campaign trail? I am sure that you will see a politician pull out the measuring stick in a speech in which he or she portrays themselves as a better “Conservative Christian” than someone else in the coming days and weeks. It will be accompanied by hoopla, and quotes, and misquotes and it will all appear very fashionable and politically correct. Don’t be fooled by the media hype and the well programmed venues.

Just remember where they pulled the measuring stick from and look for substance elsewhere.


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