McLean County Times

In my last On the Issues op-ed (Paradoxical Support for the Democrat Party - Part 1), I noted that many aspects of the Democrat Party platform are at odds with the values of the conventional Christian community. In Part 2 of this essay, I’ll address why I believe it is that some liberal Christians hold progressive positions on specific issues despite the apparent contradiction with traditional conservative Christian beliefs.

Seeing the World Through Rose-colored Glasses 

After considerable reflection about why some Christians broadly support the Democrat platform that so clearly conflicts with traditional Christian values, I concluded, first and foremost, that they see the world through rose-colored glasses. This saying applies to people who selectively use evidence and see everything positively. However, viewing life this way is unrealistic because it denies reality. More than any other reason, this explains what is happening but not why. Why the denial? After a long reflection, I came up with five reasons, each playing a greater or lesser role depending on the issue.

Ignorance. Some people are ignorant of traditional Christian teachings because their leaders refuse to teach the truth for fear of offending parishioners. Other people are woefully unaware of the evil they are propagating because they are in denial. They have a “see no evil; hear no evil” attitude. They see but do not observe. They hear but do not listen. This can be seen when it comes to health misinformation, stereotyping, sexual harassment, and assault.

Self-interest. While some progressive Christians are aware of the evil they are perpetrating, they downplay it because to do otherwise would be self-defeating. Some want the kingdom without the cross and don’t want God (or anyone else) telling them what to do. This can be seen in the areas associated with corruption, exploitative business practices, unfair competition, and political opportunism.

False compassion. False compassion occurs when someone displays or claims to feel compassion or empathy but does not. Their actions or intentions do not fully align with genuine care or concern for others. While apparent support for individuals is intense, concern about what effect welfare has upon the wider community is weak to non-existent. This is obvious in the areas of abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and some areas of social welfare. Examples include manipulative pity, conditional generosity, selective empathy, and enabling behavior.

Disordered Values. People rarely choose to do evil per se; instead, they see good in what many others would consider evil actions. The Old Testament book of Isaiah 5:20 (NIV) reads: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Disordered values lead to moral indifference. For progressive Christians, there is little distinction between evident good and evil. Examples are moral relativism, egoism, hypocrisy, and indifference.

Moral Confusion. Some people tolerate evil for the good that comes from it. To do so is illicit, according to St. Paul, who said in his letter to the Romans, “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8). Examples in this area are plentiful and range from political expediency to war and conflict, economic exploitation, and medical ethics.

-----

In downplaying the need to assent to traditional conservative religious values, progressive Christians bring harm and scandal to the Church. They say and do things – or refrain from doing so – that spread confusion among the faithful. They confuse what is possible with what is permissible. As a result, they support such things as Planned Parenthood, the Woman’s March, Black Lives Matter, the Green New Deal, and the New World Order. While authentic Christian principles can support essential women’s rights, racial equality, concern for the environment, and globalism – those extremist operations most strongly supported by the Democrat Party have significant moral problems associated with them. This support stems from taking politically correct, human-centered stances rather than God-centered.

How do progressive Christians deal with such contradictions?

Dealing with contradictions between traditional faith and progressive action can be tricky, as many liberal actions challenge conservative understandings and beliefs. When intellectually honest people know these contradictions, they will investigate the issue, conduct research and critical thinking, consult with others, and turn from their ways. Others will maintain their flawed positions despite reasoning and evidence to the contrary. How is that possible? There are several ways people might maintain these contradictions:

Acceptance: Certain individuals choose to recognize the inconsistency and proceed, comprehending the intricacies of the world and its occasional lack of logical coherence. They opt to prioritize alternative factors over meticulously resolving each contradiction.

Integration: Certain people endeavor to harmonize conflicting concepts by discovering shared terrain or identifying overarching principles encompassing both perspectives.

Compartmentalization: Individuals might compartmentalize conflicting beliefs, acknowledging them as valid in various contexts or aspects of their existence. Although this approach can offer temporary solace, it could result in intellectual strain over time.

Rejection: In certain instances, individuals flatly dismiss one of the conflicting ideas, often driven by personal bias, ideology, or emotional attachment to a specific viewpoint. Yet, they remain nominally Christian, portraying a cultural adherence merely for appearance’s sake.

Contradictions are as diverse as the individuals and situations they encompass. The method chosen to address contradictions hinges on one’s cognitive style, personality, cultural upbringing, personal stake, and the unique context of the contradiction at hand.

It’s Time for a New Reformation

So, we now understand why some Christians support the very political party that contradicts and often opposes traditional religious beliefs and how they deal with these inconsistencies. Still, the question remains. What can conservative Christians do about it? First, we must realize that today’s real problem in American politics isn’t Right versus Left. It’s a matter of right versus wrong. Next, we must recognize that it’s time for a new Reformation.

The Reformation, started by Martin Luther in 1517, has run its course. Christians are beginning to understand that what unifies us is more than what separates us. Christianity has been splintered, destroying our historic cohesiveness. We should all remember that individual wooden sticks have little strength and can be readily broken, but they can withstand a terrific force when bundled together. While the remaining differences are important, we must not lose sight of the fact that if we don’t fight the secular progressives together, we will lose the war on Christianity. Yes, there is a religious vs. secular war going on, and we must enter the battle if we are to prevail.

A great way to engage in this battle is to read the book Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by James L. Garlow and act upon his sage advice. You can purchase the book online or receive it free as part of a General or Premium membership with the McLean County Republicans. You can then support and join your fellow citizens as they enter the fray.