Understanding The Political and Christian Religious Spectrums
Issue 11 *** June 2022
Evangelical Christians understand they possess dual citizenship. They are citizens of heaven (see Philippians 3:20) because of their new birth through Christ (see John 3:5-6), and they are citizens of the United States of America (USA) because of their natural birth on earth. The American citizenship comes by either being born in the USA or if born in another country through the naturalization process. As American citizens Christians need to understand the political language to make the best decisions as citizens in a country governed as a representative democracy. When choosing leaders, Christians must know how best to vote which requires they understand the labels used to identify candidates in the election process. In this article, we look at the political spectrum of labels, the Christian spectrum of labels, and how the two mesh.
The Political Spectrum
A look across the political spectrum can at times be confusing. By spectrum we mean the continuum lying between two extreme poles on which people identify their beliefs or the beliefs of others. We usually use words like liberal, moderate, or conservative as points on the continuum and as labels on people based on what they purport to believe. Normally liberal falls to the left of center on the continuum and conservative falls to the right. This results in references to the left and right wings. The chart below illustrates the continuum with the relative placement of the labels used.
The identifying/labeling process can be confusing because people do not neatly fit into the three labels mentioned. A person can be very conservative in one area and quite liberal in another. People do generally identify with a particular label over other labels.
The identifying/labeling issue is exasperated because society continuously redefines what it means to be liberal, moderate, or conservative. You can note a recent example of the label shifting in the comedic political commentator, Bill Maher. For years Bill Maher has been a liberal; however, in the past few months (the end of 2021 into 2022) he has made statements that sound almost conservative. Maher has not actually changed his beliefs; the liberal group with whom he traditionally identified has moved farther to the left making him seem more conservative. As Maher calls the new farther left out for their shift toward socialism and seeming unreasonable positions, he appears more conservative only because he is now to the right of those who currently identify as liberals.
The entire American culture has shifted more leftward on the continuum over the past century. In this article we will define the terms on the political spectrum in respect to where we believe the country is at this time. To set up a baseline for meaning, we will provide a brief discussion of the more classical forms of liberalism and conservatism. Note space only allows for general descriptions of each label and by no means allows for an exhaustive discussion.
Classical liberalism has historically focused on individual rights and has favored a limited state involvement in citizens’ personal lives. Classical liberalism as it existed in the past is best associated today with libertarians. Classical liberalism supports individual rights and equality as set forth in the United States Bill of Rights. Classical liberalism works to ensure that the government does not interfere in the individual lives of citizens. For instance, in the modern day setting a classical liberal would support decriminalization of drug laws. Economically, classical liberalism would favor a free marketplace and no governmental interference in the operation of businesses.
Classical conservatism has historically been the opposition to classical liberalism. Classical conservatives have supported state limitations on personal behavior that the conservatives consider to be less desirable in the population. Classical conservatives have pushed for laws that limit marriage and divorce as well as laws that support religious beliefs (blue laws). Classical conservatives have traditionally supported states’ rights rather than overreaching federal powers. Classical conservatism has resisted change in government from what it has identified as government established in the founding principles of the United States.
In more recent times, classical liberalism, except for libertarians, has given way to social liberalism. Social liberalism began to gain momentum following the Civil War and has steadily evolved into modern day progressivism. Presidential champions of social liberalism have been Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. It was Roosevelt who introduced an economic bill of rights declaring in a speech delivered on January 11, 1944, the following:
It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.
To achieve the goals of what Roosevelt termed a second bill of rights, social liberalism supported a much larger government with powers to bring about social equality for all Americans. The federal government grew dramatically beginning during the 20th century and continuing to the present.
Following President William Clinton, social liberalism rapidly evolved into the modern-day progressive liberalism that goes beyond the economic needs of citizens and champions what it has identified as the underrepresented or social outcasts of society. In recent years, progressives have pushed for federally funded abortion on demand, same-sex marriage, and gender reassignment theory. Progressive liberalism is a move to the left that courts socialism and communism. Progressives desire to make right the perceived wrongs of the past; therefore, they tend to talk in terms of equity rather than equality. Under the current administration they have leaned heavily on executive orders (dictatorial) rather than the law-making process.
Classical conservatism has given way today to social conservatism. Social conservatism is a leftward movement of the right-wing that blends liberal elements into classical conservatism. Social conservatives are committed to traditions, but want to also supply liberty for all. Though states’ rights are still a major talking point for social conservatives, they have in recent years supported an expansion of the federal government in size and power. Social conservatives oppose same-sex marriage, gender reassignment theory, and unlimited abortion rights. Though social conservatives continue to support religion in the society, they are committed to the “wall of separation” set forth by Thomas Jefferson. In the thinking of social conservatives, the “wall of separation” not only limits government interference with religion, but also religions interference in government.
Libertarians (classical liberals) today often find more in common with social conservatives than with progressives. This illustrates the shift in thinking of the American society. Progressives proclaim conservatives to be more radical than ever when in fact conservatives are more liberal than ever. Where progressives court the radical ends of the left-wing, conservatives maintain pronounced distance from the radical ends of the right-wing.
Where should Christians fall on the confusing political spectrum in our times? Christians must follow their conscience and faith in God on each issue that surfaces. God’s Word clearly teaches right and wrong in life. Christians must stay clear of any political philosophy that is contrary to the Word of God. It should be obvious to Christians that there is no place for them on the radical sides of either the left or the right. An examination of the extremes on the continuum quickly reveals major positions that are clearly anti-Christian.
Note also that the more radicle people become, the more radicle they describe those who oppose their positions. Those on the radicle left often label moderates or conservatives as racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and uncaring or the latest label applied has been ultra-MAGA (I am not certain what they mean by that label). Those on the radicle right are quick to call moderates or liberals communists. None of the labels accurately define those who fall from conservative to liberal on the continuum. To preserve their testimonies Christians must not allow the radicle opposition to intimidate them by name calling nor should they take part in the practice.
The Christian Spectrum
The Christian spectrum is less confusing than the political spectrum. Rather than a continuum, the Christian spectrum splits into two primary groups separated by a gorge. On the left side of the gorge is Liberal Christianity and on the right side of the gorge is Fundamental Christianity. Note in this context we use fundamental or fundamentalists to describe someone who believes in the basics or fundamentals of Christianity. The culture has at times used the term to describe radical, even violent, religious zealots of varied religions; however, in our discussion we only use the terms in their simplest understanding referencing those who hold to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. At times Christians often prefer the label “evangelical,” but even that term is being coopted by the opposition to mean something different from its original intended use.
We freely acknowledge a host of people who call themselves Christian exists on both sides of the gorge; however, there are common beliefs held by each group of people that clearly distinguish them as either liberals or fundamentalists. Here the term “people” is used rather than “denominations” because denominations often have both liberals and fundamentalists within their memberships (clergy and laity).
Liberalism among Christian groups has been around from the beginning, but the movement began to have a major impact on the American Church during the 18th Century. Liberals began to move away from any absolute authority on which to base their beliefs and began to incorporate more science and reason (philosophy) into their teachings. Liberals believe the Bible only contains the word of God as opposed to being the word of God. Science and reason are their primary authorities. Liberals promote a more social message (or gospel) making personal works the primary force behind salvation.
Fundamentalism on the other hand has held the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Fundamentalists support personal responsibility, and an individual’s faith in the works of Jesus the Christ as the means to a true relationship with God (see Romans 3:21-26). Fundamentalists believe that each Christian has a responsibility to share the good news (gospel) that Christ provided the necessary payment for sin and through His work an individual can have a personal relationship with God (see Matthew 28:18-20). Fundamentalists also believe that at a future time known only to God, Jesus will return to reign on earth in righteousness (see Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7-8). For fundamentalists personal works are the results of one’s salvation not a means of salvation (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
From these simple explanations of the labels used on both the political and the Christian religious spectrums, how professing Christians identify as Christians should determine their political label. Liberals tend to align themselves more with progressives on the political spectrum while fundamentalists tend to align themselves more with moderates or conservatives on the political spectrum.
In Coming Issues:
“Christians and Political Parties”
“Christians in a Woke World”
“Christians and Free Speech”
“Christians: Nationalism vs. Globalism”
The purpose of The Intersection of Faith and Culture is to bring forward issues affecting Christians in the United States that a conversation might begin to help preserve the right to worship and glorify our Lord.
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